Hurricanes vs Highlanders takes: Love's All Blacks reminder, Landers check out early

The Highlanders flew to Wellington for their final game of the 2026 Rugby Pacific season, signing off on their campaign with the biggest challenge of 2026: facing the Hurricanes at Hnry Stadium.

The hosts owned a 10-game win streak against the Highlanders coming into the match, their longest run of victories in the fixture’s history. That run was ultimately extended to 11 on Saturday evening.

It was a game lacking intensity, but not tries, as the Hurricanes scored seven and the Highlanders managed four of their own. The 45-28 win has secured the Hurricanes the top seed heading into the playoffs, meaning even a loss in the qualifying final will see them progress to the semis.

Here are some takeaways from the match.

Highlanders check out early

The Highlanders were eliminated from playoff contention with the Reds’ win that preceded their round 15 matchup against the Hurricanes, and a 20-minute red card in the fifth minute in Wellington added salt to that wound as soon as the game began.

But the visitors were visibly unenthused from the outset, with a game of kick tennis to start the game setting a dull tone. The Hurricanes generated momentum with ease in the collision area, and the hosts made quick work of exploiting overlaps out wide, running out to a commanding early lead.

The Highlanders average 24 missed tackles per game this season, and dropped off 16 in the opening half hour alone in Wellington.

The occasional Lucas Casey carry, Mitch Dunshea tackle, or scrum gave the Highlanders some energy, but the team’s passing was woeful, with the ball looped high or hitting the deck and killing any chance for the attack to play. The team’s possession and attacking stats were ugly throughout the opening half-hour, but did start to improve as the half progressed from there.

And all of that considered, the visitors were only behind 28-14 at the half thanks to an opportunistic try to Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens and another from Timoci Tavatavanawai, who cut against the grain off a scrum five metres out.

Both coaches said at half-time that their teams need to work harder in the second half, and that message did result in improved intent around the park. But for the Highlanders, the hole they’d already dug themselves was too deep.

The Highlanders now haven’t won a road game against a team not named Moana Pasifika in their last 21 attempts.

The All Blacks‘ Caleb Tangitau hole

Sevu Reece is surrendering his All Blacks eligibility at the end of this year, having signed a three-year deal with Perpignan in the Top 14. For 14 rounds of this season, it felt like a forgone conclusion that Caleb Tangitau would take Reece’s place in the All Blacks.

But now, with Tangitau just beginning a long road to recovery from a ruptured Achilles, that selection race has been blown wide open, and this game featured a couple of the leading contenders.

For the Highlanders, Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens has delivered superb playmaking from the backfield throughout this season and those previous, and while his skillset is well-tailored for the fullback role, the All Blacks have a history of sliding 15s into a 14 jersey. The 24-year-old won the race to his chip ahead to score in the 24th minute, despite his stride looking uneasy with his right knee wrapped up.

Josh Moorby has come back from France in flying form, and scored his 13th try of the season on Saturday night. That five-pointer wasn’t his biggest highlight, though, as the 27-year-old burst through five tackles to set up Du’Plessis Kirifi for his 15th-minute try.

Meanwhile, on the Hurricanes’ left wing, Kini Naholo has returned from injury in damaging form, presenting perhaps the most physically dominant option at Dave Rennie’s disposal. His two tries against the Highlanders raised his season tally to five in just three games.

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Avg. Points Scored

3.7

12

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Avg. Points Scored

4.6

6

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Ruben Love’s All Blacks reminder

Dave Rennie won’t overreact to flashy attack, but it has its place in the game of rugby, and Ruben Love displayed more of it than usual against the Highlanders.

The 25-year-old has been dedicated to the Hurricanes game plan in 2026, not chancing his arm with many carries into the teeth of the defence, but making the occasional incisive break when the opportunity has presented itself.

Love’s greatest strength at 10 is his distribution, and while playing more at the line against the Highlanders, we saw that distribution come under pressure, yet the execution largely held up.

The Hurricanes playmaker was more active with the ball against the Highlanders, making 12 carries and scoring his first try of the year. Obviously, with his experience as a fullback, Love’s attacking threat is well-established, but it has been almost completely surrendered in 2026, so this performance was a timely reminder.

Beauden Barrett is not lighting the world up like he once did, and Damian McKenzie has played just six games at 10 after 15 rounds this Super season, making Love’s credentials for the black 10 shirt all the more appealing.

In terms of the ball-in-hand numbers this year, Love averages just 4.5 carries per game, making 42.1 metres with the ball in hand and breaking the line once every two games.

Barrett carries the ball 6.1 times per game, making 36.3 metres with the ball in hand and also breaking the line once every two games.

McKenzie is the most dangerous with the ball, and his stats are aided by two starts at fullback. He carries 7.9 times per game, running for 74.8 metres with the ball and breaking the line nearly once every game.

The Hurricanes’ backline has been humming all season, and that’s sure to reflect well on Love, but we all know the coming month is where he earns his spot or loses it.

Territory

18%

30%

19%

33%

52%

Territory

48%

The Cane Train where it deserves to be

Titles aren’t won in the regular season, but there’s no denying the Hurricanes deserve to be atop the standings heading into the playoffs.

The team is scoring more and conceding fewer points than anyone else, with a points differential of +297. The Chiefs are the next-best with a points differential of +165.

A slip-up in Fiji to start the season and a stumble against the Chiefs in Hamilton are the only stains on their record.

The Canes are by far the most dangerous team in Super Rugby off turnover ball, and win the most turnovers of any team.

Not only are they unbeaten at home this year, but they have won their last eight matches at Hnry Stadium by an average margin of 25 points. Should they retain their top seed with a qualifying final victory, it’ll be very difficult to stop them these playoffs.