Photo highlights from the last pre-season friendly before the Super Rugby Season begins between the Hurricane's and Moana Pasifika which was played at the NZCIS - NZ Campus of Innovation and Sport
The Hurricanes overran Moana Pasifika 59-26 in the searing heat in Wellington this afternoon during the Super Rugby Pacific pre-season clash in Upper Hutt
Moana Pasifika however where the first to score, when young Tonga No.8 Semisi Paea barrelled over for a try early on. Minutes later however the Hurricanes were level when the Moana Pasifika collapsed on the line and a penalty try was awarded.
Hurricanes try-scoring record holder Julian Savea who wasn't required by his home franchise this year and he made his old teammates pay, when he stormed across the field in determined fashion to put Moana Pasifika ahead again.
The Hurricanes fired back in emphatic fashion when Winger Salesi Rayasi put the Moana defence under pressure and offloaded for Reon Paul to finish. Moments later Flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi gathered the ball from an untidy lineout win and simply carved through the Moana defence to score next to the uprights, before a rapid double was emphatically executed to give the Hurricanes a 33-14 advantage.
Moana has periods of sustained pressure but when a turnover saw the Hurricanes break from their own half and halfback Kyle Preston took the final pass to cap off a fine performance before their season opener against Western Force next Saturday, while Moana Pasifika face the Highlanders later on the same day.
Result:
Hurricanes 59-26 Moana Pasifika
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