HURRICANES 31 - 22 CRUSADERS
FULLTIME: That is the ball game and the Crusaders have suffered their first loss of the Super Rugby season. What a match!
78mins: PENALTY GOAL HURRICANES: Jordie Barrett kicks it straight down the middle and it looks like the home side will survive in Wellington.
77mins: Another penalty to the Hurricanes and Jordie Barrett will go for goal.
76mins: Kieran Read turns the ball voer. The Crusaders have to go 95 metres now.
75mins: Time is off actually as it looks like Ngani Laumape hit one of the Crusaders players and his shoulder got the Crusaders player in the face, but the TMO says it is a good tackle.
75mins: Five minutes now remain in Wellington. The Hurricanes have an attacking scrum.
74mins: Callum Gibbins runs the ball to the 22, and the Crusaders turn the ball over but then they lose the ball.
73mins: They are now 10 out from the line, and the Hurricanes win a penalty as the Crusaders did not release. They take the quick tap and the Crusaders are penalised again for being offside.
72mins: The Crusaders are back on the attack and run inside the 22.
71mins: Mitchell Drummond makes a break from the lineout and nearly slides over the line, but doesn't release the ball. Penalty to the Hurricanes.
70mins: 10 minutes to go in Wellington. Crusaders lineout inside the Hurricanes 22.
69mins: The Crusaders win the scrum and Kieran Read sneaks away down the wing. The Crusaders then kick and the Hurricanes kick it away but it goes out on the full.
68mins: The Crusaders turn the run into a maul and turn the ball over as a result.
67mins: The Hurricanes now have a scrum on the halfway line after the Crusaders knocked the ball forwar on the counter attack.
65mins: Jordie Barrett lands another conversion from the sideline. The Hurricanes lead 28-22.
64mins: TRY HURRICANES: One look is all the TMO needs and the try is giveb, They Canes spread the ball wided and Laumape ofloads the ball to the towering flanker and he dives over in the corner.
64mins: TMO HURRICANES: The TMO has been called into play for a potentional try to Vaea Fifita.
64mins: The Crusaders are under pressure as the they are defending their tryline.
63mins: The Hurricanes go on the attack and the Crusaders turn the ball over, but they go to clear the ball and it is charged down and Israel Dagg is pushed into touch.
62mins: The penalty goal falls well short.
61mins: Another penalty to the Hurricanes. Jordie Barrett will go for goal andhe will be kicking from inside his own half.
60mins: The Coversion from the sideline goes right over the black dot. It is a one point game with 20 minutes to go in the nations capital.
58mins: TRY HURRICANES: Wes Goosen goes over in the corner for his fith try of 2017. Perenara goes shortside from the scrum and Goosen dives over.
57mins: The Hurricanes attack and Wes Goosen chips the ball over the top and Matt Todd gets to the ball but is pushed back over the goal line. Five metre scrum to the home side.
56mins: The Conversion goes over and it is an eight-point ball game. It looked like missing at first but it curled back around.
54mins: TRY CRUSADERS: Israel Dagg powers his way over the line from the scrum. The Fullback gets the ball and steps Jordie Barrett and dives over the line.
53mins: The Crusaders drive over the line and the Crusaders claim a try, but Glenn Jackson says Jordan Taufua was held up. The away side will have a scrum five out from the line.
52mins: Then the Crusaders win a penalty as the Hurricanes did not release the ball. Richie Mo’unga kicks the ball into touch and the visitors have a lineout just outside the 22.
51mins: Another penalty to the Hurricanes as the Crusaders played the ball on the ground.
50mins: After 12 phases, the Crusaders get inside the Hurricanes 2, and then he is smashed and riven back outside the 22.
48mins: The Crusaders kick and put Otere Black under pressure and he kicks the ball out.
47mins: PENALTY GOAL CRUSADERS: The away side is back in front in Wellington. Good penalty by Mo'unga.
46mins: Penalty to the Crusaders inside the Hurricanes 22. They are going for the points.
45mins: Jordie Barrett converts the try and the Hurricanes now lead 14-12
44mins: TRY HURRICANES: Julian Savea goes over. Otere Blacks kicks towards the wing of Savea who bats the ball back to himself and steps past two players to dive over. Big kick coming up here.
