Billy Proctor produced a stunning second-half hat-trick as the Hurricanes demolished the NSW Waratahs 59–19 at Allianz Stadium, handing Dan McKellar’s side a brutal reality check after their unbeaten start to the season.

Key moments

13 mins – TRY WARATAHS: The hosts struck first after sustained pressure near the line. Miles Amatosero picked and drove close before Triston Reilly caught the defence napping, forcing his way over beside the posts. Lawson Creighton converted. (Waratahs 7–0)

15 mins – TRY HURRICANES: Instant response from the visitors. Callum Harkin’s deep restart caused problems and after Pete Samu spilled it, the Hurricanes pounced. A slick lineout move saw the ball swept left, leaving Asafo Aumua unmarked on the wing to streak away in the left corner. Jordie Barrett missed the conversion. (Waratahs 7–5)

19 mins – TRY HURRICANES: The Canes took the lead through a moment of magic. Devan Flanders secured the lineout and the ball went left for Billy Proctor to carry into the 22. Isaia Walker-Leawere made ground before Fehi Fineanganofo burst into space on the left wing, drawing the last man and slipping a perfect inside ball to Peter Lakai, who strolled over untouched. Barrett converted. (Hurricanes 12–7)

30 mins – TRY WARATAHS: Max Jorgensen produced a moment of individual brilliance. After Leafi Talataina and Miles Amatosero carried close, the ball found Jorgensen on the left wing. He stood up his opposite with slick footwork before diving over in the corner. Creighton missed the conversion. (Hurricanes 12–12)

33 mins – TRY HURRICANES: The visitors regained the lead with a stunning team try. Lakai and Warner Dearns carried close before Barrett placed a pinpoint cross-kick on the spot for Bailyn Sullivan, who collected the bounce on the right wing and dove over in the corner. Barrett missed the conversion. (Hurricanes 17–12)

Half-time: Hurricanes 17–12. An entertaining first half played at a cracking tempo. The Waratahs struck first through Reilly but the Hurricanes hit back through Aumua’s training-ground lineout move. Lakai’s try gave the visitors the lead before Jorgensen’s individual brilliance levelled it. Sullivan’s try from Barrett’s cross-kick ensured the Hurricanes held a slender five-point advantage at the break.

43 mins – TRY HURRICANES: Dream start to the second half for the visitors. Du’Plessis Kirifi charged back on a strong run before Barrett dropped a beautiful ball off to Proctor at the line. The centre burst through a gaping hole in the rush defence and strolled over under the posts. Barrett converted. (Hurricanes 24–12)

47 mins – TRY HURRICANES: Proctor doubled his tally with another moment of class. Walker-Leawere won the lineout and Barrett stabbed a chip kick over the top with no one in behind. The bounce sat up perfectly for Proctor, who powered over beside the posts. Barrett converted. (Hurricanes 31–12)

55 mins – YELLOW CARD WARATAHS: Angus Blyth sent to the sin bin after the TMO spotted him playing the ball illegally on the ground as the Hurricanes threatened the line. Tevita Mafileo’s try was ruled out for a knock-on in the build-up, but Blyth’s actions were deemed cynical.

59 mins – TRY HURRICANES: The Hurricanes made the extra man count immediately. The scrum was steady and the ball went wide right, with Barrett spotting space and floating a brilliant ball to Sullivan, who strode over untouched in the corner for his second. Barrett converted. (Hurricanes 38–12)

62 mins – TRY WARATAHS: Jorgensen gave the home crowd something to celebrate. The Waratahs won the lineout and worked through phases before Proctor’s pass was intercepted by the alert winger, who sprinted 40 metres untouched to score in the left corner. Sid Harvey converted. (Hurricanes 38–19)

65 mins – TRY HURRICANES: Try-fest at Allianz Stadium. Walker-Leawere popped a short ball to Jone Rova, who sliced straight through from 40 metres, drawing the fullback and passing to Ereatara Enari on the inside. The replacement halfback streaked away to score beside the posts. Harkin converted. (Hurricanes 45–19)

66 mins – YELLOW CARD WARATAHS: George Poolman sent to the sin bin for a dangerous aerial challenge on Josh Moorby, reducing the Waratahs to 14 men just as Blyth returned to the field.

78 mins – TRY HURRICANES: The Hurricanes brought up the half-century. Poolman spilled the ball in contact and Proctor was in the perfect spot to clean up, sending Rova away untouched to score under the posts. Lucas Cashmore converted. (Hurricanes 52–19)

80 mins – TRY HURRICANES: Proctor completed his hat-trick in style. The restart was secured and Fineanganofo burst through on the left wing, offloading inside for Moorby to break away. He fed Proctor, who strode away to score a stunner beside the posts. Cashmore converted. (Hurricanes 59–19)

Full-time: Hurricanes 59–19

The classy All Blacks centre showcased his claims for a recall under freshly appointed coach Dave Rennie, crossing three times after the break as the visitors ran in six unanswered tries to turn a tight contest into a 40-point thrashing. It extended the Hurricanes’ remarkable dominance over the Waratahs to nine consecutive victories, stretching back to 2015.

