Super Rugby 2019: Hurricanes v Blues in Wellington

[Please refresh for the latest updates]

Hurricanes 29 - 24 Blues

80 min: It's all over - the Canes win, it's a tough end to a tough season for the Blues - stay tuned for the match wrap. 

77 min: A knock on from the Blues - not the one they were looking for. Canes ball. 

75 min: The Hurricanes opt to kick for goal. It's good. Hurricanes 29 - 24 Blues. 

74 min: SBW fires a bad pass and puts the Blues under pressure, from that they concede a penalty. 

73 min: The Blues have the ball and crash over half way. Can they find the final try needed?

70 min: A poor throw hands the ball to the Blues as they kick down field. 

67 min: Not releasing is the ball and the Canes win another penalty - out in front. 

64 min: TRY - Hurricanes, impressive stuff from the hosts - great passing and Peter Umaga-Jensen scores his second of the night. Kick is good. Hurricanes 26 - 24 Blues. 

61 min: Really good defence from the Blues - Canes knocking the ball on. 

58 min: Penalty for the Hurricanes just metres out - they kick for touch. 

56 min: The Hurricanes have all the momentum and are on the charge - just 10m out now. 

51 min: TRY - Hurricanes, Jackson Garden-Bachop puts in another chip kick and it finds Smith again and he beats one to link up with Isaia Walker-Leawere who scores. Kick is good. Hurricanes 19 - 24 Blues. 

51 min: A knock on from the Hurricanes and the Blues are able to clear - but the Canes are hot on attack once again. 

47 min: Now the Blues give away a penalty and the Canes kick for the corner. 

45 min: TRY - Hurricanes, really good from the Hurricanes - a counter ruck turns the ball over - then Fletcher Smith gets on the end of a chip kick and scores. Kick is good. Hurricanes 12 - 24 Blues. 

44 min: Lots of kicking early on in this second half. 

41 min: Back underway for the second half. 

43 min: TRY - Blues, soft from the Canes, Ben Lam is beaten by Nanai who steps inside and scores. Kick is good. Hurricanes 5 - 24 Blues. 

42 min: The Blues earn a penalty advantage after the hooter. 

38 min: TRY - Hurricanes, a much needed try for the hosts, Danny Toala makes a very nice break and sets up Peter Umaga-Jensen for the Canes' first try. Kick is wide. Hurricanes 5 - 17 Blues.

36 min: TRY - Blues. Very good from the Blues - Pulu finds Clarke with a short ball and he cruises over for a try. Kick is good. Hurricanes 0 - 17 Blues. 

35 min: Once again - the Blues do really well, Black finds Clarke with a cross field kick who gives to Nanai who goes close, Blues 5m scrum. 

33 min: WOW! Another knock on - Finlay Christie now for the Canes. 

32 min: Another knock on from the Blues - Rieko Ioane this time. 

30 min: Another mini break for Nanai but he can't find anyone else - the Blues knock it forward and the Canes will have a scrum - good signs from the Blues. 

26 min: Really nice move from the Hurricanes - they end up 15 metres out but a mistake from Asi - and it's a Blues lineout. 

21 min: The Blues steal the ball but it's gathered back by the Hurricanes and they win a penalty but the ball doesn't go out.

18 min: Penalty for the Canes here - out in front. Dane Coles takes the quick tap and knocks it on.

16 min: The Hurricanes have the ball now and are looking to hit back. 

13 min: The Blues are under advantage again - TRY - Blues, good work from the Blues - they stay patient and attack well, after 9 phases it's Tanielu Tele'a who scores. Kick is good. Hurricanes 0 - 10 Blues.

9 min: Knock on from the Hurricanes now - Blues on the charge again. 

7 min: Lineout from the Blues - over thrown but the Bluies win a penalty. Kick is good. Hurricanes 0 - 3 Blues.

4 min: Blues attack ends with a forward pass from Nanai.

3 min: Good start here for the Blues - as they push on attack. 

1 min: Kick off ! 

======================================

Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's coverage of the Super Rugby match between the Hurricanes and the Blues from The Cake Tin. 

TAB Odds: Hurricanes: $2.00    Blues: $1.80

Pre-match chat: Sonny Bill Williams returns for Blues against Hurricanes

Star midfielder Sonny Bill Williams will make his long-awaited return from injury, when the Blues take on the Hurricanes in their final game of the Super Rugby season on Saturday.

Williams hasn't featured for the Blues since injuring his knee in their week seven clash with the Stormers and he's rearing for a chance to contribute, albeit in a dead rubber contest.

"The body's good," Said Williams at Thursday's training. "It's been a long process with this injury, but I put all my faith in Allah and the time is right now.

"I'm good enough to get out there against the Hurricanes and I'm just excited to have another crack with the boys."

With little at stake in Wellington, much interest will centre on the form of cross-code star Williams, whose All Blacks selection is in doubt, after sitting out the last 10 games.

The 33-year-old former NRL star, who has long been favoured by New Zealand coach Steve Hansen, will make just his third start of the year, as he tries to stave off a host of quality midfield candidates to win selection for a third Rugby World Cup

Wing sensation Rieko Ioane rejoins the run-on side, after completing his final week of All Blacks rest, as will lock Patrick Tuipulotu.

Prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi will take his last round of All Blacks-allocated rest, meaning Marcel Renata will make his first start of the season against his former franchise.

Meanwhile, Williams' former All Blacks midfield partner Ma'a Nonu will start from the bench in what could be his Super Rugby swansong at Westpac Stadium, where he played most of his career with the Hurricanes.

An injury to regular TJ Faiane makes way for Tanielu Tele'a to start alongside Williams, while Augustine Pulu forms a halves pairing with Otere Black.

Wing Caleb Clarke is back from injury to play on the right wing next to fullback Melani Nanai, who plays his final Blues game, before heading to the UK to join the Worcester Warriors.

Despite missing the playoffs for the eighth straight season, Blues coach Leon MacDonald stressed the importance of finishing their campaign on a high note.

"We owe it to ourselves, after a season of such hard work and dedication, to enjoy the opportunity to execute like I know we can," he said.

 

Hurricanes: 1-Fraser Armstrong, 2-Dane Coles, 3-Ross Geldenhuys, 4-Kane Le'aupepe, 5- Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6- Reed Prinsep, 7-Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8-Gareth Evans, 9-Richard Judd, 10-Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11-Salesi Rayasi, 12-Danny Toala, 13-Peter Umaga-Jensen, 14-Ben Lam, 15-James Marshall

Reserves: 16-Asafo Aumua, 17-Chris Eves, 18-Alex Fidow, 19-Liam Mitchell, 20-Ardie Savea, 21-TJ Perenara, 22-Fletcher Smith, 23-Jonah Lowe

Blues: 1-Alex Hodgman, 2-James Parsons, 3- Marcel Renata, 4-Patrick Tuipulotu, 5-Scott Scrafton, 6- Dalton Papali'i, 7-Blake Gibson (c), 8-Akira Ioane, 9-Augustine Pulu, 10-Otere Black, 11-Rieko Ioane, 12-Sonny Bill Williams, 13-Tanielu Tele'a, 14-Caleb Clarke, 15-Melani Nanai

Reserves: 16-Leni Apisai, 17-Hisa Sasagi, 18-Lua Li, 19-Tom Robinson, 20-Josh Goodhue, 21-Jonathan Ruru, 22-Harry Plummer, 23-Ma'a Nonu