43mins: The Hurricanes are now five outfrom the line as they referee sticks his arm out once again. It must be getting sore by now.
42mins: Another penalty to the Hurricanes. Surely somebody will get a card soon.
41mins: Otere Black kicks high and Jordie Barrett jumps high to catch the ball, but as he goes to ground the ball is knocked forward. Crusaders scrum.
40mins: We are back underway in Wellington.
HALFTIME: 40 minutes down in Wellington. Two early tries from winger Seta Tamanivalu mean the Crusaders lead 12-7 at the break. Also 40 minutes away from an unbeaten season.
39mins: The Crusaders now win a penalty. They will get the ball in and kick it out.
38mins: The Hurricanes win the lineout and push forward. Eventually the ball comes out and Tj Perenara kicks the ball forward, but it drifts dead.
37mins: Another penalty to the Hurricanes.
36mins: Jordie Barrett drops the ball and the Crusaders gather possession and George Bridge goes for a run but is tackled into touch.
35mins: Hurricanes scrum just inside their half.
34mins: Both teams kick the ball back and forth and eventually, Richie Mo’unga decides to run the ball back. Two plays later the Hurricanes turn the ball over after Sam Lousi kept the ball off the ground when it turned into a maul.
33mins: Another penalty to the Hurricanes.
32mins: The conversion goes over. The Crusaders lead 12-7/
31mins: TRY HURRICANES: Jordie Barrett goes over. The midfielder gets the ball and uses his speed to burst to the line.
29mins: Hurricanes win the scrum and Ngani Laumape attacks, but they win a penalty for not releasing.
28mins: The penalty comes to nothing as the Crusaders throw a forward pass from the lineout.
27mins: The Hurricanes win a penalty as the Crusaders pushes early at the scrum, but the Crusaders end up with the penalty after Tj Perenara spoke back to the referee. That could be a costly penalty.
25mins: The Hurricanes attack and they are just outside the 22, and after 10 phases the Hurricanes make a mistake. Crusaders scrum.
24mins: The Crusaders steal the ball and clear it right away.
23mins: Hurricanes win a penalty and they have a lineout 10 out from the line. Michael Alaalatoa is also back on for the Crusaders.
21mins: Richie Mo’unga kicks and they Hurricanes go on the counter attack and get the ball deep inside Crusaders territory and somehow they turn the ball over.
20mins: The Hurricanes have the ball and Otere Blacks chips over the Crusaders defence but Bryn Hall wins the race to the ball and now the Crusaders have the ball on the halfway line.
19mins: Michael Alaalatoa is off for an HIA and that sees Oliver Jager on for the Crusaders. The away side have a scrum inside their half.
18mins: The Hurricanes continue to work their way up to the 22, but the Crusaders turn the carry into a maul and win the turnover.
17mins: The Hurricanes kick the ball into space and Israel Dagg wins the race to the ball and smashes it downfield. Hurricanes lineout on the halfway line.
16mins: Vaea Fifita wins the throw-in and they spread it through the backs, but Jordie Barrett overthrows a pass and the Hurricanes lose ground.
15mins: Penalty to the Hurricanes. They clear the ball into touch. Lineout inside Crusaders territory.
14mins: Another difficult kick from the wing bounces off the posts.
14mins: TRY CRUSADERS: Seta Tamanivalu has two. They go wide again and Tamanivalu has a little bobble and he dives over in the corner.
13mins: The Crusaders are getting closer and closer to the line. 11 phases now.
12mins: The ball finally gets out and the Hurricanes defence swarms the Crusaders forwards. The Crusaders are now inside the 22.
11mins: Another scrum and the referee stops the clock and had a chat to the hookers from both sides.
10mins: The Crusaders have another scrum inside Hurricanes territory, and they get a free kick.
9mins: Another penalty, but this time it goes to the Crusaders. Jeff To'omaga-Allen and Wyatt Crockett push each other around. Richie Mo’unga kicks for touch but the ball doesn't go out.
8mins: Another penalty to the Hurricanes right in front of the posts, and they want another scrum.
