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Billy Proctor returns as Hurricanes name one debutant to take on Highlanders
The Hurricanes are preparing for their first home game of the Super Rugby Pacific competition this weekend with head coach Jason Holland naming his side to take on the Highlanders at Sky Stadium.
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The front row remains the same from last weekend’s comeback victory over the Blues, with Pouri Rakete-Stones, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax retaining their starting spots. Off the bench, they are backed by Siua Maile with an opportunity to debut, Xavier Numia and Tevita Mafileo.
“Siua has come in through the preseason and worked hard,” said Holland. He had a good battle with Jacob Devery to see who got the spot for the first few weeks on the bench behind Asafo. Jacob’s done well, but due to his concussion, Siua gets his chance”.
“He’s trained really well and we’re confident he’s going to do a good job. We look forward to him becoming a Hurricane,” said Holland.
Wellington’s Caleb Delany will make his long-awaited Hurricanes debut alongside fellow Lion, James Blackwell. Delany joined the Hurricanes as an injury replacement in 2021 before being awarded his first super rugby contract ahead of this year’s competition.
Holland said he was excited to see Delany get an opportunity.
“Caleb has come right through the Academy system with Wellington and trained with us, so the boys know him well. He’s really matured in the last little bit.”
“He’s ready to go. He’s training well, and I know he’s busting to take his opportunity, so it’s good to have this energy coming in,” said Holland.
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In the back row, Du’Plessis Kirifi returns from injury to take the No 7 jersey alongside Reed Prinsep at 6 and Captain Ardie Savea at number 8. Devan Flanders and Brayden Iose provide impact off the bench.
In the halves, Ruben Love comes in to replace Jackson Garden-Bachop at 10 and Jamie Booth retains the No 9 jersey, with cover coming in the form of halfback Richard Judd.
After an electric performance last week against the Blues, Salesi Rayasi returns on the left wing, with Billy Proctor and Bailyn Sullivan combining in midfield. Peter Umaga-Jensen will be looking to add some physicality off the bench.
Rounding out the Hurricanes starting line-up, Julian Savea shifts to the right wing and Jordie Barrett retains his spot at fullback.
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“It’s great to know that Jules can do both jobs for us. He can do a really good job for us in the midfield, but this week moves back to his favoured wing spot. He was instrumental in what happened in that last quarter of an hour from the win last week,” said Holland.
Last year, the Hurricanes won both their fixtures with the Highlanders, triumphing 30-19 in Dunedin and 41-22 in the capital. This Saturday’s match-up kicks off at 7:05pm NZT.
Hurricanes: Jordie Barrett, Julian Savea, Bailyn Sullivan, Billy Proctor, Salesi Rayasi, Ruben Love, Jamie Booth, Ardie Savea, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Reed Prinsep, Caleb Delany, James Blackwell, Tyrel Lomax, Asafo Aumua, Pouri Rakete-Stones. Reserves: Siua Maile, Xavier Numia, Tevita Mafileo, Devan Flanders, Brayden Iose, Richard Judd, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Peter Umaga-Jensen.
– with Hurricanes Rugby
Comments on RugbyPass
The URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
1 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
3 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
3 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
3 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to comments