WATCH: Hurricanes smash sorry Sunwolves 83-17
Last Updated: 26/02/17 1:26pm
A rampant Hurricanes began the defence of their Super Rugby title by pulverising Japan's Sunwolves 83-17 on Saturday, scoring 13 tries in an embarrassingly lopsided game.
Ardie Savea, Vince Aso and Michael Fatialofa all crashed over twice in the Tokyo sunshine as the visitors threatened to break a slew of records against a shambolic Sunwolves side looking to rebound from last year's baptism of fire.
Fly-half Otere Black added nine conversions.
Late tries from Shokei Kin and Willie Britz barely papered over the cracks for the Tokyo-based Sunwolves, who won just one of 15 games in their inaugural Super Rugby season.
The Japanese expansion team were criticised after struggling mightily in 2016, with former Japan coach Eddie Jones - now in charge of England - slamming them as "embarrassing" after a 92-17 mauling by the Cheetahs.
Their latest thrashing will increase pressure on the Sunwolves, especially amid suggestions teams could be axed by organisers SANZAAR, despite expanding the competition to 18 clubs last season.
Click on the video above to watch the highlights.
