The Hurricanes boosted their Super 14 semi-final prospects and extinguished the Western Force's flickering playoff hopes in the process with a 21-10 victory in torrential rain in Wellington.

The Hurricanes climbed above the NSW Waratahs into second place on the ladder with their eighth win of the season, while the Force can start planning for 2009 following their sixth defeat this campaign.

Significantly for Australian rugby fans, though, the Force did the NSW Waratahs a big favour by preventing the Hurricanes from nabbing a bonus point.

The Waratahs, three competition points shy of the Hurricanes with a game in hand, can regain outright second spot and the inside running for a home semi-final if they beat the Stormers in Cape Town early Sunday morning AEST.

Success over the Stormers and then the Queensland Reds in Brisbane in the final round next weekend, plus one bonus point from either match, would guarantee the Waratahs an all-important top-two finish.

The Force were starved of possession at Westpac Stadium, but some heroic defence restricted the Hurricanes to a single try in the first half.

Andrew Hore's lone five-pointer, plus a conversion and penalty goal from Piri Weepu, was little to show for the home side's monopolisation of territory and possession.

A succession of goal-line raids were repelled by the Force, with a similar pattern unfolding in the second half - until a yellow card to David Pocock further stressed the Force's desperate rearguard.

With unforced errors making the life even harder for John Mitchell's side, Hosea Gear cross for a long-threatened second try - but Force bravery was rewarded with a late solo score to Cameron Shepherd.

With their first-choice backline decimated by injury, Force coach Mitchell fielded two run-on debutants in winger Dane Haylett-Petty and centre Josh Tatupu, with 17-year-old James O'Connor making just his second start.

An early penalty to Weepu, after a stolen line-out and 60m march upfield, immediately put the Perth side on the back foot - where they stayed for the majority of the first half.

So good for so much of his second season in Force colours, Giteau's start was a disaster by his standards - with a 10th-minute attempt at improvisation handing the Hurricanes field position they pounced on.

The flyhalf's quick restart at a lineout was called back for the ball not travelling five metres, and after a succession of tight drives, Hore prevailed.

The Force vice-captain's early woes continued when he missed a straightforward penalty moments later, while Tatupu's first contribution in Force colours was a good one, with a burst from midfield.

That raid saw Giteau miss another penalty attempt, but good work underneath a high ball from Nathan Sharpe gave Giteau a third chance which he converted.

From there, the Hurricanes battered the Force line, with video referee Garratt Williamson denying Neemia Tialata, Drew Mitchell stealing a the ball from Willie Ripia on the goal line and Sharpe putting his body on the line with seconds of the half remaining.

After the main break, Mitchell was again on hand to prevent Cory Jane's tryscoring ambitions, but after Weepu's second penalty, Pocock's attempt to steal the ball from Ma'a Nonu did not impress South African referee Jonathan Kaplan.

With Weepu adding three points to the already harsh punishment, the Force dam finally looked ready to burst - with Tai McIsaac's wayward lineout leading to the slick handling move which put Gear over.

With the result assured, the Hurricanes pressed for a bonus point, but instead it was Shepherd able to turn some rare attacking ball into a memorable late try.

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