Last week they made the most of a hailstorm in Christchurch, sticking with the defending champion Crusaders to the 60 minute mark. This week they enjoyed the helping hand of the television match official but also starved the Hurricanes, showing much more fight than many expected.
Vince Aso, denied by the officials twice prior, only secured the Canes a bonus point in the final six minutes with the first of his late brace. That alone reveals just how hard Chris Boyd's men had to work.
TMO Ben Skeen will be a talking point after leaving his imprints all over a match supposed to be highlighted by Nehe Milner-Skudder's comeback. The All Blacks wing came through 23 minutes unscathed but had limited opportunities with the Hurricanes forced to defend for elongated periods on their own line.
Aso had two tries rubbed out, one after an innocuous Ardie Savea cleanout. Skeen also jumped in to ping Sunwolves playmaker Hayden Parker for a very debatable high tackle, a decision which only fuels claims the game has gone soft.
Skeen would do well do dial it back in future.
For long spells it was a case of trying too hard for the Hurricanes. They seemed expectant; certainly impatient. They were guilty of flinging the ball too wide, too quickly, and found minimal success with wild passes often creeping in.
The Sunwolves ruck defence did a decent job and, on attack, they were content to retain possession even when going backwards. Clearly Tony Brown drummed into them the dangers of kicking loosely to the lethal Hurricanes back three.
Frustrated into mistakes and turnovers, possibly coupled with some rust coming off the bye, the Canes found themselves behind twice after Pieter Labuschagne breezed through Ardie Savea.
Two overthrows from Ricky Riccitelli contributed to a shaky lineout that stunted attacking opportunities but the Canes dominant scrum made up for that somewhat by laying on two tries.
A couple of brilliant touches from Aso, standing in for Ngani Laumape at second five-eighth, and some typical Beauden Barrett magic, and normal service resumed.
By half time, the Canes led 21-10. And when Jordie Barrett struck with a show and go, benefiting from possible obstruction, it should have been shut the gate.
Skeen's influence and the Sunwolves' ball retention combined to keep it competitive, only for the Hurricanes to finally break the shackles with a belated blitz.
Five points and the Canes continue on their merry way but this was far from a blueprint they will wish to savour.
Hurricanes 43 (Julian Savea, Finlay Christie, Reed Prinsep, Jordie Barrett, Vince Aso 2, Brad Shields tries; Beauden Barrett 3 cons, Jordie Barrett con)
Sunwolves 15 (Pieter Labuschagne, Yu Tamura tries; Hayden Parker con, pen)
HT: 21-10
