[Getty/Kyodo]

TOKYO - The Sunwolves fell to their third straight loss in the 2020 Super Rugby competition Saturday, going down 62-15 to the Hurricanes at McLean Park in Napier, New Zealand.

Naoya Okubo's team were second best at the breakdown and scrum, missed far too many tackles and were far too naive when close to their line allowing TJ Perenara and the Hurricanes to take full advantage.

"When we had ball in hand we were pretty good, but the challenge is keeping it," said Sunwolves co-captain Jake Schatz. "The Hurricanes are a quality outfit and you can't afford to give them the ball."

And as the Australian No. 8 pointed, if you do hand over possession you have to make your tackles stick.

"First-up tackles are crucial and we didn't bring it there today," he said.

(Chase Tiatia of the Hurricanes)

The visitors got off to the perfect start with lock Michael Stolberg galloping over in the fourth minute following a good inside pass from prop Jarred Adams.

But a penalty from Jumpei Ogura aside, that was as good as it got for them as the Hurricanes ran off their rustiness following a week off to dominate the rest of the half.

Wing Kobus van Wyk and fullback Chase Tiatia both dotted down twice as the Sunwolves fell off too many one-on-one tackles in midfield to allow the Hurricanes' dangerous backs to get over the gain line and create overlaps out wide at will.

Up 28-10 at the break, the Hurricanes took just 34 seconds to extend their lead through Ben Lam before Perenara crossed a minute later.

And with the floodgates well and truly opened, further tries came from Gareth Evans, van Wyk, who achieved a hat-trick on his Hurricanes debut, Ngani Laumape and Vince Aso.


(Jumpei Ogura of the Sunwolves makes a break.)[Getty/Kyodo]

Siosaia Fifita made up for some of his missed tackles with a Sunwolves consolation try in the 66th minute. But it was a day to forget.

The Hurricanes ran for 748 meters to 208 by the Sunwolves, beating 35 defenders to 11 and making 18 offloads to just 4 by the visitors.

In defense, the Sunwolves, who have to play their next two home games in Australia as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, missed 35 of their 109 tackle attempts, as their record fell to 1-3.

"When the boys get going they're hard to stop," said Perenara, whose team are now 3-1 for the season.


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