The hosts’ night had begun badly when star centre Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was ruled out with a hamstring injury suffered during the warm-up, forcing McKellar to hand youngster George Poolman an unexpected debut at outside centre. Given the nature of the injury, McKellar suggested afterwards that Suaalii could be sidelined for longer than a couple of weeks. It capped off a disappointing evening for the hosts.

The Waratahs started encouragingly enough in the steamy conditions, their rush defence repelling the Hurricanes after conceding turnovers with their first five possessions. Winger Triston Reilly eventually got them on the board in the 13th minute, rolling up his sleeves to force his way over from the back of a ruck after Miles Amatosero had been stopped just short. Lawson Creighton converted for a 7–0 lead.

But the Hurricanes struck back within two minutes. Callum Harkin’s deep restart caused problems and after Pete Samu spilled it, the visitors pounced on the field position. A slick lineout move saw the ball swept left, leaving hooker Asafo Aumua — looking fit and dangerous after an injury-plagued 2025 — unmarked on the wing to streak away in the left corner. Jordie Barrett missed the conversion, but the momentum had shifted.

Peter Lakai extended the lead in the 19th minute with a moment of magic down the left edge. Devan Flanders secured the lineout and the ball went wide for Proctor to carry into the 22. Isaia Walker-Leawere made hard yards before Fehi Fineanganofo burst into space, drawing Andrew Kellaway’s tackle before slipping a perfect inside ball to Lakai, who strolled over untouched. Barrett converted to make it 12–7.

Max Jorgensen, continuing his remarkable try-scoring run, levelled matters with a moment of individual brilliance in the 30th minute. After Leafi Talataina and Amatosero carried close, the ball found Jorgensen on the left wing with almost no space to work with. He stood up Cam Roigard with slick footwork before diving over in the corner for his fifth try in three games. Creighton missed the conversion from the sideline.

But the visitors had the final say of the half when Barrett produced a pinpoint cross-kick to the right corner. Bailyn Sullivan timed his run perfectly, collecting the bounce with a skilful regather and diving over to dot it down. Barrett’s conversion attempt drifted wide, but the Hurricanes held a 17–12 buffer at the break.

What followed after the restart was ruthless. Du’Plessis Kirifi, returning from a calf injury, charged back on a strong run before Barrett dropped a beautiful ball off to Proctor at the line. The centre burst through a gaping hole in the rush defence and strolled over under the posts in the 43rd minute. Barrett converted to extend the lead to 12 points.

Just four minutes later, Proctor was over again. Walker-Leawere won the lineout and Barrett stabbed a chip kick over the top with no one in behind. The bounce sat up perfectly for the All Blacks centre, who powered over beside the posts. Barrett converted, and in the space of four minutes the game had swung from a five-point contest to a 19-point blowout.

The Waratahs’ discipline then deserted them entirely. Lock Angus Blyth was sent to the sin bin in the 55th minute after the TMO spotted him cynically playing the ball on the ground as the Hurricanes threatened the line. Though Tevita Mafileo’s try was ruled out for a knock-on in the build-up, the visitors made the extra man count immediately. The scrum was steady and the ball went wide right, with Barrett spotting space and floating a brilliant ball to Sullivan, who strode over untouched in the corner for his second. Barrett converted from the sideline for 38–12.

Jorgensen gave the home crowd a brief moment to celebrate in the 62nd minute. The Waratahs won the lineout and worked through phases before Proctor’s pass was intercepted by the alert winger, who sprinted 40 metres untouched to score in the left corner. Sid Harvey, on for his debut, converted to make it 38–19.

But the Hurricanes responded instantly. Jone Rova sliced straight through midfield from 40 metres, drawing the fullback before putting Ereatara Enari away on the inside. The replacement halfback streaked away to score beside the posts in the 65th minute. Harkin converted to restore the 26-point cushion.

Things went from bad to worse when Poolman was shown a yellow card for a dangerous aerial challenge on Josh Moorby in the 66th minute, reducing the Waratahs to 14 men just as Blyth returned. The visitors were brutally efficient in exploiting the advantage.

Rova crossed in the 78th minute after Poolman spilled the ball in contact. Proctor was in the perfect spot to clean up and sent Rova away untouched to score under the posts. Lucas Cashmore converted to bring up the half-century.

Proctor then completed his hat-trick in style on the hooter. The restart was secured and Fineanganofo burst through on the left wing, offloading inside for Moorby to break away. The fullback fed Proctor, who strode away to score a stunner beside the posts. Cashmore converted to complete the 59–19 demolition.

For the Hurricanes, Barrett and Proctor combined superbly in midfield, while Lakai and Flanders were immense in the pack. Roigard marked his 50th Hurricanes cap with an emphatic victory, and the return of Kirifi at openside added the edge they had lacked in last week’s upset loss to the Fijian Drua in Lautoka. Aumua, riddled with injuries last year, looked back to his marauding best and will charge into Rennie’s thinking if he remains fit.

The Waratahs, by contrast, were left to lick their wounds. They gave up 18 turnovers, missed 28 of their 128 tackles, and made countless aimless kicks that gifted the Hurricanes easy territory. They endured 20 straight minutes a player short while Blyth and Poolman served their sin-bin sentences, and capitulated in the sapping conditions.

McKellar was blunt in his assessment afterwards, calling it “a nice little reality check” and pointing to turnovers as the root cause of the collapse.

