The Hurricanes huffed and puffed before blowing away the Stormers 34-11 in their Super 14 rugby encounter at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.

The bonus-point win lifted the Hurricanes back into the top four on a congested competition table.

The Hurricanes proved far too strong for a Stormers side ravaged by injury.

The South African franchise lost prop Brian Mujati before kick-off, while captain and world class centre Jean de Villiers lasted all of six minutes before a left knee injury forced him from the field.

It was a continuation of a series of injuries to hit the Stormers this season and explains their lowly position on the ladder.

De Villiers' replacement, Dylan Des Fountain made an immediate impression by scoring the game's opening try in the eighth minute after the Hurricanes were slow out of the blocks.

Following a chip kick, he toed the ball ahead to the line.

But the Hurricanes quickly began to assert themselves as they spread the ball wide to counter the Stormers' tight defence around the fringes and in the midfield.

A break by winger Davis Smith led to lock Jeremy Thrush having a stroll to the line following the linking work of halfback Alby Mathewson.

Thrush should have been in again within minutes but failed to grasp the final pass from Conrad Smith after the All Blacks centre cut back on the angle to find a huge hole inside the 22.

The Hurricanes extended their lead seven minutes out from halftime when a long, floating pass from centre Ma'a Nonu left right wing Tamati Ellison unopposed near the touchline.

After showing an adventurous spirit early on the Stormers began to fray around the edges, struggling to keep up with the home team in the possession stakes, and their only other reward in the opening 40 minutes was a penalty to first-five Peter Grant.

His opposite Willie Ripia eased the Hurricanes out to 20-8 within minutes of the restart then Grant returned in kind before Nonu put the result beyond doubt.

The bullocking centre ran off fullback Corey Jane for a fine try, instigated by the fullback who collected a kick on the first bounce before beating two men in s earing, straight burst.

Nonu then made it a double for the evening with a short-range effort when he cut inside then stepped off the right foot to find a hole.

That try, with 15 minutes remaining, sealed a bonus point for the Hurricanes but the game then lost its shape and the intensity levels dropped off as the errors increased.

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