Hurricanes spring surprises in the forwards for Brumbies rematch
The Hurricanes will look to challenge the Brumbies up front this weekend in Canberra with coach Jason Holland naming a side capable of footing it with the best of the best at the set-piece and the breakdown.
The returns of Ardie Savea and Jordie Barrett to the run-on side will be a huge boost for the Hurricanes – who suffered a surprise defeat at the hands of the Western Force last weekend – but it’s perhaps the selections of prop Owen Franks and flanker Blake Gibson that add the most intrigue to Saturday evening’s match.
All Black Tyrel Lomax has been the first-choice tighthead for much of the Super Rugby Pacific season but after getting outplayed and outsmarted by Waratahs counterpart Angus Bell three weeks ago, Holland has evidently opted to start with his strongest scrummager against a formidable Brumbies pack, and that means Franks – with over 150 Super Rugby caps and 100 tests to his name – gets the nod in the No 3 jersey.
Similarly, specialist openside flanker Gibson will run out in the No 6 jersey – alongside fellow exponents of the breakdown steal Du’Plessis Kirifi and Ardie Savea – with an eye to taking on the Brumbies at the tackle area.
Altogether, Holland has made six personnel changes to the starting line-up following last weekend’s match.
Dane Coles and Franks will be joined in the front row by Tevita Mafileo, in what will be just his second start of the campaign, while there’s plenty of X-factor on the bench in the form of Asafo Aumua, Pouri Rakete-Stones and Tyrel Lomax.
James Blackwell will make his 12th appearance of the year in the run-on side in the No 4 jersey and will partner the returning Isaia Walker-Leawere while utility forward Caleb Delany will cover the second row via the reserves.
Gibson, Kirifi and Savea form a strong loose forward trio with wrecking ball Brayden Iose expected to add impact later in the match.
The well-oiled combination of TJ Perenara and Aidan Morgan will suit up for the fourth week in a row in the halves, with Jamie Booth and Ruben Love providing cover on the bench, while Jordie Barrett takes over in the No 12 jersey and Billy Proctor earns a start at outside centre in place of the unavailable Bailyn Sullivan.
In the back three, Julian Savea comes into the starting side in place of Wes Goosen, who drops to the bench, while Salesi Rayasi and Josh Moorby hold their spots from last week.
The Hurricanes were well and truly dealt to by the Brumbies earlier in the year, with the Brumbies leading for all but four minutes of their 42-25 victory over the Wellingtonians.
Saturday night’s quarter-final – the last of the weekend – is set to kick off at 7:45pm AEST from GIO Stadium in Canberra.
Hurricanes: Josh Moorby, Julian Savea, Billy Proctor, Jordie Barrett, Salesi Rayasi, Aidan Morgan, TJ Perenara, Ardie Savea, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Blake Gibson, Isaia Walker-Leawere, James Blackwell, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Tevita Mafileo. Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Tyrel Lomax, Caleb Delany, Brayden Iose, Jamie Booth, Ruben Love, Wes Goosen.
Comments on RugbyPass
Good luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
37 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
37 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
37 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
37 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
37 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
37 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
37 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to comments