“First of all, we turned over the ball way too much,” he said. “On top of that, we didn’t kick well, our kicking hurt us. And off the back of turnovers and kicking poorly, we had to do a whole lot of defence, transition defence, and against the Hurricanes that’s where they hurt you.”

Captain Matt Philip gathered his players for an extended talk on the field after the final whistle. “The 2026 Waratahs, that’s not us, that’s not how we’re going to play and that’s not going to define our season,” he said. “We’re going to react from that and show with our actions next week what this jersey means to us.”

Young reserve fullback Harvey was one of the few positives, looking assured on debut in what McKellar predicted would be “the first of many games for New South Wales.”

The Hurricanes have now completed their last match of the regular season outside New Zealand and return home to host the Western Force at McLean Park in Napier next Friday. The Waratahs head north to face the Queensland Reds at Suncorp Stadium looking to bounce back from a chastening night in Sydney.

Teams

Waratahs: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Triston Reilly, 13 George Poolman, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Leafi Talataina, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Matt Philip (c), 3 Daniel Botha, 2 Folau Faingaa, 1 Tom Lambert.
Replacements: 16 Ioane Moananu, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Siosifa Amone, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Clem Halaholo, 21 Teddy Wilson, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Sid Harvey.

Hurricanes: 15 Josh Moorby, 14 Bailyn Sullivan, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett (co-c), 11 Fehi Fineanganofo, 10 Callum Harkin, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (co-c), 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Warner Dearns, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Jacob Devery, 17 Siale Lauaki, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Brad Shields, 20 Brayden Iose, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Lucas Cashmore, 23 Jone Rova.

Match details

Hurricanes 59 (Tries: Proctor 3, Sullivan 2, Aumua, Lakai, Enari, Rova; Conversions: Barrett 4/6, Harkin 1/1, Cashmore 2/2)
Waratahs 19 (Tries: Reilly, Jorgensen 2; Conversions: Creighton 1/2, Harvey 1/1)
Half-time: 17–12

Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 15,460
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Fraser Hannon, Dan Moore
TMO: James Leckie

Yellow cards: Angus Blyth (55 mins, cynical play), George Poolman (66 mins, dangerous aerial challenge)

Late change: Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was a late scratching with a hamstring injury suffered in the warm-up. George Poolman replaced him at outside centre.

The inaugural Club Rugby Round arrives in Super Rugby Pacific with five blockbuster fixtures headlined by an Eden Park showdown between the Blues and Crusaders, while the Brumbies host the Reds in a battle of Australian heavyweights and James Slipper chases history.

Round 4 marks a celebration of grassroots rugby, with players across the competition wearing the socks of community clubs that shaped their journeys. The initiative comes at a pivotal moment in the season, with the table-topping Brumbies (3-0, 14 points) looking to extend their perfect start while the Waratahs (2-0, 10 points) aim to maintain their unbeaten record against a wounded Hurricanes outfit. In the New Zealand derbies, big-name playmakers return: Damian McKenzie suits up for the first time in 2026 for the Chiefs against Moana Pasifika, while Beauden Barrett makes his season debut off the bench as the Blues host the Crusaders in the match of the round.

The action kicks off Friday evening in Hamilton with the Chiefs hosting Moana Pasifika, before the Waratahs welcome the Hurricanes to Allianz Stadium. Saturday’s triple-header begins under the roof in Dunedin where emotions will run high as Angus Ta’avao returns for the Highlanders following the tragic death of his son, before Eden Park hosts the Blues-Crusaders rivalry and GIO Stadium closes out the round with the Australian derby. The Fijian Drua enjoy the bye following their statement win over the Hurricanes.

Friday 6 March

Chiefs v Moana Pasifika

FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton — 7.05pm NZDT / 5.05pm AEDT

Just two days after being named the new All Blacks head coach, Dave Rennie will be watching intently as one of his potential Test playmakers returns to Super Rugby action. Damian McKenzie missed the opening three rounds due to the birth of his first child but slots straight back into the Chiefs’ starting XV at first five-eighth, bringing his dazzling footwork and tactical nous to a side that fell 33-43 to the Crusaders last weekend.

The Chiefs sit third on the ladder with eight points from three matches but have shown vulnerability, particularly in their home loss to the Crusaders where they conceded six tries. Captain Luke Jacobson is absent with a hip injury, meaning All Blacks lock Tupou Vaa’i takes over the captaincy duties. Former Wallabies centre Lalakai Foketi gets his first start of the season in the midfield, having impressed off the bench in Hamilton last round.

Moana Pasifika arrive at FMG Stadium Waikato searching for their second win of the campaign after suffering a 35-19 defeat to the Western Force in Auckland. Former All Blacks halfback Augustine Pulu makes his Moana debut after recovering from a calf injury — his first Super Rugby appearance since 2018 following a stint in Japan. The visitors have identified Ngani Laumape as their go-to ball carrier, with the powerful centre looking to punch holes through the Chiefs’ defensive line.

The head-to-head record is stark: the Chiefs have won all five meetings between these sides, averaging 60 points per match. With McKenzie pulling the strings and Wallace Sititi prowling at No. 8, the home side should have too much firepower, though Moana’s physical pack will ensure it’s no walkover.

