Keep up with all the action as the Canes try to keep the pressure on conference-leading Crusaders
HURRICANES 43 - 15 SUNWOLVES
80 mins: Aso scored again! Jordie missed the conversion and that's it. A margin that flatters the Hurricanes. The Sunwolves did very well in the first 60 or 70 but tired and the Canes took advantage.
76 mins: Shields is in! A nice pass from Aso puts his skipper over in the corner. The score is not going to do the Sunwolves justice at all. Jordie slots the conversion this time.
73 mins: Vince Aso scores! As easy as you like in the corner after strong carries. The unlucky 13 could have a hat-trick tonight. Jordie misses the conversion. Beauden is on the bench FYI.
69 mins: The Sunwolves have gone over! The TMO looked like he was getting to get involved. A box kick dribbled just in from the touch line and Fukuoka managed to track it down and score. That's unconverted.
61 mins: A sistained period in possession comes to nothing for the Sunwolves, who knock on. B Barrett then threw a 30m/40m pass behind his try line. Coaches might not like it but it's entertaining.
57 mins: The Canes get a scrum free kick because the Sunwolves hooker didn't hook it. In better news, Nehe Milner-Skudder is coming on to a big roar from the Wellington crowd.
56 mins: The ref rules held up, it looked like the Sunwolves got over there. TMO to have a look at it. We'll stay with the on-field decision. It was very close.
53 mins: Penalty to the Sunwolves on the Canes' 5m line.
50 mins: The Canes crossed but the TMO got involved, again. A penalty was given against Savea for a high clean out. It's not too much to say the TMO is ruining the game, there is no flow with the constant interjecting.
45 mins: The Sunwolves have got over but the ref has sent it up to the TMO as a no try, double movement. The TMO has confirmed that.
41 mins: Jordie Barrett is in! The fullback shows and goes all the way. He got the ball inside his own half and showed some wheels. His brother can't convert from the sideline so the score reamins 26-10.
40 mins: B Barrett converts and that's halftime. No shortage of grit from the Sunwolves but the class of the Canes saw them pull away late in that half. We'll be back after the break.
38 mins: Princep goes blind and can't be stopped off the back of the scrum.
36 mins: Another penalty to the Canes, they take a scrum. A try in the shadows of halftime would be very nice for the Canes.
34 mins: The Canes win a nice scrum penalty. They kick for the corner. A great chance here.
32 mins: The Sunwolves knock it on just short of the line and the Canes launch into a blistering counter through Aso. What a passage!
27 mins: They're in! Nice step and pass from B Barrett off the scrum puts debutant Christie over. Converted as well.
26 mins: Canes get a kickable penalty but they go for the scrum. That was a nice passage from them, Ben Lam at the centre of it.
24 mins: Christie throws a loose pass but the Sunwolves can't take advantage. The Canes are off a little here, particularly at lineout time.
22 mins: Sunwolves are doing a nice job of holding on to the pill. Though they're not doing a huge amount with it. They win a penalty.
17 mins: Sunwolves get a kickable penalty and Parker will take the shot...which he nails!
15 mins: B Barrett converts and we're all locked up.
14 mins: Canes inching towards the line through the forward. They go wide and Julian Savea is in! A nice flick pass put the winger over.
12 mins: The lineout was overthrown but the Canes will get another go after the Sunwolves cleared into touch.
11 mins: Kickable penalty for the Canes but they'll for the try, naturally.
9 mins: Ths Sunwolves are in! Plenty of phases before Lanuschagne went past Ardie Savea and crashed. Converted by Parker.
6 mins: Offside against the Hurricanes. Just inside the Canes' half but they'll go for the lineout.
3 mins: Aso scores. A nice wide pass from B Barrett then Aso showed and went all the way to the line. Too much pace. Actually cancel that, a forward pass, which was blatant, will mean that all counts for nothing. You'd think the TMO could get in the ref's ear about that before the try was scored.
2 mins: The Canes make some good metres down the right flank, hot on attack inside the Sunwolves' half.
PRE-MATCH:
The Hurricanes are looking to keep the pressure on the NZ conference-leading Crusaders when they face the Sunwolves in Wellington.
The 2016 Super Rugby champions, who are currently second in the conference, have received a number of selection boosts ahead of the clash with the Jamie Joseph-coached Japanese side.
Ardie Savea, who was injured against the Highlanders in March, has been bracketed with Sam Henwood, now recovered from a head knock he suffered early against the Chiefs.
Experienced wing Julian Savea also returns to the starting 15 after he missed the Chiefs match, and will be joined at the back by the competition's leading try-scorer Ben Lam and the in-form Jordie Barrett.
Halfback Finlay Christie will make his Hurricanes debut and will have plenty of experience outside him with Beauden Barrett starting inside an exciting midfield pairing of Vince Aso and Matt Proctor.
In something for all NZ rugby fans to look forward to, Nehe Milner-Skudder will make his return to rugby via the bench
The All Blacks wing has been sidelined since injuring his shoulder in October, is part of a strong line-up selected by coach Chris Boyd.
TEAMS:
Hurricanes: Jordie Barrett, Julian Savea, Matt Proctor, Vince Aso, Ben Lam, Beauden Barrett, Finlay Christie, Brad Shields (captain), Ardie Savea, Reed Prinsep, Murray Douglas, Michael Fatialofa, Ben May, Ricky Riccitelli, Toby Smith.
Reserves: James O'Reilly, Chris Eves, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Sam Lousi, Gareth Evans, Jamie Booth, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Nehe Milner-Skudder.
Sunwolves: Will Tupou, Hosea Saumaki, Timothy Lafaele, Michael Little, Kenki Fukuoka, Hayden Parker, Fumiaki Tanaka, Kazuki Himeno, Pieter Lanuschagne, Yoshitaka Tokunaga, Grant Hattingh, James Moore, Takuma Asahara, Shota Horie, Craig Millar
Reserves: Jaba Bregvadze, Shintaro Ishihara, Nikoloz Khatiashvili, Wimpie van der Walt, Ed Quirk, Yutaka Nagare, Yu Tamura, Semisi Masirewa.
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