Hurricanes v Reds Stat Attack

• By Peter Marriott

Week 2 v Reds: Won 38-33 (GP)

The Hurricanes and the Reds have now met on 26 occasions. The Hurricanes have won 20 matches to the Reds six. There have been no draws.

The Hurricanes have beaten the Reds more often than they have any other Australian side: Next in line are the Waratahs who have lost 16 times to the Hurricanes.

For the third time in their history the Hurricanes have been involved in a match whose outcome was determined by Golden Point. It is the first time they have won!

In 2021 they were tied 27-27 at full-time against the Crusaders in Wellington before losing just two minutes into extra time.

In 2022 the Hurricanes were tied 19-19 at full-time against Moana Pasifika in Auckland before losing the match four minutes into extra time.

This match against the Reds was tied up at 33-33 at fulltime but the outcome favoured the Hurricanes when replacement Pasilio Tosi crossed the Reds line seven minutes into extra time. By coincidence, the score at half-time in all three matches was also level.

The Hurricanes have now beaten the Reds in their last nine matches in a row and 13 times in their last 14 encounters.

The Hurricanes have also scored four or more tries in 13 of their last 14 matches against the Reds.

The Reds five tries in this match equalled their record against the Hurricanes which was first set in 1996 and repeated in 1998.

The 33 points by the Reds is their highest score against the Hurricanes in Australia. Their previous highest score was their 29-47 loss at the (then named) Ballymore Oval in 1997.

The match against the Reds was the Hurricanes 200th to be played away from home. They have won 93 of them at a winning percentage of 46.5.

The Hurricanes made four changes to their starting line-up against the Reds from their starting XV against the Force the previous week. There was one change in the backs and three in the forwards.

Veveni Lasaqa made his debut for the Hurricanes and is the 301st to do so in a Super Rugby match. He is the second debutant this season and takes the number of players to have made an appearance so far in 2024 to 25.

Jordie Barrett appeared in his 100th match for the Hurricanes. It was actually his 99th Super Rugby match but he had played against the British & Irish Lions in 2017. He is the 18th player to reach this milestone for the Hurricanes.

Jordie has joined his brother Beauden who is also a centurion for the Hurricanes (125 appearances) and has now provided a unique situation of two sets of brothers having all played 100 matches for the Hurricanes.

Julian Savea and brother Ardie have appeared in 153 and 131 matches respectively.

Between them these four have produced many Hurricanes records including most career points (Beauden Barrett 1,238) and most tries scored (Julian Savea 60). When tallied up the four have, combined, made 509 appearances, scored 151 tries and totalled 2451 points. They have collectively scored 11.2% of the overall try total and scored 22.5% of the overall points total.

Unfortunately Jordie Barrett was awarded a yellow card 57 minutes into the match and whilst sitting out his time on the side-line, it was upgraded to a red card. At the 77 minute mark he was allowed to be replaced. Salesi Rayasi took the field.

Ruben Love scored two tries in a match for the first time in his Hurricanes career. His tally in 20 matches is four, three of which are against the Reds. He also scored one during the match in 2021.

Cameron Roigard also scored two tries, the second time he has done so in a match. He also has three against the Reds: he touched down during the match played last year. Roigard has now scored 11 tries in 29 appearances.

This was Pasilio Tosi’s second try in 12 appearances.

Kini Naholo scored his 10th try in his 14th match.

Brett Cameron contributed eight points with the boot.

Of the five Reds try scorers, Tate McDermott had earlier scored a try in the match played in 2021.

During the match two tries, one for either side, were awarded on the field by the referee but disallowed after being referred to the TMO. The first was scored by the Hurricanes Asafo Aumua but he was adjudged to have been held-up over the goal-line. The other try was scored by the Reds Peni Ravi but he was adjudged to have knocked the ball on over the goal-line.

The match itself was very tight. The Hurricanes led three times, the Reds four times. The scores were level on five other occasions.

Overall, the Hurricanes have now played 393 Super Rugby matches. They have won 224 (57.0%), lost 163 and drawn six.