May 23, 2025 • 10 mins
The Hurricanes have booked their place in the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs after beating the Reds 31-27 in Brisbane.
Winger Fehi Fineanganofo scored two tries for the Hurricanes, who claimed a 10th straight victory over the Reds.
The result sees the Hurricanes sit six points clear of the seventh-place Blues ahead of next weekend’s final round of the regular season.
Sky TV commentator Ben Castle joined Adam Cooper to wrap the match.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
And talk Super Rugby. Of course, the Hurricanes have booked
their place in this year's playoffs with a tense thirty
one to twenty seven victory over the Reds in Brisbane. Now,
it was a pretty solid ends to the first half
of the Canes. They scored four tries in the first spell,
leading twenty six to thirteen, cam Rougard Billy Proctor crossing
in the final three minutes to ready build that halftime leads.
(00:22):
Then the Reds struck back two tries to begin the
second half for them, they took a one point lead,
but then try number two to Hurricanes wing faiafen hung
and all fourth sealed the win, of course, lifting the
Hurricanes to provisional fourth on the ladder. Most importantly though,
a guaranteed top six playoffs with a rounds to spare.
Four wins in a row now, of course, five without
(00:44):
a loss for the Canes certainly are peaking at the
right time after a season where at times they've obviously
been fighting to keep their playoff chances alive. So let's
look back on the game now find out where thinks
sit for the Canes, with well an important couple of
weeks ahead ahead of the playoffs joining us this morning
sky TV analyst being Cassel of course, former Chiefs front row,
former Hurricanes GM of rugby as well. Ben, thanks for
(01:07):
your time, mate, Gez. Another hard fought one that could
have gone either way at various points of that game.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Run oh morning, Adam.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Yeah, absolutely will be pretty pretty happy with that one.
I mean, it's not an easy place to go to
Suncorp and take on the Reds. And we've got to
remember the Reds have had a pretty good season as
well to date, so really well bought one. And how
you mentioned how they flew out in that first half
and it was a been Unhurricanes like really to only
(01:35):
score five points in that second half and be outscored
by the Reds.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
That will be a little bit of a.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Concern for them as they as they keep rolling through
the season. But all in all, as you said, four
in a row, five without a loss, they're starting to
they've just got a bit of rhythm about how they're
playing at the moment.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Yeah, they have, haven't they and you know, just not
letting games get away from them even you know, have
seen several games where they haven't led deep into the
second half. But they've they've managed to just find a
way to call back and win. How impresive has that
been for you?
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Yeah? Very much so.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
I think those combinations we're starting to see now is
helping this team. They're finding ways to win and that's
the I guess that word rhythm again. With Roy Gard
and Ruben Love, I think they've found a really good
combination there.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
With Brett Cameron now coming off.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
The bench, Billy Potter's been sublime since he's come back.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
You can see the impact that he's had on the group.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
And then even players like Callum hark And out the
back is really finding his feet and other other players.
They've had some adversity through some injury obviously in players,
but they've got a really good debts now through the
through the squad, so anyone coming in is starting to
make an impact and contributing to the match. So all
in all, I think that they are in a good spot.
(02:47):
I guess the risks that they've got now is that
wherever they wherever they go, they're going to have to
have to travel for that for that quarter final. But
anything can happen through finals, so just getting there is
the first goal.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Yeah, where would you prefer to go. You've obviously got
the Crusaders up there, You've got the Brumb's obviously probably
not there. We've got the Chiefs up in the mix
as well. Any preference out of those three.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Potentially, well, yeah, a preference would be it would be
to be at home, I think when you if the
Chiefs keep winning though the problem is that the Brumbies
are probably the likely one to finish third, in which
case the Hurricanes are off to Canberra, which again is tough,
but I think where they can they can win there.