7mins: The home-side opt to take a scrum.
6mins: Penalty to the Hurricanes for being offside. It is within range, but the Hurricanes are not a team to kick penalty goals.
5mins: Bryn Hall clears for the Crusaders and the Hurricanes take it safely. But the Canes win a penalty for hands in the ruck. Blacks kicks the ball into touch and they have a lineout just outside the 22.
4mins: A perfect kick from Richie Mo’unga goes straight over the black dot. Crusaders lead 7-0 early on.
3mins: TRY CRUSADERS: Seta Tamanivalu has the first try of the game. Jordan Taufua bursts into the 22 and offloads the ball. The Crusaders go wide and Tamanivalu goes over in the corner.
2mins: The Crusaders are just outside the 22 and the referee sticks the arm out.
1mins: The Crusaders have the first scrum of the game which results into a penalty.
KICKOFF: We are underway in Wellington. The Hurricanes get the match started.
7:33 pm: Both sides are out onto Westpac Stadium. Kickoff is moments away.
7:30 pm: A few changes to the Hurricanes side. Beauden Barrett won't play while Jordie Barrett will play in the centres. Vinco Aso failed to make it through warmups.
Hello and welcome to live updates of the Hurricanes hosting the Crusaders at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand.
We bring you live streaming written commentary, video highlights (be sure to refresh your browser) and all the action. VIDEO will be available as soon as the final whistle goes.
Commentary will start from around 7:30 pm (NZT). In the meantime check out the video above with highlights of the Sunwolves vs Blues clash earlier in the day.
Lineups
Hurricanes
1. Ben May, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Jeff To'omaga-Allen, 4. Mark Abbott, 5. Sam Lousi, 6. Vaea Fifita,7. Ardie Savea, 8. Brad Shields, 9. TJ Perenara (c), 10. Otere Black, 11. Julian Savea, 12. Ngani Laumape, 13. Jordie Barrett, 14. Wes Goosen, 15. Nehe Milner-Skudder
Reserves - 16. James O’Reilly, 17. Chris Eves, 18. Loni Uhila, 19. Reed Prinsep, 20. Callum Gibbins, 21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22. Ben Lam, 23. Cory Jane
Crusaders
1. Wyatt Crockett, 2. Ben Funnell, 3. Michael Alaalatoa, 4. Luke Romano, 5. Scott Barrett, 6. Jordan Taufua, 7. Matt Todd (c), 8. Kieran Read, 9. Bryn Hall, 10. Richie Mo’unga, 11. George Bridge, 12. David Havili, 13. Jack Goodhue, 14. Seta Tamanivalu, 15. Israel Dagg
Reserves - 16. Andrew Makalio, 17. Tim Perry, 18. Oliver Jager, 19. Sam Whitelock, 20. Jed Brown, 21. Mitchell Drummond, 22. Mitchell Hunt, 23. Sean Wainui
Match facts and stats
Referee: Glen Jackson
Assistants: Brendon Pickerill and Angus Mabey
TMO: Glenn Newman
This will be the first time since 2015 that the Hurricanes have hosted the Crusaders, with the Wellington side winning each of their last three such fixtures.
The Crusaders hunt for their 15th win of the campaign, which would equal the Super Rugby record for the most wins by a team in a single season (including finals).
In fact, anything more than a loss for the Crusaders would see them become just the third team in Super Rugby history to progress undefeated through the regular season (Blues 1997, Crusaders 2002)
The Hurricanes will be looking to avoid consecutive Super Rugby losses on home turf for the first time since Round 4, 2014 after a 17-14 loss to the Chiefs prior to the international break.
The Crusaders kept the Hurricanes tryless when they met in Round 12 this season, the only team to keep the Wellington club from breaching their line in the last three years.
Past meetings
Head to head: Played 31, Hurricanes 10, Crusaders 18, Draws, 3
In Wellington: Played 13, Hurricanes 5, Crusaders 6, Draws 2
Last time played: Crusaders 20 def Hurricanes 12, May 13, 2017
Last time in Wellington, Hurricanes 29 def Crusaders 23, May 2, 2015
Head-to-head: Hurricanes - $1.80 Crusaders - $2.00
