It was a ninth successive Super Rugby victory for the Hurricanes as they returned, for now at least, to the top of the table on 41 points. It was also a sixth on the bounce, five tries to two, over the beleaguered Blues who, for all their efforts, simply cannot take a trick against fellow Kiwi opposition, losing this one 15-36.

The Blues have now extended their winless streak against New Zealand sides to 16 and slumped to their eighth defeat in 11 matches this season. Their distant, mathematical playoff hopes are now in tatters.