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Jason Holland reveals the extent of the Hurricanes' last-minute disruptions
The Hurricanes escaped with a 21-14 win over the Highlanders in Wellington despite a number of disruptions to the team in the build-up to Saturday’s fixture.
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Two players, hooker Asafo Aumua and halfback Jamie Booth, both had to be withdrawn from the fixture despite initially being named in the run-on XV. Their positions in the starting lineup were taken by debutant Siua Maile and Richard Judd, with more newbies coming onto the bench in the forms of Logan Henry and Raymond Tuputupu.
Speaking after the match, Ardie Savea indicated that Covid had played at least some part in the disruptions.
“With Omicron and whatnot going through the teams, [there were] some late changes,” the Hurricanes captain said on Sky Sports’ post-game broadcast.
However, head coach Jason Holland confirmed that at least in Booth’s case, the absence was injury-enforced.
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“We had Boothy pull out yesterday,” he said. “We’re not even sure what’s up with his knee but he wasn’t right to play so Logs was late in there.
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“Then a couple of hookers [pulled] out in the last 24 hours. Raymond, the reserve hooker, we pulled in this morning. He got to us at 3 o’clock today and was rapidly trying to learn lineout calls and Siua went in to start and had an unbelievable game.”
Assuming Aumua was pulled due to Covid, it’s likely the All Blacks hooker will have to skip next week’s clash with Moana Pasifika and won’t be available to play until the Hurricanes’ Round 5 match with the Chiefs.
The prognosis is still not yet certain for Booth, however Holland was optimistic he won’t be sidelined for a long period of time.
“I wouldn’t think so,” Holland said. “He had a scan to confirm yesterday afternoon and we’ll probably get the results tomorrow or Monday morning. But no, I don’t think [he’ll be out for too long], he’s still able to get around the place so fingers crossed, we’re hoping he’s not too bad.”
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With the likes of TJ Perenara and Cam Roigard already sidelined, Booth was the only fit fully-contracted halfback in the Hurricanes squad prior to this weekend. According to Holland, replacement Judd stood up admirably in his first start at Super Rugby level since 2019 while the coach was pleased to see last-minute replacement Henry touch down for an important try in the second half.
“We had our three guys we contracted at the start of the season, our three 9s, all out,” Holland said. “I thought Juddy was outstanding tonight as well and then for Logs to cement all the hard work he’s done in our environment and probably for the [Manawatu] Turbos is cool. It’s cool when you get reward for hard work.
“Logs only knew he was playing yesterday but he’s been with us for a bit of the pre-season. He impressed us when he was with the Turbos and he’s been training away for us for a long time and just hasn’t had an opportunity. I think that was his first touch when he scored the try so it’s pretty cool for Logs.”
Captain Savea was also impressed with how the young players in the side stood up in the victory.
“We were prepared for [Covid playing a role in the competition] and we’re just really proud of the guys that have come through,” he said. “We had one of the boys drive down from Palmy today and he jumped on the bench and made his debut. I’m just stoked that we got the [win] and it’s nice to be home and play in front of a few fans.
“All the teams [are] having to adjust to Covid and the potential of boys getting knocked out on game day or the day before so it’s all about who can adjust the best. We had boys coming into the starting lineup, boys coming on the bench, just stoked we were able to go out there and just jam.”
Holland echoed those sentiments.
“The guys all stood up, we’ve got to adapt to whatever’s thrown at us and the boys are doing it well … Some pretty cool stories that [the last-minute ring-ins] will tell on their 50th game for the Hurricanes.”
Comments on RugbyPass
In the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getitng to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
5 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
6 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
5 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
6 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 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.
11 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.
54 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.
6 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
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 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
54 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.
54 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.
18 Go to comments