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Asafo Aumua retains No 2 jersey as Hurricanes make five changes for Crusaders battle
Jason Holland has made five changes to the Hurricanes’ starting XV for their Round 2 clash with the Crusaders this weekend but top-performer Asafo Aumua has retained his spot at hooker.
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After Aumua’s barnstorming performance against the Blues which saw the 21-year-old bag two tries, questions were raised whether Aumua had done enough to cement his spot in the No 2 jersey with the nearing return of Dane Coles.
That question remains unanswered this week, with Coles still not considered for selection – but the All Black’s absence paves the way for Aumua to earn some more valuable minutes before Holland has to make a decision on his starting hooker going forward.
Asked whether Coles would be fit to play if this weekend’s game were it a final, Holland remained coy.
“Possibly. We were never going to consider him for this week but he’s getting real close,” he said. “Some of our long-term injured guys are coming forward pretty quickly. There’s him and Gareth Evans and those sorts of boys who are making good in-roads so Colesy isn’t too far away.”
One player who will return from injury on Sunday is lock Isaia Walker-Leawere. Scott Scrafton, the man he’s replacing, suffered a high ankle sprain against the Blues and is set for a stint on the sidelines, which paves the way for Walker-Leawere to slot straight into the starting lineup.
The loose forwards have been given a shake-up, with captain Ardie Savea shifting to No 8 and Du’Plessis Kirifi taking over in the openside flanker role. Reed Prinsep has jumped from the bench to blindside flanker while Devan Flanders drops back in his place.
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It’s the same horses for courses approach that Holland has suggested would be used throughout the season.
“As we said last week, we pick the team that we think is the best way around to play our 23 for the week. Dupes [Kirifi] is going to get into the game early here and be the menace that he is and Dev’s going to be the impact this week so just a slight change in the thinking there.
“Dupes at 7 will do what Dupes does. It maybe frees Ardie up a little bit to get his hands on the ball a little bit more than he can when he’s at 7. It’ll be a good balance there and hopefully, they work in tandem pretty well there.”
Vaea Fifita, who played on the blindside last week, has been ruled out due to a concussion suffered in the loss.
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The only change in the backline sees one-test All Black Peter Umaga-Jensen reinstated at centre to partner Ngani Laumape.
Tevita Mafileo and Liam Mitchell join the bench in favour of Alex Fidow and the injured Fifita.
While the Hurricanes managed a win in Christchurch last year, ending an almost four-year undefeated streak for the Crusaders at home, Holland said that his side no longer use that victory as motivation.
“We know it’s going to be tough, and we know what a great side they are,” Holland said. “But we know that if we play well, we can win.”
Sunday’s match, which was originally scheduled for Saturday evening, will kick off at 4:35 pm NZT. The game will be streamed live on RugbyPass for subscribers who hold a Super Rugby Aotearoa season or weekend ticket.
Hurricanes: Jordie Barrett, Wes Goosen, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Ngani Laumape, Julian Savea, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Ardie Savea (c), Du’Plessis Kirifi, Reed Prinsep, Isaia Walker-Leawere, James Blackwell, Tyrel Lomax, Asafo Aumua, Fraser Armstrong. Reserves: Ricky Riccitelli, Xavier Numia, Tevita Mafileo, Liam Mitchell, Devan Flanders, Luke Campbell, Billy Proctor, Salesi Rayasi.
Comments on RugbyPass
Pretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
3 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
3 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
3 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to comments