Super Rugby Pacific: Hurricanes set pace atop table with decisive bonus-point win over Highlanders

Winger Salesi Rayasi has scored a hattrick of tries to help the Hurricanes overwhelm the Highlanders 41-14 and rise to the top of the Super Rugby Pacific table - for now.

The result puts the Wellington-based side five points ahead of the Blues, who must now produce duplicate that bonus-point win over the Chiefs at Eden Park to claim No.1 seeding into next week's playoffs.

Behind early, the Hurricanes put on four unanswered tries to seize control of the contest and claimed their bonus point before halftime. Rayasi grabbed three tries, while flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi had a first-half double.

In bleak and windy conditions, Highlanders first-five Ajay Faleafaga struck first, kicking low into the breeze for a 50-22. From the lineout, the visiting forwards surged to the posts, where centre Matt Whaanga was able to force the ball at the base of an upright for the opening try.

The home side quickly responded, with hooker Asafo Aumua - returning from injury - surging down the left sideline and finding Rayasi in support to score.

They had their second, when Rayasi and Kirifi carried strongly into the 22, and Kirifi popped up again near the line to burrow over.

Aumua laid on another try down the left, when he surged from a lineout and put halfback TJ Perenara across near the corner to extend his Super Rugby tryscoring record.  

Rayasi had his second off a set play from a lineout maul to claim a bonus point, but that slipped away, when Highlanders lock Fabian Holland plunged over to reduce the deficit after half an hour.

Kirifi grabbed it back, as the Hurricanes continued to plug the right-edge defence, with the flanker reaching out to force on the tryline.

The Highlanders' cause wasn't helped, when winger Connor Garden-Bachop was yellow-carded for a shoulder tackle to the head of lock James Tucker, leaving his team shorthanded.

On halftime, the home side had a chance to stretch their advantage, when Aumua and prop Xavier Numia surged from an attacking lineout, the ball was held up over the line. 

Ahead 29-14 at the break, the Hurricanes lost Perenara early in the second half with a knee complaint, but struck first into the wind, as Rayasi finished off an expansive move for his hattrick.

The visitors were again reduced to 14, when second-five Sam Gilbert was yellow-carded for high contact, but Hurricanes fullback Ruben Love also limped off early, adding to their injury toll.

No.8 Bayden Iose charged over from the back of a five-metre scrum, but they had a couple of other chances rubbed out, when replacement Riley Higgins put his foot in touch near the corner and Bailyn Sullivan lost the ball over the line, as he reached out to force.

"The thing we spoke about during the week was, the past few seasons, all we wanted was a home quarter-final," reflected captain Jordie Barrett. "The great thing was that was under our control tonight and we managed a bonus-point win... again, it's out of our control now.

"I'm not sure the camera will do it justice, but the wind was blustery out here and the kicking game was tough, even playing with a bit of width - it was windy Wellington alright."

The Highlanders must also wait to learn their quarter-final opponents - if the Blues lose and Brumbies win, the southerners may yet have to visit Eden Park.

Hurricanes 41 (Rayasi 3, Kirifi 2, Perenara, Iose tries; Cameron 3 conversions) Highlanders 14 (Whaanga, Holland tries; Gilbert 2 conversions)

Winger Salesi Rayasi has scored a hattrick of tries to help the Hurricanes overwhelm the Highlanders 41-14 and rise to the top of the Super Rugby Pacific table - for now.

The result puts the Wellington-based side five points ahead of the Blues, who must now produce duplicate that bonus-point win over the Chiefs at Eden Park to claim No.1 seeding into next week's playoffs.

Behind early, the Hurricanes put on four unanswered tries to seize control of the contest and claimed their bonus point before halftime. Rayasi grabbed three tries, while flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi had a first-half double.

In bleak and windy conditions, Highlanders first-five Ajay Faleafaga struck first, kicking low into the breeze for a 50-22. From the lineout, the visiting forwards surged to the posts, where centre Matt Whaanga was able to force the ball at the base of an upright for the opening try.

The home side quickly responded, with hooker Asafo Aumua - returning from injury - surging down the left sideline and finding Rayasi in support to score.

They had their second, when Rayasi and Kirifi carried strongly into the 22, and Kirifi popped up again near the line to burrow over.

Aumua laid on another try down the left, when he surged from a lineout and put halfback TJ Perenara across near the corner to extend his Super Rugby tryscoring record.  

Rayasi had his second off a set play from a lineout maul to claim a bonus point, but that slipped away, when Highlanders lock Fabian Holland plunged over to reduce the deficit after half an hour.

Kirifi grabbed it back, as the Hurricanes continued to plug the right-edge defence, with the flanker reaching out to force on the tryline.

The Highlanders' cause wasn't helped, when winger Connor Garden-Bachop was yellow-carded for a shoulder tackle to the head of lock James Tucker, leaving his team shorthanded.

On halftime, the home side had a chance to stretch their advantage, when Aumua and prop Xavier Numia surged from an attacking lineout, the ball was held up over the line. 

Ahead 29-14 at the break, the Hurricanes lost Perenara early in the second half with a knee complaint, but struck first into the wind, as Rayasi finished off an expansive move for his hattrick.

The visitors were again reduced to 14, when second-five Sam Gilbert was yellow-carded for high contact, but Hurricanes fullback Ruben Love also limped off early, adding to their injury toll.

No.8 Bayden Iose charged over from the back of a five-metre scrum, but they had a couple of other chances rubbed out, when replacement Riley Higgins put his foot in touch near the corner and Bailyn Sullivan lost the ball over the line, as he reached out to force.

"The thing we spoke about during the week was, the past few seasons, all we wanted was a home quarter-final," reflected captain Jordie Barrett. "The great thing was that was under our control tonight and we managed a bonus-point win... again, it's out of our control now.

"I'm not sure the camera will do it justice, but the wind was blustery out here and the kicking game was tough, even playing with a bit of width - it was windy Wellington alright."

The Highlanders must also wait to learn their quarter-final opponents - if the Blues lose and Brumbies win, the southerners may yet have to visit Eden Park.

Hurricanes 41 (Rayasi 3, Kirifi 2, Perenara, Iose tries; Cameron 3 conversions) Highlanders 14 (Whaanga, Holland tries; Gilbert 2 conversions)

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