The Blues wanted to make it ugly against the Hurricanes — but not on the scoreboard.
The 47-24 result makes for harsh reading, as the clinical Hurricanes blew the home team off Eden Park, with the Blues’ strategy to keep things tight ripped open by the free-running Hurricanes.
Fehi Fineanganofo’s irrepressible form continued, now just one five-pointer away from the most prolific try-scoring season in Super Rugby history.
The Blues barely fired a shot in the first 40 minutes, with a Warner Dearns charge-down beginning the evening, before tries for Jordie Barrett and Pasilio Tosi gave the Hurricanes a commanding 21-0 lead at halftime.
The northerners pulled one back after the break, as flanker Malachi Wrampling barged over to offer some hope, but the ’Canes were not letting them back.
Winger Kini Naholo announced his return with a try, taking a slick inside ball from halfback Ere Enari to stretch the advantage further.
Then came Fineanganofo’s record equaliser.
The winger sparked it, as he hurled a wide pass to lock Caleb Delany who kicked ahead, but the bounce evaded him and fell for Fineanganofo who pulled out a spectacular dive to mark the moment.
He is just one try from the out-and-out record, currently shared with Joe Roff and Ben Lam.
As the game opened up, the Blues cashed in with three late tries for hooker Kurt Eklund, wing AJ Lam and lock Sam Darry, who bulldozed his way through the Hurricanes after taking a quick tap.
The Hurricanes closed things out through flanker Peter Lakai, putting a record number of points on the scoreboard and sending a serious statement about their 2026 title credentials.
Earlier the Waratahs scored a big win on the road, sailing to a 50-35 victory against Fiji Drua in Suva on Saturday.
That pushed the Waratahs into seventh on the ladder, one spot outside of the top six, while the Highlanders are eighth after their loss to the Chiefs on Friday.
The Western Force had a 19-14 victory against the Reds to sit ninth, while the Reds hold on to sixth spot.
The Crusaders (fourth), Brumbies (fifth) and Moana Pasifika (11th) all had byes.
The Crusaders host the Chiefs (second), the Waratahs are home to the Brumbies, Moana Pasifika meet the Reds, the Hurricanes face the Highlanders and the Force host the Drua this weekend. — RNZ/Additional reporting Kayla Hodge
By Jonty Dine
