Hurricanes thrash Blues to charge into Super Rugby final / Photo: © AFP
RYCEF
0.1700
The China Mail - Hurricanes thrash Blues to charge into Super Rugby final
USD
-
AED 3.672501
AFN 65.476319
ALL 80.577087
AMD 365.860022
ANG 1.789783
AOA 917.000049
ARS 1491.641402
AUD 1.41719
AWG 1.80125
AZN 1.697547
BAM 1.696734
BBD 2.015728
BDT 122.843622
BGN 1.696366
BHD 0.377075
BIF 2998
BMD 1
BND 1.280933
BOB 11.734342
BRL 5.209199
BSD 1.000794
BTN 95.468406
BWP 13.472141
BYN 3.009929
BYR 19600
BZD 2.012779
CAD 1.393785
CDF 2273.000256
CHF 0.813435
CLF 0.023231
CLP 914.290229
CNY 6.743198
CNH 6.745195
COP 3125.44
CRC 449.393362
CUC 1
CUP 26.5
CVE 96.097828
CZK 21.014198
DJF 178.218681
DKK 6.484485
DOP 58.508892
DZD 132.931669
EGP 50.176501
ERN 15
ETB 161.890385
EUR 0.86745
FJD 2.21445
FKP 0.740201
GBP 0.741685
GEL 2.610218
GGP 0.740201
GHS 11.074982
GIP 0.740201
GMD 73.501678
GNF 8774.999914
GTQ 7.628599
GYD 209.38434
HKD 7.84715
HNL 26.830633
HRK 6.535402
HTG 130.904201
HUF 315.257502
IDR 17864
ILS 2.962965
IMP 0.740201
INR 95.43215
IQD 1311.025996
IRR 1374587.497717
ISK 123.34037
JEP 0.740201
JMD 158.336044
JOD 0.708968
JPY 159.5095
KES 129.495898
KGS 87.449705
KHR 4047.49823
KMF 426.999894
KPW 900.000294
KRW 1418.620493
KWD 0.30861
KYD 0.834053
KZT 465.738688
LAK 22580.225386
LBP 89621.102036
LKR 333.612392
LRD 181.645463
LSL 16.144844
LTL 2.95274
LVL 0.604889
LYD 6.374682
MAD 9.270009
MDL 17.373275
MGA 4310.91697
MKD 53.37538
MMK 2099.846019
MNT 3597.969266
MOP 8.08894
MRU 40.105493
MUR 47.149798
MVR 15.460087
MWK 1735.471585
MXN 17.04444
MYR 4.086397
MZN 63.900861
NAD 16.144914
NGN 1360.849945
NIO 36.82706
NOK 9.513135
NPR 152.752101
NZD 1.71006
OMR 0.384513
PAB 1.000794
PEN 3.377159
PGK 4.42879
PHP 61.374501
PKR 277.795321
PLN 3.7389
PYG 5973.01084
QAR 3.635016
RON 4.547598
RSD 101.752974
RUB 83.076096
RWF 1474.223003
SAR 3.743113
SBD 8.064941
SCR 14.023536
SDG 600.498289
SEK 9.568698
SGD 1.28072
SHP 0.740866
SLE 24.550085
SLL 20969.499227
SOS 571.973887
SRD 37.722498
STD 20697.981008
STN 21.254723
SVC 8.756946
SYP 13001.999906
SZL 16.149252
THB 33.194033
TJS 9.247366
TMT 3.5
TND 2.934571
TOP 2.40776
TRY 47.773796
TTD 6.786763
TWD 32.126993
TZS 2645.502939
UAH 44.737671
UGX 3715.737009
UYU 40.062929
UZS 11954.697077
VES 765.397601
VND 26075
VUV 118.594628
WST 2.730779
XAF 569.073676
XAG 0.015463
XAU 0.000229
XCD 2.70255
XCG 1.803702
XDR 0.707757
XOF 569.06874
XPF 103.462785
YER 237.149877
ZAR 16.21045
ZMK 9001.20247
ZMW 18.815201
ZWL 321.999592
- Romania shuts nuclear plant as Danube drops
- Tourists rescued by boat as forest fire threatens Greek beaches
- Millions of Europeans struggle with another wave of extreme heat
- Indicted Raul Castro reappears after months out of public view
- Israel reopens once-closed West Bank settlement
- Italian teen Curtis breaks women's 50m backstroke world record for second time
- Taylor to captain New Zealand for first time against Bulls
- Taulagi steps out of 'comfort zone' with code switch to French Top 14 new boys
- Carrick urges Man Utd to push for more signings to boost title bid
- Leicester's Thai owners put troubled club up for sale: reports
Hurricanes thrash Blues to charge into Super Rugby final
The Wellington Hurricanes powered clear in the second half to crush the Auckland Blues 57-21 on Saturday, setting up a Super Rugby final against the Waikato Chiefs.
The top-qualifying Hurricanes scored nine tries and powered away in the second half to add to a spectacular season of point-scoring.
They will return to Wellington for their first final appearance since 2016, when they won their lone title, against a Chiefs side chasing their third championship.
The Hurricanes struggled for early rhythm and led 19-14 at the break.
They turned up the tempo and scored quick tries through scrum-half Cam Roigard and wing Josh Moorby, the 100th of the season for the Hurricanes.
Hooker Asafo Aumua was also among the second-half try-scorers and said he wasn't surprised by the tight halftime scoreline.
"We knew that was coming, we knew that the Blues are a very tough side, especially physically," Aumua said.
"We had to keep grinding it out and reap the rewards in that second half.
"We've been together a few years, this group we have right now, and it's special we're in the final. Now we've just got to take it day by day and make the most next week," he said.
The Hurricanes' first-half tries went to Jordie Barrett, Du'Plessis Kirifi and Xavier Numia, while replacements Ere Enari and Kini Naholo dotted down in the dying minutes.
The Blues ended the season in a slump, losing their last five games heavily, including a qualifying final last week against the Canterbury Crusaders, before advancing to the last four as "lucky losers".
They were considered long shots to topple the Hurricanes, who had won both regular season matches between the sides by 23 points.
The Blues' hopes weren't helped by losing outside backs Caleb Clarke and AJ Lam early in the match after both failed head injury assessments.
Their tries were scored by Patrick Tuipulotu, Payton Spencer and Eli Oudenryn, while All Blacks veteran Beauden Barrett landed three conversions.
The game was the last in charge for head coach Vern Cotter, who steered the Blues to the 2024 title.
Cotter will lead the Queensland Reds next year, replacing Wallabies coach-in-waiting Les Kiss.
W.Cheng--ThChM
