All Blacks watch: Who’s got most to gain in Hurricanes-Blues Super Rugby blockbuster?

Tuesday, 7 April 2026

ANALYSIS: If most capped All Blacks back of all time Beauden Barrett still has a future in the test rugby arena, Saturday night in Wellington shapes as the ideal stage on which to start reinforcing that claim.

Providing the rugby gods play ball, a No 10 head to head between Barrett and Ruben Love in the capital’s Cake Tin stadium shapes as the most invigorating of the numerous All Blacks storylines on display when Super Rugby Pacific’s top two teams collide in the first true blockbuster clash of the season.

The table-topping Hurricanes (5-1, 25 points) host the Blues (5-2, 25 points) at Hnry Stadium on Saturday (7.05pm kickoff) in a matchup with serious finals implications, along with some pretty high-level All Blacks ramifications, a la most heavyweight Kiwi derbies over the run home.

All Blacks contenders abound in both sides, creating mouth-watering matchups between form types bidding to gain the attention of new All Blacks coach Dave Rennie, likely to be in the stands during a bye week in the Japan League One competition.

Nowhere does the head to head drip with more poignancy than, potentially, at first five-eighths where one of the Hurricanes’ most exciting prospects for the future should do battle with an All Blacks incumbent whose deeds of the past are the stuff of legend.

In many ways it’s the future and past colliding in a Love-Barrett tête-à-tête at the Cake Tin. At 24, and just scratching the surface of his international career (five appearances, two starts), Love is in the early stages of what appears a promising career at first-receiver.

Barrett, at 34, with a record 144 test caps (the most by any All Black back), sits at the other end of the spectrum. He’s been one of the great test No 10s, and is still playing at a very high level for the Blues in 2026 in his preferred spot.

Both are capable fullbacks who have logged serious time there, but both appear at their best in the No 10 jersey: Love with his smooth acceleration, casual flair and immense natural talent; and Barrett with his probing boot, innate tactical awareness and still lethal ability to seize a moment.

Rennie will undoubtedly have both high up on his list of contenders to wear the No 10 jersey in July’s Nations Championship fixtures, and beyond into the ‘Greatest Rivalry’ tour of South Africa.

Barrett, for all his wobbles last year against England, remains a class act with a valuable edge in experience. Are his best days in his rearview mirror? Love, on the other hand, intrigues as an improving sort with a ton of upside and X-factor. Is he ready?

Saturday night should tell us plenty about both in a clash of the competition’s form teams. Both have won their last four on the bounce, and the Canes have passed the half-century mark in four of their five victories.

Here are the All Blacks contenders from both sides:

HURRICANES

Backs: Love has looked better and better at No 10 since returning from the high ankle sprain that delayed his season start. He’s still scratching the surface of his potential but an already promising combination with the best No 9 in New Zealand rugby (and it’s not close) Cam Roigard is helping. Together they’re wreaking havoc in a form backline. Roigard is thriving on the go-forward being served up by his forwards, and looks in exciting form with his triple-threat game. There’s also something to be said for the bonds and links being formed by the midfield of Jordie Barrett and Billy Proctor. Barrett’s creative play (7 try assists in 6 games) has been sublime and he’s on fire as a setup man, while Proctor looks slick and quick in the wider channels, and exudes class on the carry.

Forwards: Peter Lakai has begun ‘26 in outstanding fashion, reaffirming his status as one of the nation’s finest young loosies. He will love the clash against the always physical Blues trio. What about Devan Flanders? The rugged No 6 has been brilliant thus far and shapes as a potential bolter for Rennie’s first squad. Du’Plessis Kirifi hasn’t fired on all cylinders yet, and needs to up his impact the rest of SRP to remain in the ABs mix. Pasilio Tosi will get the chance to prove his worth in a likely matchup against Ofa Tu’ungafasi, while the dynamic Asafo Aumua has ground to make up at hooker against his chief positional rivals.

BLUES

Backs: There were mutterings that Barrett was past his best after Twickenham last November, but he’s looked on point for the Blues. He’ll be energised by a clash against the young pretender. Caleb Clarke has returned to try-scoring form to round out a solid all-round game on the wing. Fin Christie remains an honest, if limited, type at halfback, while Zarn Sullivan (fullback) and Codemeru Vai (wing) shape as two younger types maybe just a big game or two off moving into national consideration.

Forwards: The Blues’ strength remains their eight, even if it’s down on national contenders. Locks Sam Darry and Josh Beehre are both playing exceedingly well, while veteran Ofa Tu’ungafasi, now he’s sorted his scrummaging, should be back in the prop mix. Anton Segner, the most experienced of a promising loose contingent, has the potential to make a move, and now might be a good time to light that fuse.

Not All Black contenders but … both sides contain game-changers who sit outside the national picture. The Canes’ Fehi Fineanganofo (off to England), with nine tries in six games, is the form wing of the comp and a big loss at just 23, while big Japan-qualified lock Warner Dearns is revelling in his first season of Super Rugby. Blues No 7 Dalton Papali’i has confirmed a French move right when he’s unleashing a season for the ages, while centre AJ Lam (another off to France) is playing very well at No 13.