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Hurricanes inject some front-row firepower for Fijian Drua clash
The Hurricanes are set to welcome two All Blacks hookers back into the fold this weekend while former New Zealand representative Owen Franks is also set to make an appearance in Wellington.
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Both Asafo Aumua and Dane Coles have been included in the Hurricanes’ match-day 23 to take on the Fijian Drua in Wellington this Saturday, with Aumua making a return following a three-week suspension and Coles set for his first match of the season.
Former All Black prop Franks, meanwhile, has been bracketed on the bench after spending the early stages of the year sidelined following a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered late last year.
The three test stars will add some much-needed experience to a Hurricanes side that has looked out of sorts in their opening two matches against Australian opposition, with coach Jason Holland making eight personnel changes to the run-on side following last weekend’s loss to the Brumbies in Canberra.
Aumua will slot back into the starting hooker role and will be joined by Xavier Numia and Tyrel Lomax.
In the second row, Isaia Walker-Leawere returns to the starting side in place of James Blackwell and will partner youngster Justin Sangster.
Ardie Savea is on an All Blacks rest week and will sit out Saturday’s match with the Drua. His spot at the back of the scrum has been filled by uncapped Manawatu loosie Tyler Laubscher. The Hurricanes will run with tandem openside flankers this weekend with both Blake Gibson and Du’Plessis Kirifi named. Kirifi will be making his first appearance since the Hurricanes took on the Crusaders in early April.
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TJ Perenara will partner 20-year-old Aidan Morgan in the halves this weekend with Jackson Garden-Bachop dropping to the bench.
In the midfield, Billy Proctor takes over from Peter Umaga-Jensen – who misses out on the 23 altogether – and will work alongside Bailyn Sullivan.
Like captain Savea, Jordie Barrett also gets a break this weekend, which sees Josh Moorby take over at fullback for the third time this season. Salesi Rayasi and Wes Goosen will wear the No 11 and No 14 jerseys respectively.
In the reserves, Coles and Franks (bracketed with Pasilio Tosi) are joined by Tevita Mafileo, Caleb Delany and TK Howden to cover the forwards. Cam Roigard, Garden-Bachop and one of the stars of last year’s New Zealand Under 20s side, Riley Higgins, will provide impact in the backs.
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The Drua proved a handful for the Highlanders in Fiji last weekend, holding onto a lead for the first three-quarters of the match before the Highlanders took control in Suva. After going down early against the Reds and falling to a 42-25 defeat at the hands of the Brumbies last weekend, the Hurricanes will be striving for a complete performance in their first home game in almost a month.
That might be a tough ask without Savea and Barrett on board, but bringing in three All Blacks front-rowers should at least ensure there’s some good experience in the team for Sunday afternoon’s showdown.
This weekend’s hit-out between the Hurricanes and Drua is set to kick off at 3:35pm NZT from Sky Stadium in Wellington.
Hurricanes: Josh Moorby, Wes Goosen, Bailyn Sullivan, Billy Proctor, Salesi Rayasi, Aidan Morgan, TJ Perenara, Tyler Laubscher, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Blake Gibson, Justin Sangster, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Tyrel Lomax, Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia. Reserves: Dane Coles, Tevita Mafileo, Owen Franks, Caleb Delany, TK Howden, Cam Roigard, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Riley Higgins.
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments