If Mark Hammett ever smiles, he had every right to produce one last night.
Revenge was supposedly the theme as Piri Weepu and fellow World Cup winning back Ma'a Nonu lined up for the Blues against the Hurricanes, whose coach Hammett shipped the pair out in a cleanout after last season.
Weepu looked lost in his starting No. 10 jersey but an early second-half shift to halfback brought the sparkle back to the All Black's eyes.
Blues coach Pat Lam will have taken note.
But in the final analysis, a stray kick and missed tackle from Weepu helped the Hurricanes to their sensational last-gasp victory at Eden Park.