(03:27):
They proved that not long ago, so I think that's
when the season really turned around for Hurricanes as well,
those sort of a few scrappy losses and then they
went off to Canberra and had that great win and
they've continued that form from there.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
But that would be the Chiefs or the Crusaders have
won there before. The Brummies a bit a bit harder.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
So I prefer to be playing a a Kiwi team
if I was the Hurricanes.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Yeah. Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Just quickly back to last night, and obviously we mentioned
that try that sealed the win was FII finging out
and ofugh for who got the try, but it was
Duplessy could he fee that pretty much won that penalty
that led to them getting down the field for the try.
How impress has Criefy been for you this year been?
And you know there's a lot of chat around that
it's sort of you know, the RAS has made a
few calls through the year and it's going to be
prett close to him getting a black jersey again.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Well, you sort of talk about players who can they
do any more and you'd probably have to say he hasn't.
He can't do much more than what he's done through
the season. There's two things that really stand out for Duplessy,
which has his play, of course, and you have to
be playing well, but it's it's almost his manner at
the moment and his calmness and the way he's going
about his business.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
He's a pretty emotional.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
And pumped up player at times and can get right
stuck into those into those moments and a challenge officials
and someone. But this year there's just been something different
about how he's gone about his work and you can
see how he galvanizes the team. He's got some really
good leaders around him. You can't take anything away from
some of those other senior players in that team. But yeah,
(04:54):
he has he's led by example, which is one thing
when you think about these.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Great players and an artist and.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
I've and so Dupless is up there in that leadership,
leading by example out in front and these key moments
and games that he tends to pop up and get
these critical turnovers, all these big tackles and then gets
his team all win at the end of the day.
That it was a gutsy, gutsy performance considering the Hurricanes
only had forty percent of the ball, so they had
(05:21):
to defend a lot and that's a gain of someone
like Dupless, Peter Larkeye and that lose Ford trio. Even
they're locks, they're very good defenders, so they're in a
good space. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Again, they're showing that really fast, quick ball on attack
getting out wise. Is that going to work in the
playoffs when things obviously get a lot tighter.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Yeah, Well, that's they're finding that style. And that's whether
they've got the ability to go direct, they've got the
ability to defend, they can win games without the ball.
I think that's really key when you're getting into playoff
rugby have to be comfortable not having the ball and
taking the opportunities when you've got it. So the space
out wide, the depths they've got at the moment a
(06:00):
game proctor this Naney pony bike and make his way back,
that would be good.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
You've got still got thinkings and he's made his way
on there. He was on the park last night.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
So all in all there they've got a style that
can certainly win. But of course, you know you got
the Chiefs, the Chiefs who I'd say would be favorites
right now from a bookish point of view. The Crusaders
they got through their win last night, so you know,
a Kiwi team to win the title art So yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
And it's looking that way, isn't it now? You mentioned
the combo between Roy Garden and Love really showing some
some class, aren't they. And I guess tough for Brett Cameron,
who's who's swiftly come back from his ACL surgery ahead
of time on the reserves bench. Is Reuben Love going
to keep him on the bench at this point? Do
you think?
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Well, it's hard to change that now.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
I believe that's where it's where they're getting their game
going and some Love coming into the ten jersey.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
He's been really solid. Harry Godfrey was solid at the
start of.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
The campaign as well.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
But I think that the timing of Love in there,
the timing of Riley Higgins is unfortunately injured now, but
Higgins and Proctor back in there. I think that the
roy Guard all the way out to Proctor has really
I mean that nine, ten, twelve, thirteen, and they're just
so key in the game around how you're playing, the.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Speed of what you play.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
And we've seen Reuben Love, I mean he is everywhere
on that park at the moment, how he's driving the
attack around he can. Then he's dropping back into that
deeper fullback position on defense, so he's got a great
kick on him.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
He reads the game really well. And then we know
how classy Royguard is.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
So that combination coupled with the twelve and thirteen at
the moment, and I keep saying Proctor, but I'm just.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
So impressed with him as a thirteen. So that's yeah,
they are. They are leaving that team around the part.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Well, they're on a roll, as we said, for wins
five without a loss. Is there a risk in recting
players next week or is that important to recharge before
the playoffs?
