Following a 66-12 thrashing of the Brumbies in the Super Rugby Pacific play-off at Hnry Stadium on Friday, here are the player ratings for the Hurricanes.
15 Callum Harkin: A talented playmaker who brings plenty of skills to the backline and there were a few classy moments. There were also a couple of errors, but it was still a net positive from Harkin. Should Fehi Fineanganofo recover from injury for the semi-finals, Clark Laidlaw has a decision to make for the semi-finals with Josh Moorby a very capable full-back. 7
14 Josh Moorby: Speaking of the in-form wing, he wasn’t always involved but he certainly made an impact when injecting himself into the contest. Moorby displayed his aerial skills with one fantastic take from a restart and also off-loaded nicely. 7
The All Blacks midfield duo?
13 Billy Proctor: Continued his fantastic season by being at the forefront of this impressive Hurricanes display. Touched down once, created another, threatened through his running game and ultimately combined superbly with his centre partner. 8
12 Jordie Barrett (cc): Another silky smooth display from the world-class back, who appeared to be in complete control of every action he made. Barrett glided through holes, was physical in contact and his handling was sublime. 8
11 Kini Naholo: There was one delightful assist from the powerhouse wing while he also charged effectively into contact, often making ground. Did his job very well but wasn’t the Hurricanes’ best back. 7
10 Ruben Love: It would make sense to see Love start for the All Blacks, especially when he will likely be flanked by two Hurricanes team-mates, but he still has a lot to learn. His kicking game was effective, both out of hand and off the tee, while the backline worked effectively, but there were a few mistakes which he will need to eradicate going forward. 7
9 Cam Roigard: An absolute joy to watch and his two tries were just reward for his superb display. Roigard’s support lines were excellent but it was his all-round skill set which the Brumbies struggled to handle. Kicking was on point and he kept the tempo high at the base. 8
8 Peter Lakai: Did the dirty work in the tight, regularly making metres close to the ruck and keeping the Hurricanes on the front foot. Lakai never drops below a certain standard and will be a player that Dave Rennie will love. 8
7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (cc): Similar to Lakai, the All Blacks head coach will be pleased with Kirifi’s repeat efforts. The openside flanker was prominent on both sides of the ball but was particularly effective in the carry. 8
6 Brad Shields: Completing an effective loose trio was former England international Shields, who rarely makes mistakes. A workhorse in both attack and defence, while he is also a useful presence in the air, in the lineout and restarts. 7
Best lock in Super Rugby
5 Warner Dearns: It’s been a remarkable season from the Japan star and Dearns was once again incredible as he touched down twice and dominated in the physical exchanges. Also did some excellent lineout work and was their go-to man in that set-piece. 9
4 Caleb Delany: Audacious assist for Dearns’ first try while he got over the line himself, but Delany is there for his work at close quarters and he also did that with aplomb in what was a fine display. 8
3 Pasilio Tosi: It feels like it could be a big year for the gargantuan prop with Tosi really stepping up a level this season. The scrum, with the tighthead the cornerstone of the pack, has become a real weapon, while he adds so much in the loose, including at the breakdown. 8
2 Asafo Aumua: The hooker produced 43 minutes of action-packed rugby as the Hurricanes got off to a storming start. Set-piece went smoothly while he added plenty around the field. 7
1 Xavier Numia: All three front-rowers were replaced before the 50-minute mark but, like his team-mates, Numia did his set-piece work well. Wasn’t quite as prominent in the carry but was excellent defensively. 7
Replacements: They continued to run rampant in the second period and that was, in part, thanks to the bench. Ngane Punivai scored a stunning hat-trick after coming on for Harkin, the front five all added energy and Brayden Iose was absolutely everywhere. Stunning impact from the bench. 9