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Strong Hurricanes side named for Carlos Spencer's homecoming
Hurricanes head coach John Plumtree has named a 38-strong squad for Saturday night’s Super Rugby preseason match against the defending champion Crusaders.
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The match, one of two preseason fixtures scheduled before the Hurricanes open their Super Rugby campaign against the Waratahs in Sydney on February 16, will provide Plumtree with a great opportunity to see how the players have progressed since they started their conditioning work back in November.
Former Highlanders playmaker Fletcher Smith will start at first five-eighth outside halfback Finlay Christie while the midfield has an exciting look to it with Vince Aso and Matt Proctor selected.
Ben Lam, who really impressed last season scoring a record 16 tries, is on one wing with Wes Goosen on the other.
The match will feature rolling substitutions and will be played over two 40 minute halves.
The reserves bench features a mix of Hurricanes squad members and players who have been training with the group after impressing in the Mitre 10 Cup and national under-19 tournament.
The pre-season match will also see new Hurricanes assistant coach Carlos Spencer return to his hometown where he was expecting plenty of support.
“I’ve been down to the domain to have a look and I can’t believe how good the ground is looking, it’s the best I’ve ever seen it,” he said.
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The Hurricanes squad to face the Crusaders is:
15. Chase Tiatia
14. Wes Goosen
13. Matt Proctor
12. Vince Aso
11. Ben Lam
10. Fletcher Smith
9. Finlay Christie
8. Gareth Evans
7. Sam Henwood
6. Reed Prinsep
5. Geoff Cridge
4. James Blackwell
3. Jeff To’omaga-Allen
2. Ricky Riccitelli
1. Toby Smith
Reserves
16. Asafo Aumua
17. James O’Reilly
18. Kianu Kereru-Symes
19. Ben May
20. Chris Eves
21. Alex Fidow
22. Fraser Armstrong
23. Xavier Numia
24. Isaia Walker-Leawere
25. Liam Mitchell
26. Naitoa Ah Kuoi
27. Heiden Bedwell-Curtis
28. Du’Plessis Kirifi
29. Devan Flanders
30. Teariki Ben-Nicholas
31. Jono Hickey
32. Carlos Price
33. Jackson Garden-Bachop
34. Danny Toala
35. Billy Proctor
36. Jonah Lowe
37. Salesi Rayasi
38. Callum Harkin
Rugby World Cup City Guides – Oita:
Comments on RugbyPass
The 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.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
39 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.
39 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.
3 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
39 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
50 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
39 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.
39 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.
39 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.
39 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
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