Speaker 3 (07:56):
Yeah, I think that's probably the biggest coaches can under
neighbor have really but there's some coaches that believe that
that battle hardened combination and rhythm is really important. There
will no doubt be some changes just through managing the squad,
i'd say, and just seeing where they are in that
in that game and Moana.
Speaker 5 (08:16):
Uh, that's a piker will be a fairly bruising encounter
return home to a couple of players, So they could
look to do that, but you'd want to make sure
you've got that rhythm in the in the game as
well and still still pulling those combos together.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
And it depends how you're going to play who who
are you playing first and how are you going to
play that game? So I mean the Brumbies may be
a bit more expensive when if you've got a Kiwi team, well,
it's it's it's going to be pretty direct, it's going
to be pretty physical.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Yeah, Dad, I just thought Mowana before they come here
to Wellington next week. They've of course got the Chiefs
tonight's only New Zealand team they haven't beaten this year. Obviously,
on paper you'd probably backed the Chiefs, but Jez, these
Mowana Pacifica players can can surprise people, can't.
Speaker 4 (08:57):
They They've been they've been standing to watch, They've they've
managed to fill fill seats and stadiums and play a
brand of rugby.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
That everyone's out of there, out of their seat and
it is around.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
There's a lot of players, a lot of the media
talk about Ardie Savia.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
But he is a special player on that park.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
And if look, if any if the momentums with anyone
at the moment, the Chiefs off the buy of course,
and the Mine are off the highs of a huge
win against the Blues. So it might not be as
easy as as on paper would say for the Chiefs.
But I think the Chiefs well, they've only conceded an
average of twelve points against Minor in the past. They've
(09:36):
never lost, as you mentioned, so the history history is
with the Chiefs. But look, Minor a surprise plenty this
season and could they do another tonight?
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Not sure.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
Yeah, I'll be interesting early this evening when that gets underway.
Being great to chat M'd always appreciate your sign here
on News Talks. He'd be have a great weekend you.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Too, Adam. Enjoyed day. Thanks for more from News Talks.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
The'd be listen live on air or online, and to
keep
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Our shows with you wherever you go with our podcasts
on iHeartRadio
And talk Super Rugby. Of course, the Hurricanes have booked
their place in this year's playoffs with a tense thirty
one to twenty seven victory over the Reds in Brisbane. Now,
it was a pretty solid ends to the first half
of the Canes. They scored four tries in the first spell,
leading twenty six to thirteen, cam Rougard Billy Proctor crossing
in the final three minutes to ready build that halftime leads.
(00:22):
Then the Reds struck back two tries to begin the
second half for them, they took a one point lead,
but then try number two to Hurricanes wing faiafen hung
and all fourth sealed the win, of course, lifting the
Hurricanes to provisional fourth on the ladder. Most importantly though,
a guaranteed top six playoffs with a rounds to spare.
Four wins in a row now, of course, five without
(00:44):
a loss for the Canes certainly are peaking at the
right time after a season where at times they've obviously
been fighting to keep their playoff chances alive. So let's
look back on the game now find out where thinks
sit for the Canes, with well an important couple of
weeks ahead ahead of the playoffs joining us this morning
sky TV analyst being Cassel of course, former Chiefs front row,
former Hurricanes GM of rugby as well. Ben, thanks for
(01:07):
your time, mate, Gez. Another hard fought one that could
have gone either way at various points of that game.
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Run oh morning, Adam.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Yeah, absolutely will be pretty pretty happy with that one.
I mean, it's not an easy place to go to
Suncorp and take on the Reds. And we've got to
remember the Reds have had a pretty good season as
well to date, so really well bought one. And how
you mentioned how they flew out in that first half
and it was a been Unhurricanes like really to only
(01:35):
score five points in that second half and be outscored
by the Reds.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
That will be a little bit of a.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
Concern for them as they as they keep rolling through
the season. But all in all, as you said, four
in a row, five without a loss, they're starting to
they've just got a bit of rhythm about how they're
playing at the moment.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Yeah, they have, haven't they and you know, just not
letting games get away from them even you know, have
seen several games where they haven't led deep into the
second half. But they've they've managed to just find a
way to call back and win. How impresive has that
been for you?
