Rayasi scores twice as Hurricanes overpower Waratahs 41-12 to crush their finals hopes

Salesi Rayasi came off the bench to score twice to help the Hurricanes crush NSW Waratahs 41-12 in Wellington last night.

They blew out the Waratahs in the first half to take a 26-0 lead at the break.

Tries to Hugh Sinclair and debutant Vuate Karawalevu got the Waratahs on the board late in the game.

However, TJ Perenara's 64th try of his career sealed the win and his spot as the leading try-scorer ever in Super Rugby.

The Tahs' latest crushing bonus-point defeat left them with a galling two-from-10 record.

Stinging from a first loss of the season last week to the Brumbies, the Hurricanes came out firing.

First-half tries to winger Billy Proctor, five-eighth Brett Cameron, winger Joshua Moorby and No.8 Brayden Iose earned the hosts a virtually unbeatable 26-0 lead at the break.

A try-scoring double from electric replacement Rayasi put the issue beyond doubt, despite late second-half crosses for Waratahs duo Hugh Sinclair and Vuate Karawalevu.

An eighth loss of the season leaves the Waratahs languishing in second-last spot on the ladder and needing to string a succession of wins together in the closing rounds to scrape into the top eight.

In another match last night, the Blues have secured a crucial bonus point win as they defeated the Melbourne Rebels 38-11.

In today’s matches, the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua take on the Brumbies at 9.35pm, Moana Pasifika play the Highlanders in Tonga at 2.05pm while the Chiefs meet the Force at 7.05pm.

Source: rugby.com.au