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TJ Perenara stars as Hurricanes blow Sharks away in Super Rugby 1/4 final

The only downside to the 41 – 0 win was an injury to Dane Coles.

THE HURRICANES UNDERLINED their number one seeding in the Super Rugby knock-out phases with a dominant 41 – 0 win at home to the Sharks this morning.

Scrum-half TJ Perenara proved to be the cutting edge that really ripped the visitors apart, assisting three tries before diving over for one of his own in the second half.

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The hosts were so dominant that head coach Chris Boyd was able to call key men Perenara, Beauden Barrett (who played a key role in the opening try) and Ardie Savea ashore with 20 minutes still remaining in the quarter final.

In all there were six Hurricane tries and the Sharks became the first team to go scoreless in a knock-out Super Rugby game.

Loni Uhila rumbled over for the first after 16 minutes, the field position coming courtesy of Jason Woodward’s fine catch and offload from Barrett’s cross-field kick in truly awful weather. Perenara sent James Marshall sliding in to the corner minutes later to give the ‘Canes a 13 – 0 half-time lead.

SANZAAR / YouTube

After the break, it got really bad for the South African side as Perenara shrugged off a challenge from his opposite number before giving Woodward a 46th minute try. Lock Vaea Fifita opened up his stride just three minutes later to romp in for the fourth touchdown of the game. And, after Perenara got his reward for his finest performance of the season, Brad Shields completed the rout in the final minute.

Loni Uhila thanks the fans Photosport / Kerry Marshall/INPHO Photosport / Kerry Marshall/INPHO / Kerry Marshall/INPHO

There was one major downside for the Wellington side however as their captain, All Black Hooker Dane Coles, hobbled off the field early in the second half and looked in serious pain while holding the side of his ribs.

Semi-final pairings have yet to be confirmed, but the top-seed ‘Canes will be on home soil again next weekend and will take on a fellow Kiwi side.

Yesterday, the Highlanders set the first New Zealand foot in the semi-finals as their skill-set shone through a damp encounter away to the Brumbies.

SANZAAR / YouTube

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Hurricanes come up with terrific early try in atrocious conditions

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