Last year’s Super Rugby runners-up, the Hurricanes have been subjected to a brutal review of their season opening loss to the ACT Brumbies in Canberra.
The Hurricanes were hammered 52-10 on Friday night.
Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said they conceded points too softly, struggled at the breakdowns and simply made too many errors.
The Hurricanes will have to step up their performance this week as they face the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday night in a repeat of last year’s Super Rugby final.
The Hurricanes will take on the Highlanders at 6.35pm Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Crusaders will face the Blues at 6.35pm Friday while the Brumbies play the Waratahs at 8.40pm.
