Hurricanes vs Blues takes: All Blacks bolter watch, and the title favourites are...

The in-form teams of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season collided in Wellington on Saturday evening, both eager to stake their title credentials.

The Hurricanes entered the contest on a five-game win streak against their fellow Kiwi clubs, having never won six local derbies in a row. That all changed in the Kiwi capital.

The hosts never trailed on the night, scoring six tries to the Blues’ three, boasting the bulk of the territory and possession, and doing so despite receiving two yellow cards.

The 42-19 win was the statement the Hurricanes were looking for, and has laid the challenge for the Blues and the rest of the field.

Here are some takeaways from the result.

All Blacks bolter watch

Dave Rennie has let it be known: he has no loyalties, so All Blacks spots are up for grabs.

Numerous players furthered their respective cases in Wellington on Saturday evening, casting further doubt on the established order.

Callum Harkin was equal parts game-driver and game-breaker, scoring the first try of the day with sheer pace that left former All Blacks Sevens ace Cody Vai clutching at air. He led the game in line-breaks and metres carried, scoring his second try in the 64th minute after the Blues had cut the lead to single digits. Perhaps most impressive is the 27-year-old’s decision-making, given he is seemingly yet to be caught taking the selfish option.

The Hurricanes’ front row did themselves no harm, with Xavier Numia setting the tone early with his myriad of carries, and the perennial All Blacks XV selectee proved his motor when returning to the match late after an injury ended Siale Lauaki’s night. Numia’s 14 carries were a game-high on the night.

The big mover, though, and this scope can be broadened to the 2026 season as a whole, has to be Tevita Mafileo. The big prop has been dominant in the collision area and likewise at scrum time, looking tailor-made for the Test arena. He was an injury replacement in Scott Robertson’s squad last year and deserves an official selection in 2026.

22m Entries

Avg. Points Scored

2.6

16

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Avg. Points Scored

2.3

8

Entries

And the title favourites are…

The question was asked of the Hurricanes this week: are they contenders or pretenders? Saturday’s result certainly answered that question.

The Blues’ defence was tough and resilient, surviving long stretches of the Hurricanes’ attack. But it didn’t hold out.

Tackle success is the one major statistic in which the Blues lead the field in 2026, and the team operated just above their season average in Wellington. Yet, it wasn’t enough.

With the opportunism of Cam Roigard, the X-factor of Fehi Finenganofo, the distribution skills of Ruben Love and Jordie Barrett, the Hurricanes, in this vein of form, could sniff a try-scoring opportunity from the shadow realm.

In the forwards, Warner Dearns continues to be Super Rugby Pacific’s most prolific defensive lineout threat, Devan Flanders continues to produce as a work-horse in all facets of the game, and, as mentioned, Tevita Mafileo looks to be one of the most dominant scrumagers in the competition.

While the Blues lead the pack in one area, the Hurricanes lead the competition in tries, linebreaks, carry metres, offloads, and turnovers won. The stats point to this team owning an overwhelming amount of firepower, as do the highlights.

Just how sustainable that level of attack is will be found out over the next three weeks, with games against the Chiefs, Brumbies and Crusaders. For now, the Canes have certainly earned the ‘title favourites’ tag.

The battle of the 10s

Beauden Barrett had a shaky start to the evening, landing the kick-off out on the full and knocking the ball on when contesting his first high ball of the night. Both instances gave the Hurricanes some energy early.

The veteran bounced back with a superb kick that pinned the Hurricanes near their own try-line, leading to AJ Lam scoring the first points for the Blues.

There was some trademark Beauden Barrett work and smart kicking, but the Blues ended the game having been stuck in their own half for 62 per cent of the action.

On the other side of the ball, Ruben Love didn’t look like a 24-year-old desperate to make a statement against his childhood hero, nor did he look overawed by the occasion. He looked dedicated to the game plan, knowing that executing it would do all the talking for him.

No try went unconverted for the Hurricanes thanks to Love’s boot, and the pace of his passing was again a great attribute for his backline.

This display showed Dave Rennie that the youngster is ready for what comes next.

The Blues’ next generation stands up

Ricky Riccitelli and Mark Tele’a have left, Dalton Papali’i, Hoskins Sotutu and AJ Lam are on their way out, but the Blues’ future is bright.

As the best of the 2024 Baby Blacks filter into Super Rugby Pacific — Dylan Pledger at the Highlanders, Johnny Lee at the Crusaders, and both Xavi Taele and Malachi Wrapling at the Blues — the Aucklanders’ development and recruitment stand out.

Wrampling was New Zealand’s best player before injury prematurely ended his U20 campaign, and the praise for Taele was huge from within the environment.

This week, with the biggest match of the 2026 season on his doorstep, Blues head coach Vern Cotter backed his youth and was largely rewarded for his faith.

Wrampling’s physicality stood out amongst two massive packs, going toe-to-toe with Peter Lakai and coming out on top in some bruising collisions. The big loosie finished the match with a game-high seven tackle busts. Meanwhile, in the midfield, Taele’s footwork and fast hands brought dynamism to the Blues’ backline. The pair of 21-year-olds delivered under the bright lights of a significant Super Rugby Pacific fixture.

The No.8’s try in the 54th minute was purely a product of the two youngsters, with Taele the first carrier and Wrampling charging the final few metres over the try line.

Elsewhere in the Blues squad, Cody Vai (22) was looking like the Roadrunner, Che Clark (22) was imposing himself, Anton Segner (24) looks far more at home with the number 7 on his back, Torian Barnes (22) is a rare mix of physicality and work rate, Sam Darry (25) has stepped into the captaincy role admirably and is working well with Josh Beehre (24) in the second row.

It is a quick turnaround since the club’s last title, but the self-inflicted transition is unfolding before our eyes, and it is going as well as Blues fans could have hoped.