Teams:

Chiefs: 15 Liam Coombes-Fabling, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Quinn Tupaea, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Jahrome Brown, 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’i (c), 4 Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 Reuben O’Neill, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Benet Kumeroa.
Replacements: 16 Tyrone Thompson, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 George Dyer, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Kaylum Boshier, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Josh Jacomb, 23 Kyle Brown.

Moana Pasifika: 15 Glen Vaihu, 14 Tevita Ofa, 13 Tevita Latu, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Semisi Paea, 6 Miracle Faiilagi (c), 5 Allan Craig, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Chris Apoua, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Abraham Pole.
Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 18 Lolani Faleiva, 19 Ofa Tauatevalu, 20 Ola Tauelangi, 21 Joel Lam, 22 Patrick Pellegrini, 23 Tyler Pulini.

Referee: Todd Petrie. Assistant Referees: Maggie Cogger-Orr, Warwick Lahmert. TMO: Richard Kelly.

Unavailable — Chiefs: Luke Jacobson (hip).

NSW Waratahs v Hurricanes

Allianz Stadium, Sydney — 7.35pm AEDT / 9.35pm NZDT

Something has to give in Sydney. The Waratahs are unbeaten through two rounds with emphatic victories to their name, while the Hurricanes have won their last eight matches against the Sydneysiders dating back to 2016. The Waratahs’ last win over the Canes came at Allianz Stadium in their 2014 title-winning season.

Dan McKellar has stuck with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at outside centre despite external noise suggesting the cross-code star would be better utilised at fullback or on the wing. “We had this conversation last year when I played him at 15 and copped a bit of flak around that,” McKellar said. “It’s a bit ironic now that everyone thinks he should be playing 15.” Andrew Kellaway returns at fullback after missing the first two games, forming an all-Randwick back three with Triston Reilly and Max Jorgensen, the latter having scored four tries in two appearances to briefly lead the competition’s Player of the Year voting.

The Hurricanes limp into Sydney after their 25-20 loss to the Fijian Drua in Lautoka’s mud bath. Co-captain Du’Plessis Kirifi has shaken off a calf injury to make his season debut at openside flanker, shifting fellow All Black Peter Lakai to No. 8. Cam Roigard will notch his 50th Hurricanes appearance, while Pasilio Tosi returns to the starting front row. The loss of first five-eighths Brett Cameron and Harry Godfrey for the season with knee injuries leaves Callum Harkin at No. 10 ahead of Lucas Cashmore.

If the Waratahs can match the intensity they showed in dismantling the Fijian Drua 36-13 in Round 2, they have every chance of snapping that eight-match losing streak. But the Hurricanes’ combination of Roigard’s dynamism and Jordie Barrett’s playmaking ability makes them dangerous opponents when they find their rhythm.

Teams:

Waratahs: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Triston Reilly, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Leafi Talataina, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Matt Philip (c), 3 Daniel Botha, 2 Folau Faingaa, 1 Tom Lambert.
Replacements: 16 Ioane Moananu, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Siosifa Amone, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Clem Halaholo, 21 Teddy Wilson, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Sid Harvey.

Hurricanes: 15 Josh Moorby, 14 Bailyn Sullivan, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett (co-c), 11 Fehi Fineanganofo, 10 Callum Harkin, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (co-c), 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Warner Dearns, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Jacob Devery, 17 Siale Lauaki, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Brad Shields, 20 Brayden Iose, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Lucas Cashmore, 23 Jone Rova.

Referee: James Doleman. Assistant Referees: Fraser Hannon, Dan Moore. TMO: James Leckie.

Unavailable — Waratahs: Eamon Doyle (ankle), Austin Durbidge (forearm), Harry Potter (toe), Angus Scott-Young (calf).

Unavailable — Hurricanes: Brett Cameron (knee — season), Harry Godfrey (knee — season).

Saturday 7 March

Highlanders v Western Force

Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin — 4.35pm NZDT / 2.35pm AEDT

Emotions will run high under the roof in Dunedin as former All Blacks prop Angus Ta’avao returns to the Highlanders for the first time since his young son Leo passed away last month. Leo was born with partial-trisomy-13, a genetic disorder that affects a child’s ability to grow, and spent the first three months of his life in hospital. Ta’avao played in the Round 1 victory over the Crusaders but understandably stepped away during the family’s time of grief.

The Highlanders (1-2, 5 points) need a response after losing consecutive matches — narrowly to the Chiefs (23-26) before a disappointing 31-14 defeat to the Reds in Brisbane. Head coach Jamie Joseph, who was overlooked for Dave Rennie for the All Blacks job, has made several changes. Powerful No. 8 Nikora Broughton returns for his first match of the season, while Folau Fakatava reclaims the starting halfback jersey.

The Force arrive buoyant after their 35-19 victory over Moana Pasifika in Auckland ended their losing run. Simon Cron welcomes back Wallabies flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny after a two-game absence with a knee strain, while hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa also returns to the starting XV. Ben Donaldson orchestrated last week’s win and will target Highlanders co-captain Timoci Tavatavanawai, who leads the competition for tackle busts (15) and offloads (7).

