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Young guns named alongside All Blacks in Hurricanes team to play Force
The Hurricanes have named their side to take on the Western Force in Palmerston North on Sunday afternoon, in Round 6 of the DHL Super Rugby competition.
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With momentum high following the team’s 4th victory in their last 5 matches, Head Coach Jason Holland has named a side mixed with experience and youth to face the Force.
In the front row, Pouri Rakete-Stones makes a start at loosehead, alongside All Blacks’ Dane Coles and Tyrel Lomax following their return from a rest week.
Dominic Bird makes his second start of the season alongside James Blackwell at lock. Du’Plessis Kirifi and Devan Flanders flank Brayden Iose at eight, with TK Howden and Peter Lakai looking to provide impact off the bench.
The electric Bailyn Sullivan teams up with Jordie Barrett in the midfield, while Daniel Sinkinson prepares to make his Hurricanes debut on the wing opposite Salesi Rayasi.
Hawke’s Bay’s Harry Godfrey, 20, will make his first start of the season at fullback.
“Harry’s quick, he loves to attack, and he’s got a good skillset. He’s already come off the bench a couple of games and has done a really good job. He really injects himself into the game, so gets a chance to start this week and use all his creative attacking ability.
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“Sinky [Daniel Sinkinson] has been really impressive from the minute he stepped into our environment. It’s his first season in Super footy and from day one of preseason we knew he had an unbelievable work ethic.
“He’s tough and does a lot of good things, and he’s been busting for an opportunity, so I expect him to come in and slot straight into how we want him to play and do a good job,” said Holland.
On taking on the Western Force, Jason Holland said he was expecting a tough match.
“They always have massive intent and massive physicality, and I think with their coaching set up this year, they’re definitely playing a pretty good style of footy.
“I expect them to really challenge us when they’ve got the ball, with some shapes and some variation in the game, I expect them to be tough, so we will have to be right on our game to put them away in Palmy,” said Holland.
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Hurricanes named to take on the Western Force:
1. Pouri Rakete-Stones
2. Dane Coles ©
3. Tyrel Lomax
4. James Blackwell
5. Dominic Bird
6. Devan Flanders
7. Du’Plessis Kirifi
8. Brayden Iose
9. Jamie Booth
10. Brett Cameron
11. Salesi Rayasi
12. Jordie Barrett
13. Bailyn Sullivan
14. Daniel Sinkinson *
15. Harry Godfrey
Replacements:
16. Hame Faiva
17. Tevita Mafileo
18. Owen Franks
19. TK Howden
20. Peter Lakai
21. Cameron Roigard
22. Riley Higgins
23. Kini Naholo
Via Press Release/Hurricanes
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 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.
9 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.
36 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.
2 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
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 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
36 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.
36 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.
36 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.
36 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
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments