FORSYTH BARR STADIUM, DUNEDIN
Hurricanes:
Josh Moorby, Julian Savea, Billy Proctor, Jordie Barrett, Salesi Rayasi, Aidan Morgan, Cam Roigard; Ardie Savea (c), Du’Plessis Kirifi, Brayden Iose, Isaia Walker-Leawere, James Blackwell, Tyrel Lomax, Dane Coles, Xavier Numia: Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Owen Franks, TK Howden, Peter Lakai, Jamie Booth, Harry Godfrey, Peter Umaga-Jensen.
The Hurricanes have made wholesale changes to the team that only narrowly escaped with a win against the Force last week with only seven players retained in the starting 15.
Captain Ardie Savea returns from All Blacks rest week duties, bolstering a loose forward trio that also includes Brayden Iose and Du’Plessis Kirifi – two of the standouts from last week. Devan Flanders remains out with an ankle injury.
The other changes in the forward pack see Xavier Numia slot back into the front row alongside All Blacks Dane Coles and Tyrel Lomax, and Isaia Walker-Leawere partner James Blackwell at lock. Brett Cameron is out with a serious knee injury which brings in a new 10,Aidan Morgan, otherwise the backs stay the same as last week. The young Harry Godfrey, fresh off signing a two-year contract, will provide first-five cover from the bench, while Peter Umaga-Jensen is poised for his first minutes of the season after recovering from a shoulder operation, and is a chance to square off against his twin brother, Thomas Umaga-Jensen. Brother against brother. Great stuff.
Highlanders:
Sam Gilbert, Mosese Dawai, Fetuli Paea, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Jonah Lowe, Mitch Hunt, Folau Fakatava, Hugh Renton, Billy Harmon (c), Shannon Frizell, Josh Dickson, Pari Pari Parkinson, Jermaine Ainsley, Andrew Makalio, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Leni Apisai, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Saula Ma’u, Max Hicks, Sean Withy, James Arscott, Scott Gregory, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u
The local team loose Aron Smith, for family reasons, which brings in Folau Fakatava who will start at No 9. Fakatava will have his hands full with his opposite Cam Roigard a halfback on the rise and looking to make the World Cup squad as a back up 9. Normally Fakatava comes on in the 60th minute but he will find things different as the starting half. The game is tighter and there are less gaps. Martin Bogado, Connor Garden-Bachop, Josh Timu and Freddie Burns are not expected back for some time yet.
Young Otago halfback, James Arscott, will come onto the bench in Smith’s absence.
Adding some spice to coach Clarke Dermody’s side include the return of Josh Dickson, Shannon Frizell and Andrew Makalio to the starting forward pack and the retention of the well performed Hugh Renton at No 8.
Marino Mikaele-Tu’u will make his impact from the bench which again has a six-two split.
PREDICTION.
This will be a tough North v South battle, and under the roof in Dunedin the Southerners will test the Wellington mob. The Highlanders will miss Aron Smith. He is such a good organiser and ball distributor. While Fakatava is exciting and good for the future ,he is no match for Smith. Smith is probably the best 9 in the game at present. While my heart says the Highlanders, as my first game was played in Dunedin, I have to go with the Hurricanes who look good across the paddock. They will need to be on their game though because if they switch off the Blue and Yellow will have them. Boy would I love an upset here.
Hurricanes by 5 points.
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