Joseph warned his side must be ready for an in-form Force outfit. “We saw last week what they’re capable of. They’ll be upbeat and enjoying their New Zealand tour, so they’ll present challenges for us, no doubt. We need to build on our start to the season, lift a notch or two, and convert more of the pressure we’re applying into points.”

Teams:

Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Jonah Lowe, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-c), 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Nikora Broughton, 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Oliver Haig, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot (co-c).
Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Will Stodart, 20 Sean Withy, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Reesjan Pasitoa, 23 Tanielu Tele’a.

Western Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Darby Lancaster, 13 Divad Palu, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 George Bridge, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nathan Hastie, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (c), 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Tom Robertson.
Replacements: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Misinale Epenisa, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Will Harris, 21 Henry Robertson, 22 Max Burey, 23 Kurtley Beale.

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe. Assistant Referees: Maggie Cogger-Orr, Warwick Lahmert. TMO: Richard Kelly.

Unavailable — Force: Feao Fotuaika (foot — medium term), Dylan Pietsch (foot — medium term), Alex Harford (shoulder — long term), Doug Philipson (knee — long term).

Blues v Crusaders

Eden Park, Auckland — 7.05pm NZDT / 5.05pm AEDT

The match of the round. Two wounded giants collide at Eden Park, with the Crusaders (1-2, 5 points) arriving without All Blacks fullback Will Jordan — rested after being “dinged up and sore” following last week’s win over the Chiefs — and suspended prop Tamaiti Williams, who cops a three-week ban for his dangerous cleanout on Tupou Vaa’i.

Most significantly, Beauden Barrett makes his first appearance of 2026 for the Blues, named on the bench after being treated with kid gloves through the opening three rounds. The 34-year-old playmaker hasn’t played since the All Blacks’ 33-19 defeat to England last November, with New Zealand Rugby keen to manage his workload ahead of a packed Test schedule including the South Africa tour. Stephen Perofeta retains the No. 10 jersey, with Barrett set to provide an injection of class from the pine.

The Blues (1-2, 6 points) have dropped consecutive close matches — the Chiefs beat them 19-15 at Eden Park in Round 1, then the Brumbies edged them 30-27 in Canberra last Saturday night. Head coach Vern Cotter has made three changes: Josh Beehre starts at lock in place of the concussed Laghlan McWhannell, Torian Barnes leads out at blindside flanker, and Codemeru Vai earns his first start on the right wing with Cole Forbes sidelined by an ankle injury.

Crusaders coach Rob Penney has named a 6-2 split on the bench, citing the heavy workload on his forwards through the opening month and the expectation the Blues will play direct and physical. Taha Kemara, outstanding at first five-eighth against the Chiefs, shifts to fullback with the return of Rivez Reihana from an adductor strain. Codie Taylor reclaims the hooking jersey after recovering from a rib injury, with George Bell out for 2-4 weeks with a foot problem. Lock Will Tucker makes his Crusaders debut.

“We were disappointed not to get the result last week, but there were plenty of positives in our performance,” Cotter said. “We’ve had a good review and trained with real purpose this week. These contests carry a bit of extra edge. It’s special to be back home in front of our supporters.”

Teams:

Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Codemeru Vai, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i (c), 6 Torian Barnes, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Josh Beehre, 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi.
Replacements: 16 James Mullan, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Sam Matenga, 19 Che Clark, 20 Anton Segner, 21 Taufa Funaki, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Xavi Taele.

Crusaders: 15 Taha Kemara, 14 Chay Fihaki, 13 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12 David Havili (c), 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Rivez Reihana, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Dom Gardiner, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 George Bower.
Replacements: 16 Manumaua Leitu, 17 Finlay Brewis, 18 Seb Calder, 19 Will Tucker, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Xavier Saifoloi, 23 Dallas McLeod.

Referee: Nic Berry. Assistant Referees: Marcus Playle, Louis Trisley. TMO: Aaron Paterson.

Unavailable — Blues: Laghlan McWhannell (concussion), Cole Forbes (ankle), Patrick Tuipulotu (injury — expected back Round 9).

Unavailable — Crusaders: Will Jordan (rested), Tamaiti Williams (suspended — 3 weeks), George Bell (foot — 2-4 weeks), Tahlor Cahill (shoulder).

ACT Brumbies v Queensland Reds

GIO Stadium, Canberra — 7.35pm AEDT / 6.35pm AEST

The round closes with an Australian derby carrying significant weight for both sides — and a slice of Super Rugby history. Brumbies veteran James Slipper will equal Wyatt Crockett’s all-time appearance record of 202 Super Rugby caps when he trots onto GIO Stadium, fittingly against his former club where he accumulated 104 of those appearances before heading south to Canberra.

The Brumbies (3-0, 14 points) sit atop the ladder after an imperious start to the season. Their drought-breaking 50-24 demolition of the Crusaders in Christchurch was followed by a tense 30-27 victory over the Blues in Canberra, with Charlie Cale and the backrow unit proving devastating. Stephen Larkham has made just one change, with former Red Tuaina Taii Tualima replacing the rested Rob Valetini at blindside flanker — a match-up charged with extra meaning against his old club.

