HURRICANES v REDS
SUNDAY, MARCH 3rd, 2024
The Hurricanes are battling a loose forwards injury crisis early in their campaign.
Already without Ardie Savea while he plays a season in Japan, and new captain Brad Shields (foot) out for another week, the Canes, on the back of a fine first-up win over the Force in Perth, have now got both Du’Plessis Kirifi (ankle) and Devan Flanders (shoulder) in the casualty ward for three to four weeks.
Coach Clark Laidlaw has been forced into a back-row reshuffle, with Peter Lakai moving from No 8 to take Kirifi’s spot at openside flanker, Brayden Iose promoted from the bench to the back of the scrum, TK Howden injected to replace Flanders at blindside, and 21-year-old Bay of Plenty rep Veveni Lasaqa − not part of the Hurricanes’ contracted squad − brought on to the bench for a potential Super debut.
The other changes to the starting side see All Blacks duo Tyrel Lomax and Cam Roigard promoted to start, swapping roles with Pasilio Tosi and Jordi Viljoen, respectively.
Fellow All Black, and co-captain, Jordie Barrett, will bring up his 100th game for the franchise, joining older brother Beauden Barrett in the Canes century-club.
HURRICANES
Xavier Numea, Asafo Aumua (co-c), Tyrel Lomax, Caleb Delany, Isaia Walker-Leawere, TK Howden, Peter Lakai, Brayden Iose, Cam Roigard, Brett Cameron, Kini Naholo, Jordie Barrett (co-c), Billy Proctor, Josh Moorby, Ruben Love
RESERVES: James O’Reilly, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Pasilio Tosi, Justin Sangster, Veveni Lasaqa, Jordi Viljoen, Riley Higgins, Salesi Rayasi
REDS
Alex Hodgman, Matt Faessler, Zane Nonggorr, Seru Uru, Ryan Smith, Liam Wright (co-c), Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott (co-c), Tom Lyngah, Jock Campbell, Hunter Paisami, Josh Flook, Suli Vunivalu, Jordan Petaia
RESERVES: Josh Nasser, Peni Ravai, Sef Fa’agase, Cormac Daly, John Bryant, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Mac Grealy
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant Referees: Nic Berry, Damon Murphy
PREDICTION.
Two of Round 1’s strongest performers close out Super Round in what promises to be a worthy conclusion to the weekend in Melbourne. The Reds showed more than enough against the Waratahs to suggest they will play an entirely different game under Les Kiss, that they have the style and execution to match the grit that was a hallmark of their efforts under Brad Thorn. World Cup Wallabies Fraser McReight, Tate McDermott and Jordan Petaia all hit the ground running, while Harry Wilson, Liam Wright and Hunter Paisami also showed the benefits of an extended preseason. Jock Campbell is the only change to the Queensland outfit this week, replacing Mac Grealy, who will come on late either as fullback or winger, but the Hurricanes, who blew the Force off the paddock in the first 40 in Perth, have brought in Cam Roigard, Tyrel Lomax, TK Howden and Veveni Lasaqa into the run-on side. There is extra motivation for the Canes this week with Jordie Barrett set to play his 100th game for the franchise. If the Reds are serious about improving on last year’s eighth finish, this is the kind of game they need to win. They will need to go up a level after last week, particularly at the breakdown, where the Canes repeatedly disrupted the Force after holding firm in defence. At this early stage of their development under Kiss, a win might just be beyond the Reds here.
Canes by 7 points.
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