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Watch: Asafo Aumua ploughs through four Blues defenders to cap off sweeping Hurricanes move

(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

The Hurricanes have exploded into life in their opening Super Rugby Aotearoa match of the year, with powerful hooker Asafo Aumua crashing over for a scintillating try against the Blues.

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Trailing 7-0 early in the first half after Blues flanker Dalton Papalii scored off a Vaea Fifita mistake near his own tryline, the Hurricanes responded immediately after finding themselves just inside the opposition’s half.

Spreading the ball through the hands in between the Blues’ 10 metre mark and the halfway line, Julian Savea decided to take the defensive line on, bursting through a gap between Papalii and Harry Plummer.

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The big left wing, playing in his first game for the Hurricanes since returning to the Wellington franchise from French giants Toulon last year, then popped an offload to the supporting Jackson Garden-Bachop, who then cut the ball back to Fifita.

The rangy loose forward stroll up to the 22 metre mark, sucking in the tackle attempts of Hoskins Sotutu and Sam Nock before offloading to Jonathan Taumateine, who was sacked from behind by Akira Ioane.

Quick recycled ball allowed Ardie Savea to fling a cut out ball to James Blackwell, who shovelled the ball onto Billy Proctor in the wide channels.

The young midfielder didn’t hesitate in finding Aumua on the 22 metre mark, which is where the magic started as the blockbusting rake charged towards the Blues defence.

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After surveying his options, Aumua opted to run straight at Stephen Perofeta and Kurt Eklund, but neither defender could drag him down as he shrugged them both off with ease.

Despite tripping over Eklund’s flailing arm, the 23-year-old evaded the wayward tackle attempts of Nock and Rieko Ioane, neither of whom could hold Aumua on the ground.

As such, he was allowed to get up and go again, which is exactly was he did with the tryline in sight, and neither Mark Telea nor Caleb Clarke were quick enough to stop him as he stretched out and scored a wonderfully-taken try.

The play exemplified the brute strength and power Aumua possesses, and the one-test All Black will no doubt be called upon in the second half with his side leading 11-7 at half-time.

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RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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