The Reds (1-1, 5 points) responded well to their Round 2 bye with a 31-14 victory over the Highlanders in Brisbane. Les Kiss has handed Filipo Daugunu a start on the wing after the Wallaby’s impressive 21-minute cameo off the bench, with Tim Ryan rotated out. Hunter Paisami’s ankle injury opens the door for Isaac Henry at inside centre, while 18-year-old Treyvon Pritchard is named on the bench for a potential Super Rugby debut — setting up a family showdown with older brother Kadin, who has been cleared to return at outside centre for the Brumbies after passing concussion protocols.

Kiss is under no illusions about the challenge. “We know what we are up against, the best team in the comp at the moment at their home ground,” he said. “It’ll be a very tough encounter. Our preparation needs to be good and our performance needs to be disciplined for the 80 minutes. Canberra is a tough place to win but these are the challenges we look forward to.”

The Brumbies have won five straight against the Reds and look formidable, but Queensland’s backrow of Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson and Joe Brial can cause havoc at the breakdown.

Teams:

Brumbies: 15 Andy Muirhead, 14 Ollie Sapsford, 13 Kadin Pritchard, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan (c), 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Tuiana Taii Tualima, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Lachie Shaw, 3 Rhys van Nek, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Liam Bowron, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Tevita Alatini, 19 Toby Macpherson, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Klayton Thorn, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Hudson Creighton.

Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Isaac Henry, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Louis Werchon, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight (c), 6 Joe Brial, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Josh Nasser, 1 Aidan Ross.
Replacements: 16 Richie Asiata, 17 George Blake, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Seru Uru, 20 Vaiuta Latu, 21 Kalani Thomas, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Treyvon Pritchard.

Referee: Angus Gardner. Assistant Referees: Jordan Way, Jeremy Markey. TMO: James Leckie.

Unavailable — Brumbies: Allan Alaalatoa (shoulder — team captain), Rob Valetini (rested), Nick Frost (match fitness — playing curtain-raiser).

Unavailable — Reds: Hunter Paisami (ankle), Matt Faessler (knee), Tom Lynagh (leg — rebuilding strength).

BYE: Fijian Drua

The Drua enjoy a well-earned rest following their stunning 25-20 upset of the Hurricanes in Lautoka’s mud bath. Despite the challenging conditions, they produced one of their best performances to claim a third win in as many home games against the Wellington side.

Super Rugby Pacific debuts

Joel Lam (Moana Pasifika — halfback, bench) — if used
Tyler Pulini (Moana Pasifika — first five-eighth, bench) — if used
Sid Harvey (Waratahs — utility back, bench) — if used
Will Tucker (Crusaders — lock, bench) — if used
Treyvon Pritchard (Reds — utility back, bench) — if used

Club debuts

Augustine Pulu (Moana Pasifika — halfback, starting) — ex-Chiefs, Blues

Milestones

James Slipper (Brumbies) — 202nd Super Rugby cap (equalling Wyatt Crockett’s all-time record)
Cam Roigard (Hurricanes) — 50th Hurricanes cap
Andrew Kellaway (Waratahs) — 85th Super Rugby cap
Beauden Barrett (Blues) — First appearance of 2026 (if used)

Where to watch

Australia: Stan Sport (all matches, ad-free, live and on demand); Nine Network (Saturday 7:35pm AEDT match, live)

New Zealand: Sky Sport

Fiji: Sky Pacific (pay TV); Fijian Broadcasting Corporation (free-to-air)

United Kingdom & Ireland: Sky UK

United States: FloSports; ESPN

Canada: TSN

Pacific Islands: Digicel

Japan: Wowow

South Africa & Africa: SuperSport

France: Canal+

South-East Asia: Premier Sports

Italy: Sky Italia

Spain: Telefonica

Rest of World: NZR+ (streaming)

Charlie Cale scored after the siren to complete a dramatic 30-27 victory for the Brumbies over the Blues at GIO Stadium on Saturday night, extending the Canberra side’s unbeaten start to the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season and sending them clear at the top of the table.

Key moments

8 mins – TRY BRUMBIES: Declan Meredith opens the scoring with a stunning solo effort. The Blues claim the lineout and attack down the left, but Zarn Sullivan’s kick is blocked by Lachie Shaw. James Slipper bangs a kick downfield and Meredith chases it, toes it ahead, and dives on it to score. Ryan Lonergan converts. (Brumbies 7–0 Blues)

12 mins – TRY BLUES: Caleb Clarke levels with an intercept try. Shaw claims the lineout and the Brumbies look to spin it right, but Clarke shoots up out of the line and Ollie Sapsford’s pass lands straight into his hands. The winger streaks away to score under the posts. Stephen Perofeta converts. (Brumbies 7–7 Blues)

p>16 mins – PENALTY BRUMBIES: Ryan Lonergan slots a penalty from 10m out after the Blues are pinged at the breakdown for being off their feet. (Brumbies 10–7 Blues)

22 mins – TRY BRUMBIES: Billy Pollard extends the lead from the rolling maul. The hooker peels off early to the right and barges through Finlay Christie to score. Lonergan misses the conversion from wide. (Brumbies 15–7 Blues)

27 mins – PENALTY BLUES: Perofeta reduces the margin with a simple kick from 20m out after the Brumbies are penalised at the breakdown. (Brumbies 15–10 Blues)

30 mins – TRY BLUES: AJ Lam powers through to level the scores. Anton Segner claims at the back of the lineout, and after Christie box kicks high for Clarke to chase, the Blues regain. Segner carries over the 22 before Lam bursts straight through the middle and bundles over with multiple Brumbies on his back. Perofeta misses the conversion. (Brumbies 15–15 Blues)

Half-time: Brumbies 15–15 Blues. A breathless opening forty that swung like a pendulum. The Brumbies struck first through Meredith’s solo effort and built pressure through their maul, but Clarke’s intercept and Lam’s power have kept the Blues in touch. Rob Valetini and Charlie Cale have been immense in the carry for the hosts, but missed chances have left the door ajar.

