Hurricanes v Highlanders Stat Attack

Round 5 v Highlanders: Won 20-18

The Hurricanes and the Highlanders have now met on 43 occasions. The Hurricanes have won 28 times to the Highlanders 15. The Highlanders are the only New Zealand side the Hurricanes have never drawn against. With Golden Point now being used, the chances of that happening are virtually nil.

The Hurricanes have won more matches against the Highlanders than they have against any other Super Rugby team. Next up are the Chiefs whom the Hurricanes have beaten 23 times.

The Hurricanes have aggregated 1114 points against the Highlanders which is the most points they have scored  against any side. This total betters their previous record of 1109 points against the Chiefs.

The Hurricanes have won their last eight matches on the trot against the Highlanders. Their last loss was at Dunedin (21-38 in August 2020). Prior to that loss the Hurricanes had won three matches in a row so they have actually won 11 of their last 12 encounters.

This round was entitled the Super Kids Round.

For this round, all teams were kitted out in jerseys relating to Marvel characters. The Hurricanes wore Captain America jerseys which were mostly blue in colour.

The Hurricanes made four changes to the starting XV from that which started in the previous match against Moana Pasifika.

The Hurricanes scored the first points of the match to make it five from five this season. Last year they scored the opening points in each of their first eight matches.

At the end of this round the Hurricanes are in seventh place on the ladder, up from being in last place (11th) last week.

The second and final try scored by the Highlanders was the 500th to be conceded by the Hurricanes against all of the New Zealand franchises. The Blues have scored 138 tries, the Chiefs 115, the Crusaders 149 and the Highlanders 98. Of those 500 tries 251 have been scored in Hurricanes home matches and 249 in away matches.

Zach Gallagher made his debut for the Hurricanes having previously played 19 matches for the Crusaders  between 2022 and 2024. He becomes Hurricanes player #324.

Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax both played their first match of the season.

A total of 32 players have now appeared for the Hurricanes in 2025 including eight debutants.

Jordi Viljoen was listed on the replacement bench but did not go onto the field during the match.

Tevita Mafileo played his 50th match for the Hurricanes and is the 64th player to reach this milestone for the franchise. He made his debut against the Stormers at Cape Town in 2020 which was also the last time the Hurricanes played a Super Rugby match against a South African side in South Africa. Before joining the Hurricanes Mafileo played seven matches for the Chiefs in 2019.

Ngatungane Punivai was awarded a yellow card in the 11th minute. At the same time he underwent an HIA which he failed.

The Hurricanes have received seven yellow cards in the last four rounds.

Kini Naholo scored his 16th try in his 27th match for the Hurricanes. It was his first against the Highlanders

After five rounds, Naholo is now the only Hurricanes player to have been on the field for every minute played.

Cameron Roigard scored his 14th try in 37 matches for the Hurricanes. He now has three against the  Highlanders: one in 2023, 2024 and 2025. All tries were scored in Dunedin.

For Ruben Love it was his sixth try in his 33rd match. He had not scored against the Highlanders previously. He now sits on 47 career points for the Hurricanes.

Harry Godfrey kicked five points to take his total for the season to 55. After five rounds he lies second on the points table after the Chiefs Damian McKenzie who has 65.

Brad Shields played his 118th match for the Hurricanes and moved into 10th place on the list for most matches played for his side. He is one ahead of Jeffery To’omaga-Allen who made 117 appearances between 2012 and 2019. Shields’ total includes the Hurricanes match against the British & Irish Lions in 2017.

Two Highlanders players, namely TK Howden and Veveni Lasaqa, had both appeared for the Hurricanes in 2024.

The Highlanders came off a bye for this round.

Caleb Tangitau and Ajay Faleafaga both scored their first try against the Hurricanes.

Sam Gilbert kicked eight points and has accumulated 20 points in all matches against the Hurricanes.

Angus Mabey has now controlled two matches which involved the Hurricanes. Both have been played against the Highlanders at Dunedin and both have been closely won by the Hurricanes. In 2022 the score was 22-21 and in 2025, 20-18.

The Hurricanes have a bye in the next round.

Overall, the Hurricanes have now played 412 Super Rugby matches. They have won 237 (57.5%), lost 169 and drawn six.