On average in matches between these teams the Hurricanes score 26 points and the Sharks score 24. The two teams have played 12 matches and the Hurricanes have won 6 and the Sharks 5.
There has been one draw but the Sharks have never won in Wellington. In 2004 they did however win in New Plymouth. It's all very even.
Match detail
We are waiting for the kick off.
Andy Goode of the Sharks kicks off and we are underway.
3.00: The Sharks start well and work the ball into the Hurricanes half. As they press forward the Hurricanes infringe and Andy Goode attempts a drop goal but misses. We go back for a penalty but Ruan Pienaar misses.
4.00: The game is held up for a blood injury to Tialata.
5.00: The Sharks attack hard at the Hurricanes line. They go through the phases and then they pop the ball out to Patrick Lambie who is unmarked on the wing so he goes over for the first try.
6.00: Ruan Pienaar nails the conversion.
8.00: The Sharks give away a penalty (Bismarck du Plessis) so Willie Ripia takes the penalty shot and nails it.
10.00: The Hurricanes get some good attacking ball and show some running skills but the ball goes forward. Adi Jacobs goes down injured from a tackle and comes off (shoulder injury). Waylon Murray comes on.
12.00: Ruan Pienaar is looking dangerous for the Sharks. He makes a break but the pass to his support goes to ground.
13.00: The Hurricanes look equally dangerous in the counterattack.
14.00: Sharks win a big Hurricanes scrum. The Sharks however infringe going forward so the Hurricanes get a penalty in their 25.
15.00: The Hurricanes work the ball into the Sharks 25. It's the first time they have really threatened the line. Jacob Ellison gets to within a metre and knocks on. That was close.
20.00: The Sharks give away a penalty, Ripia looks at the posts decides it's too far so he kicks for touch.
21.00: The Sharks win the line out. There is a moment of aerial ping-pong and then Jane takes out Lambie in the air so the Sharks kick for touch.
23.00: The Sharks get over the line but they are held up. This is a strong performance by the Sharks.
26.00: Sharks show some strong running skills in the Hurricanes half but the pas goes forward. Most of the game has been the Sharks attacking in the Hurricanes half.
30.00: The game continues to be played in the Hurricanes 25. The Sharks win a line out and run the ball but get nowhere. There is some aerial ping pong and then Jane decides to counter attack. John Smith gives away a penalty.
34.00: It's tough stuff here in Wellington. Ferocious attack and ferocious defence from the Sharks. Eventually the Hurricanes win a penalty so Ripia takes the kick and makes it a one point game.
36.00: Neemia Tialata give away a penalty (not rolling away) so Ruan Pienaar takes the shot and he nails it.
40.00: The clock ticks over but we still have time for a Sharks scrum. The Sharks win a penalty just before the siren. Ruan Pienaar takes the kick and bangs it over to extend the Sharks half time lead. It is half time.
The half time score is Hurricanes 6 Sharks 13
The second half is underway.
42.00: Riaan Swanepoel gives away a penalty as his support does not come in time.
43.00: Piri Weepu takes the kick and nails it.
45.00: The Hurricanes look a little sharper this half. Conrad Smith makes a break but pressure on Andre Taylor forces the ball out and forward in the tackle.
47.00: Hurricanes win a penalty but they go for the line out. They lose the line out and the ball is sent way downfield by the Sharks.
51.00: The Hurricanes have upped the pace and pressure and you get the feeling that their first try is coming soon.
53.00: The territory stats have levelled now and that pressure results in a penalty for the Hurricanes. Weepu takes the shot and nails it.
55.00: The Sharks win a line out and start the driving maul. It works really well for them and gets them to within 5m. As they swing the ball out and then recycle the Hurricanes get the turnover.
58.00: The Sharks enjoy a spell of much better play but they infringe and the Canes get a free kick.
59.00: Rory Kockott comes on for the Sharks. Tialata comes off for the Hurricanes.
60.00: The Hurricanes show some slick hands through Cruden and Nonu but probably too fancy as the ball goes to ground.
61.00: John Smit comes off. Hurricanes get over the gain line which gets the Sharks on the backfoot.
62.00: As they recycle Jane makes another break and gets caught, it's desperate defence from the Sharks. They do however turn the ball over and Terblanche boots it way downfield.
64.00: The Sharks set up their attack but the Hurricans get caught offside. Pienaar goes for posts. He nails it.
65.00: Aaron Cruden goes deep with the restart and the Sharks go wide immediately. They show some brilliant hands and team work and after several passes JP Pietersen runs in a beauty of a team try.
67.00: Pienaar adds the conversion.
68.00: The Hurricane hit back with a great line break from Aaron Cruden who sells a classy dummy, the support comes up but the Sharks give away a penalty.
69.00: The Hurricanes choose to scrum which they win and swing it out at pace and Nonu busts through for the Canes first try.
70.00: Weepu adds the conversion and we are back to a four point margin.
71.00: John Smit comes back on.
72.00: The Sharks win a penalty so Ruan Pienaar takes the kick and nails it making it a 7 point lead.
75.00: The Sharks give away a penalty in their 25. The Canes choose to scrum which they win and run it at the Sharks and it works because Victor Vito finds a gap and darts through - Canes had a three overlap.
76.00; Weepu nails the conversion from almost the touch line.
78.00: The Sharks pile on the pressure and David Smith gets caught behind the tryline. He boots the ball to Kockott who sends an awful pass to Lambie who reaches but knocks on.
79.00: Hurricanes scrum. They win the scrum but the Hurricanes give away a penalty on the half way line. Pienaar will kick for posts.
80.00: The siren goes. Pienaar lines up and bangs the ball way downfield......he gets it !! The Sharks win.
The full time score is Hurricanes 26 Sharks 29
Scorers
Hurricanes
Tries - Ma’a Nonu, V Vito
Pen - W Ripia 2, P Weepu 2
Con - P Weepu 2
Drop -
Cards -
Tries - Ma’a Nonu, V Vito
Pen - W Ripia 2, P Weepu 2
Con - P Weepu 2
Drop -
Cards -
Sharks
Tries - P. Lambie, JP Pietersen
Pen - R Pienaar 5
Con - R Pienaar 2
Drop -
Cards -
Match Officials
Referee: Ian Smith (Australia)
Assistant referees: Kane McBride (New Zealand), Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
TMO: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
Teams
Hurricanes - 15 Cory Jane, 14 Tamati Ellison, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Andre Taylor, 10 Willie Ripia, 9 Tyson Keats, 8 Rodney So’oialo, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Victor Vito, 5 Michael Paterson, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore (c), 1 John Schwalger.
Reserves: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18 Bryn Evans, 19 Nick Crosswell, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 David Smith.
Sharks - 15. Patrick Lambie , 14. Stefan Terblanche , 13. Adrian Jacobs , 12. Riaan Swanepoel , 11. JP Pietersen , 10. Andy Goode , 9. Ruan Pienaar , 8. Ryan Kankowski , 7. Willem Alberts , 6. Jacques Botes , 5. Alistair Hargreaves , 4. Steven Sykes , 3. Jannie du Plessis , 2. Bismarck du Plessis , 1. John Smit ( Capt )
Replacements: , 16. Tendai Mtawarira , 17. Wiehahn Herbst , 18. Wilhelm Steenkamp , 19. Jean Deysel , 20. Rory Kockott , 21. Waylon Murray , 22. Odwa Ndungane