43 mins – PENALTY BRUMBIES: Lonergan retakes the lead from 15m out after Sapsford wins the high ball to put the Brumbies inside the Blues 22, drawing the kickable penalty. (Brumbies 18–15 Blues)

51 mins – TRY BLUES: Caleb Clarke grabs his second with a stunning team try. Cole Forbes charges down the right-hand side and gets over halfway before finding James Mullan with an offload. The Blues shift it all the way left to Clarke, who dives over in the corner. Perofeta converts from the touchline. (Brumbies 18–22 Blues)

63 mins – TRY BLUES: Dalton Papali’i celebrates his 100th Blues appearance in style. Forbes kicks high and Sapsford claims the messy ball inside his own half. Meredith kicks across field for Sullivan to claim before Codemeru Vai bursts straight through the middle and charges into the 22. The ball goes through the hands and Papali’i finishes down the right edge. Perofeta misses the conversion. (Brumbies 18–27 Blues)

70 mins – YELLOW CARD BLUES: Stephen Perofeta is shown a yellow card for a deliberate knockdown at the maul. The Brumbies set up five metres out, and Liam Bowron looks for Lonergan down the short side, but Perofeta knocks it down intentionally.

72 mins – TRY BRUMBIES: Luke Reimer keeps hopes alive. The Brumbies opt to tap from the penalty, and Reimer carries low and hard to get over the line. Tane Edmed misses the conversion from wide. (Brumbies 23–27 Blues)

78 mins – TURNOVER BRUMBIES: One last chance. The Blues mess it up trying to seal the game, with Reimer causing the error at ruck time. The Brumbies will attack from halfway with just over a minute remaining.

80+2 mins – TRY BRUMBIES: CHARLIE CALE WINS IT! The Brumbies claim the lineout on halfway as Sapsford almost bursts through. Edmed has a run and is wrapped up 22m short. Valetini charges over the 22 as the hooter sounds. The Brumbies hammer away at the line through Valetini and Reimer. Lonergan fires left as Andy Muirhead darts through and offloads to Cale, who is stopped 3m away. They swing it right as Christie makes a great tackle. The Brumbies are stopped inches short before Cale scoops it up and dives over to win it! The TMO confirms Cale got the ball down before being pushed back. Lonergan converts. (Brumbies 30–27 Blues)

Full-time: Brumbies 30–27 Blues

What a finish in Canberra. Charlie Cale has written his name into Brumbies folklore with a dramatic last-gasp try that completed a stunning comeback victory over the Blues and sent GIO Stadium into delirium.

With the hooter long since sounded and the Brumbies trailing by four points, Cale picked up from the base of a ruck after more than 20 phases of relentless attacking rugby and somehow forced his way over the line. The TMO checked it, the crowd held its breath, and the try stood. Ryan Lonergan’s conversion was almost an afterthought as the Brumbies celebrated a victory that extends their unbeaten start to the 2026 season.

It was a match that had everything: brilliant individual tries, brutal collisions, a yellow card that changed the game, and a finish that will be replayed for years to come. The result lifts the Brumbies to the top of the Super Rugby Pacific table with three wins from three, while the Blues head home to Auckland having let a nine-point lead slip in the final ten minutes.

The hosts had started brightly, with Declan Meredith producing a moment of magic in the eighth minute. After Lachie Shaw blocked a Zarn Sullivan kick, veteran loosehead prop James Slipper – in his 201st Super Rugby appearance – showed remarkable footballing skills to punt the ball 60 metres downfield. Meredith gave chase, toed the ball ahead, and dived on it to open the scoring. It was a try that encapsulated the Brumbies’ aggressive, opportunistic approach.

“I don’t think he’s kicked a ball in his 200 games,” Brumbies captain Ryan Lonergan said of Slipper’s moment. “I could not be more happy for him. I ran past him and said, ‘Yes Slippy’.”

But the Blues hit back through Caleb Clarke, who would prove a constant menace throughout the evening. The powerful winger read a Brumbies backline play perfectly, shooting up out of the line as Sapsford’s pass landed straight into his hands. Clarke needed no second invitation, streaking 60 metres to score under the posts and level the scores. The former All Blacks winger was electric whenever he touched the ball, finishing with two tries and four line breaks in a performance that deserved to be on the winning side.

Billy Pollard extended the Brumbies’ lead with a trademark maul try in the 22nd minute, the hooker peeling off the back early and barging through Christie’s tackle from close range to push the score to 15-7.

