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New captain as Hurricanes make mass changes again to starting side
Billy Proctor will captain a new-look Hurricanes team on Friday night with coach Clark Laidlaw once again making mass changes to the starting side following the loss to the Brumbies on Saturday.
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Proctor, who was included in the Hurricanes’ match-day squad to take on the Brums, returns as one of nine changes to the starting side alone.
The 24-year-old replaces Peter Umaga-Jensen in the No.13 jumper and will partner rising star Riley Higgins in the midfield. Richard Judd comes in at halfback, and outside backs Bailyn Sullivan and Josh Moorby have been named on the wings.
There are a further four changes in the forward pack with Pouri Rakete-Stones, Devan Flanders and Peter Lakai all being named in the Hurricanes’ First XV to take on the visiting NSW Waratahs at the Cake Tin.
Kianu Kereru-Symes is set to make his first start for the Hurricanes at hooker with Justin Sangster dropping back to the bench.
Coach Laidlaw has packed a punch with the Hurricanes bench though with the likes of Du’Plessis Kirifi, TJ Perenara, Jordie Barrett and Salesi Rayasi all in line to come off the bench.
“Given the intensity which the game is played at, we’re really pleased with the balance of our squad, the management as a whole, from coaches, to media and S&C have done an amazing job to keep the men fresh and ready to play well,” coach Laidlaw said in a statement.
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“It’s always nice to get home and play in front of our home fans – it’s something we never take for granted and to be able to welcome all our local junior Hurricanes into the stadium is something we’re really looking forward to.”
Pouri Rakete-Stones joins Kian Kereru-Symes and All Black Tyre Lomax in the front-row, while Caleb Delany will pack down alongside Isaia Walker-Leawere as the two locks. The returning Devan Flanders joins Peter Lakai and Brayden Iose in a tough loose forwards trio.
In the backs, Richard Judd will partner one-Test All Black Brett Cameron in the halves. With Higgins and captain Proctor in the midfield, there should be plenty of opportunities for the outside backs to shine.
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings
Wins
5
Draws
0
Wins
0
Average Points scored
40
25
First try wins
40%
Home team wins
60%
Bailyn Sullivan is on the left wing with Josh Moorby on the right, and Ruben Love – who is widely considered an All Black-in-waiting – will wear the No. 15 jersey as the fullback once again.
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Hurricanes team to take on the Waratahs
- Pouri Rakete-Stones
- Kianu Kereru-Symes
- Tyrel Lomax
- Caleb Delany
- Isaia Walker-Leawere
- Devan Flanders
- Peter Lakai
- Brayden Iose
- Richard Judd
- Brett Cameron
- Bailyn Sullivan
- Riley Higgins
- Billy Proctor (c)
- Josh Moorby
- Ruben Love
Replacements
- Raymond Tuputupu
- Xavier Numia
- Pasilio Tosi
- Justin Sangster
- Du’Plessis Kirifi
- TJ Perenara
- Jordie Barrett
- Salesi Rayasi
Unavailable for selection: Asafo Aumua, Jacob Devery, Cam Roigard, James Tucker, James O’Reilly
Comments on RugbyPass
> And to be frank, those are the only four teams that deserve to be in the playoffs. They are the only teams that hold winning records in Super Rugby Pacific 2024. So you agree with the final 8 format then Ben? As of course its purpose is to generate activity towards the end of the season, and as you say, there wouldn’t be any if it was just a final 4 playoff format.
13 Go to commentsThe reason the Rebels are in the position they are, is because Foote is a very poor coach. The Rebels over the last few years have played a nauseatingly boring one dimensional mistake ridden game, occassionaly sprinkled with some brilliance via Carter Gordon and Tim Sampson. You can’t bore supporters in to supporting you. Even if you win some. There is no point to the Rebels if Foote is coaching them. They need someone with some Aussie inspiration and imagination.
2 Go to comments“Against this backdrop of turmoil, the team on the field is playing some excellent rugby.” Are they really? They will probably finish seventh, in the bottom half of the draw. Of their twelve games to date they have lost FIVE by more than 25 points. Think about that for a second: they have been on the wrong end of one-sided thrashings in almost half their games this year. Away in Canberra this weekend it might well become six. They have done all this with a squad it is clear they could not afford. And yet here we are talking about this season being shining proof of their quality if only they are given another chance. It just ain’t so. They’ve played some okay rugby and aren’t terrible, but best case will need to shed some of their better players and probably get worse again next year to have any chance of remaining viable. If they stay the data suggests they’ll be back where they’ve been for years - trying to scrap away for eighth place in a comp that should probably only have a Top 4 or 6 playoff to begin with.
