Savea was certainly a stand out with two of his team’s three tries with the other going to blindside Brad Shields and Beauden Barrett adding three vital conversions and two penalties in a match that was on a knife edge until the final whistle.

“It was a game that we probably needed to win from a championship points point of view and it’s also a game that we needed to win to convince ourselves that we’re not here by mistake,” Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said after the match.

The win was the Hurricanes eighth from 12 matches and ensured they remain firmly entrenched in the Super Rugby playoff race as the competition takes a four week hiatus for the All Blacks June international series against Wales.

On the evidence of the Hurricanes performance a host of Boyd’s charges deserve serious consideration for All Blacks coach Steve Hansen’s squad which will be announced on Sunday, May 29.

Savea starred, but Shields was not far behind him, while props Jeffery Toomaga-Allen and Reggie Goodes, hooker Dane Coles and No 8 Victor Vito all shone as the home pack got the edge over their Highlanders opposites.

Halfback TJ Perenara and first five Beauden Barrett were superb in controlling play in difficult conditions, the midfield of Vince Aso and Matt Proctor continued their steady rise, while wing Cory Jane had arguably his best match of the season.

The result reversed the Hurricanes last two matches against the Highlanders, who beat them by a point when the sides met earlier this season, and also came out on top in last year’s Super Rugby final at Westpac Stadium.

The “rematch”, as it had been billed, did not disappoint the crowd of 19,918.

The Hurricanes were breathtaking in the opening half hour and the result was two tries, to Ardie Savea and to Shields, both the result of a solid set piece and some skilful handling.

Savea’s first try came after Vito had burst off a scrum deep in his own half to set Jane free down the touch line. Shields’ came after a sharp Aso break had put the Hurricanes on attack, the blindside rolling over opposite Luke Whitelock to score under the posts from the ensuing scrum.

From 14-0, the score became 14-7 when Highlanders first five Lima Sopoaga scored and converted his own try, before a Barrett penalty made it 17-7 at halftime.

A converted try to Highlanders prop Daniel Lienert-Brown after the break closed the margin to 17-14, Sopoaga added a penalty and then Barrett and Marty Banks traded further three-pointers to leave things level at 20-20 with 20 minutes to play.

It was a stunning spectacle with Sopoaga providing a match highlight with an outrageous bicycle kick over his head. A long range try was stopped only by a brilliant cover tackle from Hurricanes captain Coles, who tracked back to pull down an attacker just short of the line.

Savea was a force all night and after being held up short in the dying minutes, he produced the match-winning try by storming through the defence close to the posts.

Substitutions were also crucial on the night and the impetus provided by mid-field back Ngani Laumape gave the Hurricanes a late boost as he showed all his power with ball in hand.

Scorers: Hurricanes 27 (Ardie Savea 2, Brad Shields tries; Beauden Barrett 2 con, 2 pen) Highlanders 20 (Lima Sopoaga, Daniel Lienert-Brown tries, Sopoaga 2 con, pen; Marty Banks pen). HT: 17-7.