AJ Lam responded in devastating fashion for the Blues, showing his immense power to bundle over with multiple defenders on his back after Anton Segner had secured lineout ball. The centre shrugged off a flurry of tacklers to muscle his way over, and the sides went to the break locked at 15-15 after a breathless opening forty minutes.

The second half began with the momentum swinging decisively towards Auckland. Clarke grabbed his second try six minutes after the restart, finishing a sweeping counter-attack that started with Cole Forbes charging down the right touchline after the Brumbies had coughed up possession. Forbes found James Mullan with an offload, and the Blues worked the ball all the way left for Clarke to dive over in the corner. Perofeta’s touchline conversion gave the visitors a 22-18 lead.

The emotional stakes were raised further when Dalton Papali’i, celebrating his 100th appearance in the blue jersey, finished a slick right-edge movement to score in the corner. Replacement winger Codemeru Vai had split the Brumbies defence with a powerful midfield burst, charging into the 22, and the ball went through the hands for Papali’i to touch down. At 27-18 with seventeen minutes remaining, the Blues looked in control and the centurion’s milestone appeared destined for a winning finish.

But the Brumbies, who had won their opening two matches by a combined margin of 82 points, refused to accept defeat. Having been tested for the first time this season after leading comfortably in their previous outings, Stephen Larkham’s side showed remarkable mental resolve. The turning point came when Perofeta was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knockdown at the maul, leaving the Blues a man short for the crucial closing stages. It was an ill-disciplined act that would prove decisive.

Luke Reimer capitalised immediately, burrowing over from close range after a quick tap penalty to cut the deficit to four points. Tane Edmed missed the conversion from wide, leaving the Brumbies needing a converted try with the clock winding down. The Blues attempted to close out the match through Christie’s box kicking and clever territory management, but the visitors struggled to retain possession under intense pressure. A crucial breakdown turnover from Reimer handed the home side one final shot as the hooter sounded.

What followed was extraordinary. The Brumbies claimed the lineout on halfway and began their assault. Rob Valetini, who had been immense all evening, charged over the 22 as the siren sounded. Phase after phase, they inched forward. Valetini was stopped metres short. Reimer was held up. Muirhead darted through and offloaded to Cale, who was hauled down agonisingly close. But the Brumbies recycled again, and this time Cale scooped up the ball and launched himself over amid a sea of bodies.

The TMO confirmed the grounding, Lonergan added the conversion, and GIO Stadium erupted. The 8,086 fans in attendance had witnessed one of the great Brumbies comebacks.

“That was intense. It was a good spectacle for the crowd. It was a back and forth for most of the game,” Larkham said afterwards. “The first two rounds we haven’t had that big a challenge where we were behind on the score. It’s a good feeling. It was a great atmosphere and the people certainly got their money’s worth.

“That was a really good test of our mental resolve. When you come out of a game like that you can build a lot of belief.”

It was the Brumbies’ third consecutive win of the season, ending the Blues’ seven-year winning streak in Canberra, and their second dramatic late victory over the Auckland side in as many years, having won by a single point at Eden Park last season.

For the Blues, it was a bitter pill to swallow. Clarke had been magnificent, Papali’i had marked his milestone in style, and they had led by nine points with ten minutes remaining. But Perofeta’s yellow card proved decisive – the visitors unable to withstand the Brumbies’ relentless pressure with 14 men – and they will rue the handling errors that allowed the home side back into the contest. The Blues, who had been buoyed by a week training at the NSW Rugby headquarters in Sydney, must now regroup quickly ahead of a crucial home clash with the Crusaders.

From here, the Brumbies remain in Canberra, where they will host the Reds next weekend looking to protect their unbeaten start and build further momentum. Larkham acknowledged his side had plenty to work on, with 15 turnovers and 23 missed tackles evidence of a performance that was far from polished.

“The Reds will be a significantly different challenge,” Larkham said. “They have really good ball control and can shift the ball across the park. But the Blues, we knew they were going to be very power-focused through the middle.”

What’s next

The Brumbies host the Queensland Reds at GIO Stadium in Round 4, while the Blues welcome the Crusaders to Eden Park.

Teams

Brumbies: 15 Andy Muirhead, 14 Ollie Sapsford, 13 Kadin Pritchard, 12 David Feliuai, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan (c), 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Rory Scott, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Cadeyrn Neville, 4 Lachie Shaw, 3 Rhys van Nek, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Liam Bowron, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Tevita Alatini, 19 Toby Macpherson, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Klayton Thorn, 22 Tane Edmed, 23 Hudson Creighton.

Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Cole Forbes, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i (c), 6 Anton Segner, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Laghlan McWhannell, 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi.
Replacements: 16 James Mullan, 17 Mason Tupaea, 18 Sam Matenga, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Torian Barnes, 21 Taufa Funaki, 22 Xavi Taele, 23 Codemeru Vai.

Match details

Brumbies 30 (Tries: Declan Meredith, Billy Pollard, Luke Reimer, Charlie Cale; Conversions: Ryan Lonergan 2/3, Tane Edmed 0/1; Penalties: Ryan Lonergan 2/2)
Blues 27 (Tries: Caleb Clarke 2, AJ Lam, Dalton Papali’i; Conversions: Stephen Perofeta 2/4; Penalties: Stephen Perofeta 1/1)
Half-time: 15–15

Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)