Hurricanes hat-tricks:11 of the best

Above: Upper Hutt Rams right wing Cory Jane was the last player to score a Super Rugby hat-trick for the Hurricanes, against the Reds in 2014.

After 20 years of Super Rugby, the competition is expanding to 18 teams in 2016. As we look forward to the start of this year’s competition that kicks off at the end of February, we’ve taken a look at the some of the Hurricanes players that have lit up Super Rugby thus far.

There were 11 hat-tricks by Hurricanes players in the first 20 years of Super Rugby, including three in one season in 1997, the year the Hurricanes first made the semi-finals, and two in 2012, the year the Hurricanes scored 58 tries.

The individual record for most tries in a single Super Rugby match is four tries, also held by 11 players. The players who have scored four tries in a Super Rugby are: Joe Roff (for the Brumbies, in 1996), Gavin Lawless (Sharks, 1996), Stefan Terblanche (Sharks, 1996), Joeli Vidiri (Blues, 2000), Doug Howlett (Blues, 2002), Mils Muliaina (Blues, 2002), Caleb Ralph (Crusaders, 2002), Sitiveni Sivivatu (Chiefs, 2009), Drew Mitchell (Waratahs, 2010), Sean Maitland (Crusaders, 2011) and Asaeli Tikoirotuma (Chiefs, 2012). Howlett’s four tries were against the Hurricanes.

Below are short summaries of the 11 hat-tricks scored by Hurricanes players:

Tana Umaga v Northern Transvaal [Bulls] 1997, at New Plymouth
Petone crowd favourite Tana Umaga scored three hat-tricks in Super Rugby, including two in one season in 1997. This one helped kick-start the Hurricanes ‘campaign that saw them make the semi-finals for the first time. Going into this third round match the Hurricanes were a desperate side after dropping their opening two games of the year and winning just three of 11 in 1996. Fullback Christian Cullen was also injured Instead of folding, the caged Hurricanes came our blazing.They upped their pace and urgency and whipped the Bulls, 64-32, with Umaga on fire.

Tana Umaga v Highlanders 1997, at Wellington
The biggest win, in terms of points scored against a New Zealand opposition, was achieved just five weeks after the thumping of the Bulls. On of Umaga’s tries was a 75-metre run from inside his 22 and another a long-rang intercept try. Umaga’s wing partner Alex Telea and second five-eighth Jason O’Halloran both scored braces, while stand-in kicker Christian Cullen scored a try and kicked six conversions and a penalty for 20 points. It was also a proud day for Wellington’s Tiatia family - Filo for the Hurricanes and Ace for the Highlanders, both scoring tries.

Christian Cullen v Orange Free State [Cheetahs] 1997, at Wellington
Christian Cullen is the Hurricanes’ leading all-time try scorer with 56 tries in 85 matches. This was the Northern United fullback’s sole hat-trick. The Hurricanes were returning from their three-week Australian and South African tour and Athletic Park was humming with 32,000 fans. Some were still taking their seats when the fullback flashed in for this first try in the 8th minute off an Alama Ieremia kick. Cullen capitalised on his forwards’ dominance to score another try in the 25th minute and took a long pass from flanker Martin Leslie to add his third on the hour. Cullen scored 11 tries in 10 matches for the Hurricanes in 1997 and went on to score 16 in 13 internationals for the All Blacks later that year. This was also the Hurricanes’ first win in Wellington after two losses there the year before. The final score was 59-30.

Jason O’Halloran v Blues 1998, at Wellington
Jason O’Halloran’s hat-trick was the only one as part of a losing cause. The Hurricanes arrived at Athletic Park for their final game of the season with little to play for but pride, after a promising start to their campaign that had seen them win their opening three games but then drop away. The Blues were playing for a home semi-final. Two first half tries to future Hurricane Jonah Lomu put the Blues ahead 31-15 at halftime, Petone midfielder O’Halloran scoring his first try off a Tana Umaga break. The Hurricanes saved their best until last, winning the second half and O’Halloran scoring two more tries. The Blues won 37-25.

Tana Umaga v Reds 2000, at New Plymouth
Three years after his first two, Umaga scored his third hat-trick as part of this 43-25 win. Umaga’s three tries were telling, the right wing scoring his first two in injury time in the first half as the Hurricanes extended a 19-13 lead to a 33-13 advantage at the turnaround. Umaga then sealed the outcome after combining superbly with fullback Christian Cullen Umaga went on to score 47 tries in his 122 matches between 1996-2007.

