Highlanders vs Hurricanes: Canes’ season alive, All Blacks bolter shines

Sam Gilbert had a chance to win a tense New Zealand derby for the Highlanders, but with a drop goal missing the mark, the travelling Hurricanes were left celebrating a 20-18 win at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

After a tough start to the season, this was a result the Canes desperately needed.

Caleb Tangitau was prolific on the Highlanders wing. The former All Blacks Sevens speedster scored a try in the 33rd minute and played a big part in another try during the second term. Spoiler alert for those reading on but it was the type of performance that should see the youngster enter the All Blacks conversation.

Here are four takeaways from the Hurricanes' two-point win in Dunedin.

Hurricanes breathe new life into their season

Phew.

If you’re a Hurricanes fan, allow yourself to take a much-needed sigh of relief.

This isn’t just about the way the Hurricanes won that classic Kiwi derby, it’s what that result means in the context of their season.

The Hurricanes dropped three of their first four matches. Nobody expected to see the Canes and Blues at the bottom of the ladder after one month of Super Rugby Pacific, but that’s the reality that fans attempted process.

Commentator Ken Laben said on Sport Nation earlier this week that both the Canes and Blues would need “a miracle run” to save their seasons unless they began to win games. Well, the Hurricanes have passed that first test, sneaking by the Highlanders down south.

They’re now 2-3 for the season.

It’s still not the form that fans tipped of the Hurricanes before the 2025 campaign, but it’s not all doom and gloom for the men from New Zealand’s windy capital. This result has breathed new life into their season, and it’s up to them as to how they charged on.

The All Blacks need to find a place for Caleb Tangitau

Caleb Tangitau ticks all the boxes as a young winger ready for the All Blacks

Tangitau made the move south from the Blues ahead of the 2025 season and, at least so far, this signing has been a glistening success story for the Highlanders. At just 21 years of age, Tangitau has terrorised defensive lines in a series of strong performances for the Landers.

It all stated in the opening round against the NSW Waratahs in Sydney. This writer watched on in awe as the former New Zealand U20 and All Blacks Sevens flyer stood out with a sensational try-scoring double on debut for the club.

But that was just the start.

Tangitau matched up well against the Blues and Moana Pasifika, and it was business as usual against the Hurricanes. Wearing a green and purple jersey that resembled The Hulk, Tangitau was a bit of a Highlanders hero in this fifth-round clash.

Commentator Jeff Wilson described Tangitau as a “superstar” during the second half. The wing scored a long-range intercept try during the first term, and more individual brilliance from a quick tap set up Ajay Faleafaga in the 58^th minute.

At one stage, Tangitau had run for 129 metres which was more than double the next-best carry metres out of any player. An incredible performance from a youngster with a high ceiling in the world of rugby union.

Scott Robertson, no doubt you’re watching, and it’s good that you are. It’s competitive at the top with the All Blacks boasting incredible depth in the outside backs, but there should always be a place for someone like Caleb Tangitau.

Du’Plessis Kirifi is the All Blacks’ answer

Who will follow in Sam Cane’s footsteps at the All Blacks?

That’s’ one of the big questions facing Scott Robertson’s team in 2025.

Ardie Savea, Luke Jacobson, Dalton Papali’i, Ethan Blackadder and Peter Lakai are among the contenders, but Friday night’s match in Dunedin proved to the rugby world that the All Blacks’ best option to wear the famed No. 7 jersey is Du’Plessis Kirifi.

It’s almost redundant to say that Kirifi was everywhere. That could be said about every match the Hurricanes play, with Kirifi usually among the leaders on the defensive side of the ball in particular – making the second-most tackles out of any Canes player in this match.

But, what was most impressive about Kirifi in this match was the flanker’s work rate and impact around the breakdown. “It’s Ardie Savea-like,” former All Black Justin Marshall said on commentary after a moment of magic from the Hurricanes’ openside.

Kirifi had won a penalty at the breakdown while defending the Hurricanes’ try line. They were leading by two points and there was less than 10 minutes to play. Much like Tangitau, it was the type of performance that did the superhero jersey justice.

If the All Blacks want to return to the top of the world rankings, having Du’Plessis Kirifi at openside flanker is more than a good start. It’s essential on current form.

Where is the [Ruben] Love?

The Black Eyed Peas.

That’s a bit of an unusual way to start any rugby-related takeaways passage, but oddly enough, it also just makes sense. Hit song ‘Where is the Love?’ was released in 2003, and it’s also a bit of a bizarre way to lead into the next takeaway from Highlanders-Hurricanes.

Ruben Love has had a tough start to the season. After being caught on the wrong side of a Kyren Taumoefolau hurdle in last weekend’s shock loss to Moana Pasifika, the playmaker had a first half to forget at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Love had a kick charged down in general play and that almost led to points in the Highlanders’ favour. The one-Test All Black also sent a restart into touch on the full after the home side registered their first points of the evening via a penalty goal.

Harry Godfrey also struggled as the Hurricanes failed to generate any momentum.

But then, around the 60-minute mark, the Black Eyed Peas’ question from the early 2000s – which was definitely about Ruben Love in this specific match, right? – was answered as the Hurricanes’ star fullback popped up at just the right time.

Love needed a spectacular somersault finish to score in the corner, and the utility did just that before jumping up to “give it” to ‘The Zoo’ as the commentators briefly discussed. It was a moment of much-needed brilliance, but that was only one moment to speak of.

It was a quiet night from the All Black.