The Hurricanes were the train and Melbourne Rebels were just on the tracks as the Wellington side turned on an irresistible attacking display on Friday night.
The Hurricanes' six-tries-to-two performance left the respected Rebels' defence reeling with a constant barrage of powerful runs leading to a 38-13win at AAMI Park. The Hurricanes ran up 596 metres to just 228 from the Rebels.
Coming into the game the Hurricanes were only three points ahead of the Rebels in the race for a wildcard berth in the Super Rugby finals but by half-time the visitors were up 26-8 with their rampant running and free-range passing leaving the home side in the sandy, cut-up turf.
A knee injury to star winger Dom Shipperley added to the Rebels' woes although the extent of damage to the Wallabies' candidate won't be known until further tests are completed.Â
Leading prop Toby Smith and centre Mitch Inman were both game-day withdrawals but may still return next game.
On 10 minutes Tamati Ellison took the ball to the right side, placing a bobbling kick towards the  Hurricanes'  Julian Savea who slipped on the sandy surface to allow  Shipperley to catch the ball and score an easy try.
But the Rebels' lead didn't last long as Hurricanes five-eighth Beauden Barrett tap-danced his way past four Rebels' tacklers and was taken down by Sean McMahon only to offload to a full-speed Victor Vito who sprinted to the line to score. Barrett's conversion made it 7-5 after 17 minutes.
The Rebels also lost Shipperley on the play as a falling Nic Stirzaker crashed into the winger's legs. He was  helped off and did not return.
All week the Rebels' noted the Hurricanes' fearless ball movement but a shallow kick from Jack Debreczeni was fielded on the left side and swung quickly to the right before Jason Woodward's chip and chase put him over halfway, then a flick pass to Cory Jane sent him in for the try.
Defences on both sides had endured a horror start but the Hurricanes defence started earning their keep when Barrett snuck under Hodge's vision and intercepted his pass, sprinting to  score under the pegs and make it 19-8 after 28 minutes.
 Savea became almost untouchable for the Rebels' defence as his barging runs skittled defenders on the left side of the field.
He looked to scored  just before half-time but Debreczeni held his foot and forced him down with Woodward picking up the ball and tumbling over to see the visitors well ahead 26-8 at half-time. The Hurricanes fluffed their lines in the early stages of the second half nailing down the Rebels' against their own line with 74 per cent possession, but being unable to score.
Their constant attacking did see McMahon receive a yellow card for knocking the ball out of a ruck.
Chants of "Hurricanes, Hurricanes" started as the hour approached revealing the large contingent of ex-pat Hurricanes fans, then Ardie Savea showed his All Blacks claims are well founded with an opportunistic try on 59minutes.
The Rebels' had forced a turnover with the ball on their own defensive try line, and just inside the in-goal, but Savea had stepped around the ruck and seeing the ball on the ground dived and touched it down creating a try to send his  side ahead 31-8.
Barrett's second try added to the margin but Fijian winger Sefa Naivalu celebrated his first Rebels' start since injury by carving out a 30-metre run then passing to Cam Crawford for a late try.
The Rebels' second-half defence stood up better against the Hurricanes' runs but the big blows had already landed.
Melbourne's finals hopes are still there but this night was a reminder how sharp you need to be at the top of the tree.
The Rebels host the Cheetahs at AAMI Park this coming Friday at 7.40pm.
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