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Peter Umaga-Jensen in line for Super Rugby debut

By Online Editors
Peter Umaga Jensen

Peter Umaga-Jensen has been named to start for the Hurricanes against the Reds on Friday night, ready to make a long-awaited Super Rugby debut.

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The Umaga-Jensen twins Thomas and Peter, nephews of Hurricanes and All Blacks legend Tana Umaga, burst onto the national scene playing 1st XV rugby for Scots College in Wellington where they made back-to-back national championship games in 2014 and 2015, sharing a title with Hamilton Boys and losing to Rotorua Boys in the other.

Their exploits for Scots College saw them both earn selection in the New Zealand schoolboys and they have been on a path to professional rugby since. Peter debuted for the Wellington Lions in 2016, playing eight games before the Hurricanes moved to secure one of their best local talents. He was signed for the 2017 season but didn’t find his way onto the field. With Ngani Laumape being forced to stand-down under mandatory All Black resting requirements, Umaga-Jensen gets his chance now.

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Head coach Chris Boyd expects the youngster to fit in nicely in a backline full of test experience.

“Pete’s a strong [ball] carrier. He’s got a very good passing game as well. He’s a good footballer,” he said.

“He’s got a near test-strength back line around him.

“There’s a massive amount of experience inside him with Beaudie, and also with Matt Proctor outside.”

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TJ Perenara has also been named to return to the starting lineup after coming off the bench against the Blues after over a month on the sidelines due to a knee injury. He will resume the captaincy duties after Brad Shields was named on the bench.

In other re-shuffling, Nehe Milner-Skudder moves to the wing in place of Julian Savea and Jordie Barrett moves from the bench to fullback.

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Hurricanes team to face the Reds

15 Jordie Barrett
14 Nehe Milner-Skudder
13 Matt Proctor
12 Peter Umaga-Jensen
11 Ben Lam
10 Beauden Barrett
9 TJ Perenara (c)
8 Blade Thomson
7 Ardie Savea
6 Reed Prinsep
5 Sam Lousi
4 Michael Fatialofa
3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen
2 Ricky Riccitelli
1 Toby Smith

Reserves

16 James O’Reilly
17 Chris Eves
18 Ben May
19 Vaea Fifita
20 Brad Shields
21 Jamie Booth
22 Jackson Garden-Bachop
23 Julian Savea

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Bull Shark 36 minutes ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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