Hurricanes vs Blues Predictions - Blues to end losing streak with win

Ralph Staniforth

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Last updated: 27 Feb 2025

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Ralph Staniforth 27 Feb 2025

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Blues to secure first win; historically strong against Hurricanes.
Hurricanes need to improve after narrow win against Drua.
Key players expected to drive performance for both teams.

Blues can bounce back after two defeats (Getty Images)

Hurricanes vs Blues Preview

The Blues have lost their opening two games as they attempt to defend their title. Regardless, the quality within the Chiefs ranks is too much to stay down too long. I'm backing the Auckland side in the handicap market.

Hurricanes vs Blues Preview
Head to Head
Hurricanes Form
Hurricanes Injuries & Team News
Blues Form
Blues Injuries & Team News

Hurricanes won their last match.
Blues have won 7 of their last 10 matches against the Hurricanes.
Blues have lost their last 2 matches.
Blues are the defending Super Rugby champions.

Head to Head

Blues have won seven of their last 10 fixtures against the Hurricanes. Their last encounter finished 31-27 to the Blues.

Hurricanes Form

The Hurricanes topped the table in the 2024 Super Rugby tournament, losing just two of their round robin fixtures. They came unstuck at home to the Chiefs against all odds in the semi-final though.

This season began with a 33-25 loss to the Crusaders away from home before bouncing back to beat Fijian Drua 38-34 on home soil last weekend.

The win was hardly convincing as Drua could easily have won the game in the end. Better will be required this weekend against a Blues side struggling with form but still laced with quality.

Hurricanes Injuries & Team News

15 Kade Banks, 14 Fehi Fineanganofo, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Harry Godfrey, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Peter Lakai, 7 DuPlessis Kirifi (co-captain), 6 Brad Shields (co-captain), 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Raymond Tuputupu, 1 Xavier Numia.

Replacements: 16 Jacob Devery, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Hugo Plummer, 20 Brayden Iose, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Riley Hohepa, 23 Ngatungane Punivai.

Blues Form

The defending champions go into round three of Super Rugby Pacific under some pressure having lost their opening two fixtures. After the dominance of 2024, their start has been quite a surprise this year.

The Blues lost in round one in a repeat of the 2024 final, going down 25-14 at home to the Chiefs. Last week, in a game they were expected to win, the Blues again fell short, this time 29-21 in Dunedin to the Highlanders.

Blues Injuries & Team News

15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Mark Tele’a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 AJ Lam, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Cameron Suafoa, 5 Josh Beehre, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi.

Replacements: 16 James Mullan, 17 Joshua Fusitu’a, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Cam Christie, 20 Anton Segner, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Corey Evans, 23 Cole Forbes.

Verdict

Hurricanes v Blues

Blues are tipped to win their first game of the season and cover the -3.5 handicap in Wellington.

Blues Win

Result

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Blues -3.5

Handicap

@-109.89 - 3 Units

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