2 Go to commentsSomething fishy is going on here. Earlier this year Dame Patsy Reddy was threatening to step down if the review recommendations didn’t go through now it’s the professional players association going nuclear. It looks like a theft attempt by the executive and the association. Is there a big backer in the shadows? The clubs and by extension the unions own the game in NZ yet they are being told to shut up and have no say in the running of the game they have created and own. Ok let them go and do what they want but they can’t call themselves the ABs or the super or npc sides. At the end of everything this is a sport not a path to enrichment.
2 Go to commentsI would say NB that the 7 who has the skills to play as an extra half is Billy Harmon of the Highlanders. He does everything expected of an openside with ruck, tackle and run but he has a good pass. Robertson might of opted for Christie at the Crusaders moving Harmon on but that allowed him to break out of the Crusaders system and show his full range of skills.
55 Go to commentsHe is right. How do you pick the two? Ospreys and Cardiff?
2 Go to commentsSam like many had passed their use by dates and that is down to the selectors, not the player. I wasn't a Sam fan, but he didn’t deserve Bidwells brutally honest opinion. Could have been more diplomatic.
3 Go to commentsNice piece nick, mcreight is immense. Just like hooper, he seems to be indefatigable and sprint the full 80 from one involvement to the next. Like DuPont, its like they can see an extra phase ahead which means they know where to be before everyone else. His support and link play for mine is his real point of difference, and now he is lifting the other areas up as well. One key improvement is when to jackal or not, he used to go for everything and get pinged or stuck in the ruck. His decision making in this area has really improved. He seems to be quite competitive, and like faz not afraid to chew out a teammate. If he went down, both the reds and wallabies would be in trouble. I’d lean towards Wright or Wilkin/Gamble I think, I don’t think many of the other candidates have the work rate or ruck presence that is needed of a 7. Interestingly, the reds lineout fell apart on the weekend without faessler, although the maul still functioned. The heat seemed to affect their decision making, I think they needed to adjust to a low possession, simple game plan but they went head strong with a high possession game even though they couldn’t hold onto it, secure their ruck or their set piece…
55 Go to commentsExpecting those provincial fish-heads to vote themselves out of power is like expecting turkeys to vote for Christmas. Good luck with that!
2 Go to commentsA brilliant winger..
1 Go to commentsGood player, but how could anyone have filled RMCs shoes.? Also, I hope Razor implements better & indeed more legal tackling, the AB’s concede way too many cards. Looking forward to the new regime though.
10 Go to commentsGood article, NB. I’ve quite liked the speed and skill levels of Tom Ahern from Munster. I read he was a fullback until late in schools rugby and suddenly shot up to 6 foot 9. Another guy born in 2000 who seems to be able to play out in trams on both sides of the ball is Juan Martin Gonzalez of Saracens. Thanks for the article.
55 Go to commentsShould not even be in the thought to bring Barrett back,the team is going well and remember 2 season ago when the blues were going well & got out thought & out played in the final all Barrett did was needlessly kick away posession again and again, pass to players in worse positions as to avoid contact and for the Blues and AB proved costly in crucial games.
3 Go to commentsBarbarians will be preparing for fiji starting end of this week but fiji will be preparing only 1 week b4 the game…..so unfair
1 Go to commentsI believe it was the Wallaby Nick White who opened the floodgates - earning his team a yellow card against SA and getting Faf binned for 10. Nick White. The original soft pr1ck, diving git. Owen Farrell is growing on me.
2 Go to commentsTo be honest this result was not that seismic as shock, Canada are a very good team and very few teams fear the Black Ferns anymore. The rankings give a good picture, the top four ranked teams are the top four teams in women’s rugby with England ahead the other three can exchange places at any given time. Despite the USA result I still think Australia are ahead of the rest. WXV will show how big the gap is between nations.
9 Go to commentsFarrell playing in France next season better get use to play acting .
3 Go to commentsNot sure I see the magic. Solid flanker but the aggression and lack of bending at the hips leads to boo boos
10 Go to comments100%. Thank you, Andy.
2 Go to commentsFabulous player. Don’t know if people outside of Ireland appreciate his vision and genius. I wish he got more time with the National team. We will never know how high he could have soared. Super season to end with!
1 Go to comments