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Yeah? Very much so.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
I think those combinations we're starting to see now is
helping this team. They're finding ways to win and that's
the I guess that word rhythm again. With Roy Gard
and Ruben Love, I think they've found a really good
combination there.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
With Brett Cameron now coming off.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
The bench, Billy Potter's been sublime since he's come back.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
You can see the impact that he's had on the group.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
And then even players like Callum hark And out the
back is really finding his feet and other other players.
They've had some adversity through some injury obviously in players,
but they've got a really good debts now through the
through the squad, so anyone coming in is starting to
make an impact and contributing to the match. So all
in all, I think that they are in a good spot.
(02:47):
I guess the risks that they've got now is that
wherever they wherever they go, they're going to have to
have to travel for that for that quarter final. But
anything can happen through finals, so just getting there is
the first goal.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Yeah, where would you prefer to go. You've obviously got
the Crusaders up there, You've got the Brumb's obviously probably
not there. We've got the Chiefs up in the mix
as well. Any preference out of those three.
Speaker 3 (03:06):
Potentially, well, yeah, a preference would be it would be
to be at home, I think when you if the
Chiefs keep winning though the problem is that the Brumbies
are probably the likely one to finish third, in which
case the Hurricanes are off to Canberra, which again is tough,
but I think where they can they can win there.
(03:27):
They proved that not long ago, so I think that's
when the season really turned around for Hurricanes as well,
those sort of a few scrappy losses and then they
went off to Canberra and had that great win and
they've continued that form from there.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
But that would be the Chiefs or the Crusaders have
won there before. The Brummies a bit a bit harder.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
So I prefer to be playing a a Kiwi team
if I was the Hurricanes.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Yeah. Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Just quickly back to last night, and obviously we mentioned
that try that sealed the win was FII finging out
and ofugh for who got the try, but it was
Duplessy could he fee that pretty much won that penalty
that led to them getting down the field for the try.
How impress has Criefy been for you this year been?
And you know there's a lot of chat around that
it's sort of you know, the RAS has made a
few calls through the year and it's going to be
prett close to him getting a black jersey again.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Well, you sort of talk about players who can they
do any more and you'd probably have to say he hasn't.
He can't do much more than what he's done through
the season. There's two things that really stand out for Duplessy,
which has his play, of course, and you have to
be playing well, but it's it's almost his manner at
the moment and his calmness and the way he's going
about his business.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
He's a pretty emotional.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
And pumped up player at times and can get right
stuck into those into those moments and a challenge officials
and someone. But this year there's just been something different
about how he's gone about his work and you can
see how he galvanizes the team. He's got some really
good leaders around him. You can't take anything away from
some of those other senior players in that team. But yeah,
(04:54):
he has he's led by example, which is one thing
when you think about these.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
Great players and an artist and.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
I've and so Dupless is up there in that leadership,
leading by example out in front and these key moments
and games that he tends to pop up and get
these critical turnovers, all these big tackles and then gets
his team all win at the end of the day.
That it was a gutsy, gutsy performance considering the Hurricanes
only had forty percent of the ball, so they had
(05:21):
to defend a lot and that's a gain of someone
like Dupless, Peter Larkeye and that lose Ford trio. Even
they're locks, they're very good defenders, so they're in a
good space. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
Again, they're showing that really fast, quick ball on attack
getting out wise. Is that going to work in the
playoffs when things obviously get a lot tighter.
Speaker 3 (05:39):
Yeah, Well, that's they're finding that style. And that's whether
they've got the ability to go direct, they've got the
ability to defend, they can win games without the ball.
