Asafo Aumua injury fears quelled in Hurricanes team naming

After reports of All Blacks hooker Asafo Aumua limping away from Hurricanes training this week, Wellington fans will be relieved to see the bruising front-rower’s name in the starting XV for the team’s qualifying final in Canberra.

Unbeaten since round nine’s loss to the Crusaders, the Hurricanes are one of the form teams coming into the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs, having rounded out the regular season with a 64-12 dismantling of a Moana Pasifika side with everything to play for.

That round 16 victory secured the Hurricanes a place in the top four on the table, meaning that while they won’t get a home fixture in the qualifying final, they have a lifeline as potential ‘lucky loser’, should the Crusaders and Chiefs both win their respective matchups.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

3

Draws

0

Wins

2

Average Points scored

31

29

First try wins

20%

Home team wins

80%

Hurricanes Head Coach Clark Laidlaw said, “It’s an exciting week with the playoffs. We’re looking forward to heading over to Canberra tomorrow (Thursday).

“This is what the work is for at the start of the year: to still be alive for the top 6 and still be in the competition.

“We can’t wait to give it a real crack in Canberra, we know it’s a tough place to go and play, but that’s something we are embracing and looking forward to.

“It’s nice to have a couple of guys back, Asafo (Aumua), Caleb (Delany) and Ngane (Punivai), giving us some strength in depth in the squad again.

“We were really happy the way we played on the weekend, and want to continue the momentum we had into this game, and start well, but we know the Brumbies are a completely different proposition, as is the playoffs.

“We want to treat each day for what it is on its own merits, and get each day right so we can enjoy ourselves on the weekend.”

While a handful of the Hurricanes’ best performers are out with long-term injuries, players like Devan Flanders, Brett Cameron and Caleb Delany are all back from injury ahead of the qualifying final, while the performance of Peter Umaga-Jensen against Moana Pasifika is a boost to the midfield stocks after Riley Higgins’ leg break.

Hurricanes team to play the Brumbies

1. Xavier Numia
2. Asafo Aumua (Co Captain)
3. Tyrel Lomax
4. Zach Gallagher
5. Caleb Delany
6. Devan Flanders
7. Du’Plessis Kirifi (Co Captain)
8. Peter Lakai
9. Cam Roigard
10. Brett Cameron
11. Fatafehi Fineanganofo
12. Peter Umaga-Jensen
13. Billy Proctor (Co Captain)
14. Bailyn Sullivan
15. Ruben Love

Reserves

16. Raymond Tuputupu
17. Tevita Mafileo
18. Pasilio Tosi
19. Hugo Plummer
20. Brad Shields (Co Captain)
21. Ereatara Enari
22. Ngatungane Punivai
23. Callum Harkin

Injury status

Kini Naholo, knee, season
Brayden Iose, ankle, season
Riley Higgins, leg, season
Siale Lauaki, ankle, season
Harry Godfrey, leg, TBC
Isaia Walker-Leawere, knee, TBC