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Hulking prop the pick of the Hurricanes' new signings after major departures
Although the Hurricanes have managed to recruit some experienced Super Rugby players for the 2022 season, it’s the raft of departures that stands out from their latest squad reveal.
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The likes of Ngani Laumape, Vince Aso, Vaea Fifita and Gareth Evans have all left Wellington, with the former three heading overseas and one-time All Black Evans joining his brother down south at the Highlanders. Isaia Walker-Leawere, meanwhile, will miss the season through injury while new recruit Owen Franks is in a similar boat.
In their places come the likes of Teihorangi Walden and Dominic Bird, as well as a slew of young players who performed admirably for their provinces during this year’s NPC competition – players who coach Jason Holland will need to start getting the best out of early in the season to compensate for the experience that’s been shed between seasons.
Altogether, there are seven potential debutants in the side – the most of any New Zealand franchise – while hooker James O’Reilly and halfback Cam Roigard have also picked up full-time contracts for the first time after previously representing the side as injury cover.
In the forwards, the Hurricanes have picked up prop Pasilio Tosi, lock Justin Sangster and loose forwards Tyler Laubscher, Caleb Delany and TK Howden.
While O’Reilly boasts plenty of provincial experience, the rest of the sextet are still in the formative years of their professional careers. Bay of Plenty front-rower Tosi is a particularly interesting prospect, with the hulking 23-year-old especially destructive with the ball in hand.
Still, it’s in the scrum where the Hurricanes will be looking to get the most out of Tosi, given the side hardly lacks for wrecking-ball front-rowers in the open.
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With the likes of Ardie Savea, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Devan Flanders, Brayden Iose and Reed Prinsep retained from 2021, and Blues flanker Blake Gibson joining the Hurricanes’ cause, the new additions to the loosies loom as long-term prospects for their new squad, with Delany and Howden earning national selection in the Unders 20s over the past two seasons.
Meanwhile, the backs have been bolstered by Auckland-schooled pivot Aidan Morgan and Southland outside back Josh Moorby.
Morgan is already well entrenched in the Hurricanes’ systems having spent ample time with the squad as injury cover throughout 2021 without ever taking the field.
"Especially if you’re new, you already know there’s no chance [of starting]. In your head, you don’t give up, you make sure you stand up and train, but it is quite hard."
Current Wasp and former Hurricane @VaeaFifita spoke to @JLyall93https://t.co/vyHHWT3hug
— RugbyPass+ (@RugbyPassPlus) October 24, 2021
As is always the case, the Hurricanes’ success will hinge on their forwards’ ability to deliver front-foot ball and their playmakers to help unleash their ever-dangerous backs and the returns of TJ Perenara (Japan), Jamie Booth and Jackson Garden-Bachop (both injury) should help the side get their attack functioning in 2021.
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The additions of Walden and former Chiefs player Bailyn Sullivan will help bolster an already strong midfield unit but neither player can add the impact that Laumape added in the No 12 jersey.
Three Hurricanes players from the current season have also made the shift to Moana Pasifika for 2022, halfback Jonathan Taumateine, midfielder Danny Toala and outside back Lolagi Visinia.
While the recruitment of Dominic Bird and the return of TJ Perenara bolster two positional areas that struggled this season for the Hurricanes, it’s hard to shake the impression that the side that finished 5th in this year’s Super Rugby Aotearoa competition has suffered a net loss in the off-season – but only time will tell.
2022 Hurricanes squad:
Hookers: Asafo Aumua, Dane Coles, James O’Reilly
Props: Tevita Mafileo, Alex Fidow, Xavier Numia, Tyrel Lomax, Pasilio Tosi, Pouri Rakete-Stones
Locks: James Blackwell, Dom Bird, Scott Scrafton, Justin Sangster
Loose forwards: Brayden Iose, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Reed Prinsep, Blake Gibson, Ardie Savea, Tyler Laubscher, Devan Flanders, Caleb Delany, TK Howden
Halfbacks: Jamie Booth, TJ Perenara, Cam Roigard
First fives: Aidan Morgan, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Ruben Love
Midfield: Teihorangi Walden, Billy Proctor, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Bailyn Sullivan
Outside backs: Julian Savea, Jordie Barrett, Pepesana Patafilo, Salesi Rayasi, Wes Goosen, Josh Moorby
Unavailable due to injury: Owen Franks, Isaia Walker-Leawere
2022 Hurricanes transfers:
In: Bird (France), Gibson (Blues), Walden (Taranaki), Sullivan (Chiefs), Tosi (Bay of Plenty), Sangster (Bay of Plenty), Laubscher (Manawatu), Morgan (Wellington), Roigard (Counties-Manukau), Moorby (Southland), Delaney (Wellington), Howden (Manawatu), Franks (England)
Out: Ngani Laumape (France), Vince Aso (Japan), Vaea Fifita (England), Ricky Riccitelli (Blues), Gareth Evans (Highlanders), Simon Hickey (Crusaders), Lolagi Visinia (Moana Pasifika), Jonathan Taumateine (Moana Pasifika), Orbyn Leger (Japan), Danny Toala (Moana Pasifika), Luke Campbell (France), Liam Mitchell (Italy), Kane Leaupepe (retired), Fraser Armstrong (retired)
Comments on RugbyPass
Beautiful 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 commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to comments