I think that's really key when you're getting into playoff
rugby have to be comfortable not having the ball and
taking the opportunities when you've got it. So the space
out wide, the depths they've got at the moment a
(06:00):
game proctor this Naney pony bike and make his way back,
that would be good.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
You've got still got thinkings and he's made his way
on there. He was on the park last night.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
So all in all there they've got a style that
can certainly win. But of course, you know you got
the Chiefs, the Chiefs who I'd say would be favorites
right now from a bookish point of view. The Crusaders
they got through their win last night, so you know,
a Kiwi team to win the title art So yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:26):
And it's looking that way, isn't it now? You mentioned
the combo between Roy Garden and Love really showing some
some class, aren't they. And I guess tough for Brett Cameron,
who's who's swiftly come back from his ACL surgery ahead
of time on the reserves bench. Is Reuben Love going
to keep him on the bench at this point? Do
you think?
Speaker 2 (06:44):
Well, it's hard to change that now.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
I believe that's where it's where they're getting their game
going and some Love coming into the ten jersey.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
He's been really solid. Harry Godfrey was solid at the
start of.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
The campaign as well.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
But I think that the timing of Love in there,
the timing of Riley Higgins is unfortunately injured now, but
Higgins and Proctor back in there. I think that the
roy Guard all the way out to Proctor has really
I mean that nine, ten, twelve, thirteen, and they're just
so key in the game around how you're playing, the.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Speed of what you play.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
And we've seen Reuben Love, I mean he is everywhere
on that park at the moment, how he's driving the
attack around he can. Then he's dropping back into that
deeper fullback position on defense, so he's got a great
kick on him.
Speaker 2 (07:29):
He reads the game really well. And then we know
how classy Royguard is.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
So that combination coupled with the twelve and thirteen at
the moment, and I keep saying Proctor, but I'm just.
Speaker 2 (07:40):
So impressed with him as a thirteen. So that's yeah,
they are. They are leaving that team around the part.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Well, they're on a roll, as we said, for wins
five without a loss. Is there a risk in recting
players next week or is that important to recharge before
the playoffs?
Speaker 3 (07:56):
Yeah, I think that's probably the biggest coaches can under
neighbor have really but there's some coaches that believe that
that battle hardened combination and rhythm is really important. There
will no doubt be some changes just through managing the squad,
i'd say, and just seeing where they are in that
in that game and Moana.
Speaker 5 (08:16):
Uh, that's a piker will be a fairly bruising encounter
return home to a couple of players, So they could
look to do that, but you'd want to make sure
you've got that rhythm in the in the game as
well and still still pulling those combos together.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
And it depends how you're going to play who who
are you playing first and how are you going to
play that game? So I mean the Brumbies may be
a bit more expensive when if you've got a Kiwi team, well,
it's it's it's going to be pretty direct, it's going
to be pretty physical.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Yeah, Dad, I just thought Mowana before they come here
to Wellington next week. They've of course got the Chiefs
tonight's only New Zealand team they haven't beaten this year. Obviously,
on paper you'd probably backed the Chiefs, but Jez, these
Mowana Pacifica players can can surprise people, can't.
Speaker 4 (08:57):
They They've been they've been standing to watch, They've they've
managed to fill fill seats and stadiums and play a
brand of rugby.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
That everyone's out of there, out of their seat and
it is around.
Speaker 3 (09:10):
There's a lot of players, a lot of the media
talk about Ardie Savia.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
But he is a special player on that park.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
And if look, if any if the momentums with anyone
at the moment, the Chiefs off the buy of course,
and the Mine are off the highs of a huge
win against the Blues. So it might not be as
easy as as on paper would say for the Chiefs.
But I think the Chiefs well, they've only conceded an
average of twelve points against Minor in the past. They've
(09:36):
never lost, as you mentioned, so the history history is
with the Chiefs. But look, Minor a surprise plenty this
season and could they do another tonight?
Speaker 2 (09:44):
Not sure.
Speaker 1 (09:45):
Yeah, I'll be interesting early this evening when that gets underway.
Being great to chat M'd always appreciate your sign here
on News Talks. He'd be have a great weekend you.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Too, Adam. Enjoyed day. Thanks for more from News Talks.
Speaker 1 (09:57):
The'd be listen live on air or online, and to
keep
Speaker 3 (10:00):
Our shows with you wherever you go with our podcasts
on iHeartRadio
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