1
Holland happy for Hurricanes to sit out final match of season
Hurricanes coach Jason Holland would have no problem with players electing to sit out of this weekend’s Super Rugby Aotearoa match against the Highlanders.
ADVERTISEMENT
Both teams are set to square off in Dunedin on Saturday night, but the game going ahead remains unclear due to the latest outbreak of community transmission of Covid-19.
Currently, the country sits at alert Level 2 which would allow the game to go ahead, albeit likely without a crowd, while Auckland is at Level 3, which would see the Blues v Crusaders clash cancelled.
Holland says players have not spoken out yet about being reluctant to play, but if they do, he completely understands.
“If people had worries then we understand the person behind the decision. At the moment there’s been nothing like [that] and we’ve got really good trust in firstly our CEO and our board, and then the Government and New Zealand Rugby to make really good decisions. We’ve had no boys who don’t want to play for those reasons.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CD0RacXgj_G/
New Zealand Rugby is yet to make a decision on this weekend’s action, which also sees the Blues hosting the Crusaders at a sold-out Eden Park on Sunday. That match is set to be cancelled unless Auckland moves down to Level 2, where crowd restrictions will apply.
Holland says there is still a lot of “grey” around the situation, but hopes to receive more information later today.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We could be flying on the day, we could be going tomorrow.
“It’s definitely strange, I suppose the last six or seven months have taught us that we got to be positive around everything we do and just be ready to do everything as well as we possibly can when we get the opportunity.
“Everyone in New Zealand’s had to put up with strange things and we just got to get on with it as best we can.”
First-five Jackson Garden-Bachop, who has been named to start in the 10 jersey, described the situation as “peculiar”.
“This stuff with Covid is another hurdle to get over. Obviously going through lockdown … it was always a chance it could come back, but the boys are handling it well.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Holland says in and amongst the uncertainty, the team has managed to stay focused on the task that remains, for the meantime, at hand following a couple of training sessions.
“For the last three or four games we’ve had a real focus on ourselves and wanting to play really good footy, and I think by and large we’ve done that. While the Crusaders have done the job we still have a bit of pride around what we put out.
“There’s still second up for grabs.”
"If I’m [training] inhibited, I’ve probably got a pretty terrible chance of performing or getting up to their level."@AllBlacks World Cup bolter Luke Jacobson spoke to @TomVinicombe about the highs and lows of 2019. #SuperRugbyAotearoa #AllBlackshttps://t.co/dxe3GZe4P9
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 12, 2020
Should the match go ahead, it will signal a rest for co-captain TJ Perenara, who has played every minute of every game in the competition so far.
Perenara’s exclusion sees Jamie Booth get the nod at starting halfback, with youngster Jonathan Taumateine due to come off the bench.
In the other change to the starting XV, Billy Proctor comes in for Kobus Van Wyk and joins Peter Umaga-Jensen in the midfield. Vince Aso moves to the right wing.
For the Highlanders, they have made just the one alteration to the side that went down to the Crusaders. Flanker Tom Florence comes onto the bench in place of Jesse Parete.
It will be a special occasion for co-captains Aaron Smith and Ash Dixon, who bring up 150 and 100 Super Rugby caps respectively.
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