Why Highlanders clash is a ‘danger game’ for ‘European-style’ Hurricanes
Former Wallaby Morgan Turinui has described the ladder-leading Hurricanes as “a European-style team” with coach Clark Laidlaw utilising the team’s incredible depth once again.
After raising some eyebrows with an incredible 14 changes to their starting 15 to play the Melbourne Rebels in Palmerston North last week, the Hurricanes have basically done it again.
All Blacks Tyrel Lomax and Jordie Barrett, joined by former England international and team captain Brad Shields, are the only players to have retained their spots in the run-on side for round six.
The Hurricanes have welcomed back the likes of Asafo Aumua, Peter Lakai, Cam Roigard, Billy Proctor and Ruben Love as they look to extend their unbeaten run to six matches.
But as Morgan Turinui explained, making mass changes like this can come at a cost and that makes the Hurricanes’ trip south to Dunedin a “huge danger game” against the Highlanders.
“Can you run through the list of the changes for the Canes as well? Every single one. It’s crazy. It’s a European-style team with the amount of depth, two almost full teams,” Turinui said on Stan Sports’ The Call Up.
“The Highlanders have done a lot right this year. They’ve toughed it out when needed to. They probably haven’t finished off and has been as clinical as they wanted to be with lots of opportunities they create.
“Everyone gets excited seeing (Jona) Nareki, seeing their back three play. They’re better than a spoiler team even though I want to talk about them being a ‘spoiler’ against the top sides.
“I think this is a huge danger game for the Hurricanes because at some stage, yes having depth is great, but changing your team week in, week out… it’s got to cost you in terms of rhythm of play and a bit of cohesion at some stage. Maybe it is this week.”
Turinui is still backing the Hurricanes to get the job done on Saturday evening and the Australian isn’t alone with former Highlanders winger Jeff Wilson also tipping the men from the capital.
The Hurricanes have named a star-studded squad from numbers 1 to 23, with Pouri Rakete-Stones, Justin Sangster, Du’Plessis Kirifi and TJ Perenara among those on the bench.
Wilson, who is a former All Black, joked about wanting to predict an upset win for the Highlanders but couldn’t look past the Hurricanes.
“Ultimately they would’ve planned for it at some point giving these guys an opportunity. It’s very interesting. The Blues did something very similar in round three,” Wilson added.
“I think, up until now, but to your point (gesturing to Turinui), how long they do that, how much that start tinkering with it, they’ll have to manage a few All Black rest week.
“This is a real challenge for the Highlanders but what we saw from the Highlanders is the fact that… they can be dangerous. If you don’t put them away and you go to sleep, and the Chiefs went to sleep on them, then what they’ll look at it is, ‘We’ve got nothing to lose in this gam’ because they are the underdog.
“The Highlanders lost some momentum against the Brumbies in Dunedin where they didn’t play Rhys Patchell… this is a big tough challenge for the Highlanders and we’ll have to wait and see if they can hang in long enough under the roof in Dunedin.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Fiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
31 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
31 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
31 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to comments