Ma’a Nonu v Brumbies 2005, at Wellington
The first hat-trick by a Hurricanes player on Westpac Stadium. Oriental-Rongotai’s Nonu was electric in several matches on the left wing in 2005 and he delivered a decisive hat trick in this entertaining 49-37 win. Nonu’s hat trick came in the second half after a tense and seesawing match in which scores were locked up at 20-20 after almost 50 minutes. Nonu lit the fuse, scoring his first try off the shoulder of flanker Chris Masoe and then running like a freight train to score solo tries in the 59th and 62nd minutes. With the game in the bag, Nonu was subbed off with 10 minutes remaining and denied the chance for a fourth as the Hurricanes scored twice more before the final whistle.

Andrew Hore v Chiefs 2006, at Hamilton
Andrew Hore led the charge of the hookers in 2006 by becoming the first forward in Super Rugby to score a hat trick of tries in the Hurricanes’ 35-10 over the Chiefs. Maniototo rake Hore’s three tries - fittingly in his 50th Super Rugby match - helped propel the Hurricanes towards the 2006 semi-finals and eventually on to the final against the Crusaders. Hore revelled in slippery conditions at Westpac Stadium in this clash and came out on top of a forwards dominated battle, scoring his first try as the Hurricanes led 16-3 at halftime and then bursting over the line from close range twice in the second to seal victory. In all Hore scored 19 Super Rugby tries (including two for the Highlanders)

Hosea Gear v Reds 2010, at Wellington
Hutt Old Boys Marist Wing Hosea Gear's hat trick was a highlight in this 44-21 win. Gear dominated the left hand lane in this match with his power and speed, making several other big breaks in addition to his three tries. The Hurricanes won the match by scoring 36 unanswered points and 31 in the second half after trailing 8-21 late in the first half. Gear sparked the revival by scoring his first try on the stroke of halftime, and added his second soon after the break. His third try on 60 minutes from a 40-metre raid was a key play of the game. Of note, Rodney So’oialo played his 100th game for the Hurricanes in this match.

TJ Perenara v Force 2012, at Perth
Halfback TJ Perenara scored his hat-trick in his Super Rugby starting debut as part of this 46-19 win. On a hot night, Perenara scored two tries in the first half and one more early in the second in an emphatic six tries to one win. In the Hurricanes franchise’s 200th Super Rugby match, the Hurricanes opened up the Force and Northern United’s Perenara was always in support. The Hurricanes went into halftime holding a decisive 22-10 lead after scoring two quick tries Former New Zealand Secondary Schools captain Perenara completed his hat trick by scoring the first try after halftime. Perenara was the Hurricanes’ leading try-scorer in 2015 with 12 tries, whilst he has scored 30 overall.

Julian Savea v Rebels 2012, at Wellington
The Hurricanes scored their most number of points in a Super Rugby match in routing the Rebels 66-24. Oriental-Rongotai left wing Savea scored three, fullback Andre Taylor and right wing Alapati Leuia scored two tries each and first five-eighth Beauden Barrett kicked all his 10 shots on goal as the Hurricanes surpassed their previous highest Super Rugby score of 64-32 against Northern Transvaal (now the Bulls) in New Plymouth in 1997 (see above). The Hurricanes scored five tries in the first half to take a 38-17 lead into halftime, Savea scoring two, The Hurricanes outscored the Rebels four tries to one in the second half, the Bus scoring his third.

Cory Jane v Reds 2014, at Wellington
Upper Hutt Rams right wing Jane became the third Hurricanes player to score a hat-trick against the Reds, following Umaga’s in 2000 and Gear’s in 2010, helping the Hurricanes to a 35-21 win and their sixth straight victory over the Reds at home. Jane latched on to breaks by fullback Andre Taylor and No. 8 Victor Vito respectively to score his first two tries, but the Hurricanes trailed 10-14 at halftime. The Hurricanes rallied after the break and halfback TJ Perenara crossed, followed by Jane again, after a bust up the middle by lock James Broadhurst. Jane’s third try was notable for being the Hurricanes’ 700th try in Super Rugby.