Hurricanes v Highlanders
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i havent actually give this much thought before, how much time have we got with smith? wouldn't be surprised to see him head off to make some money
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@Kiwiwomble His contract expires at the end of 2021.
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@Stargazer said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@Kiwiwomble His contract expires at the end of 2021.
think he has a sabbatical? just trying to think f we've lined up Fakatava knowing Smith would disappear for a bit and then take over after that
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@Kiwiwomble There was nothing in the announcement of Smith's re-signing (in 2019) about a sabbatical clause. If he had one, I'm sure they would have mentioned it, like they've done with other All Blacks.
He turns 32 in November. They should do more to prepare Fakatava for when Smith's time is up. That means game time.
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Wow still some rubbish selections here:
Murphy Taramai is set to become Hurricane 274, after being named on the bench for this Sunday’s 3:35pm clash against the Highlanders at Sky Stadium.
The Hurricanes are looking for their second win of Super Rugby Aotearoa, after taking down the Chiefs 25 – 18 in Hamilton last week.
Due to minor injuries, Dane Coles, Fraser Armstrong, Gareth Evans and Reed Prinsep have not been included in the squad.
It means, Ben May, Asafo Aumua and Devan Flanders have been called up to the starting XV.
There’s also been a change at first five, as Fletcher Smith rotates with Jackson Garden-Bachop and Vince Aso has made his way back into the midfield – a heavily contested position.
The Hurricanes have won the last four games at Sky Stadium against the Highlanders.
Sunday also doubles as ‘club night’, where players and fans are encouraged to wear their club jersey to the stadium – a tribute to the grassroots game.
The Hurricanes team to take on the Highlanders at Sky Stadium is:
1 Ben May
2 Asafo Aumua
3 Tyrel Lomax
4 James Blackwell
5 Scott Scrafton
6 Devan Flanders
7 Du’Plessis Kirifi
8 Ardie Savea
9 TJ Perenara [C]
10 Fletcher Smith
11 Ben Lam
12 Ngani Laumape
13 Vince Aso
14 Kobus Van Wyk
15 Jordie Barrett
RESERVES:
16 Ricky Riccitelli
17 Pouri Rakete-Stones
18 Alex Fidow
19 Vaea Fifita
20 Murphy Taramai
21 Jamie Booth
22 Billy Proctor
23 Wes Goosen
Not considered due to injury: Dane Coles (calf), Gareth Evans (ankle), Reed Prinsep (hamstring), Fraser Armstrong (knee), James Marshall (hip), Xavier Numia (knee).
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Jordie Barrett, Kobus van Wyk, Vince Aso, Ngani Laumape, Ben Lam, Fletcher Smith, TJ Perenara (captain), Ardie Savea, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Devan Flanders, Scott Scrafton, James Blackwell, Tyrel Lomax, Asafo Aumua, Ben May
Reserves: Ricky Riccitelli, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Alex Fidow, Vaea Fifita, Murphy Taramai, Jamie Booth, Billy Proctor, Wes Goosen
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@Kiwiwomble 23 TBN 😂😂😂
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Harsh on PUJ to get dropped. Much rather have him over Billy Proctor. I don't really see what the deal is with Proctor. PUJ has looked much better the last few years with fewer chances.
I don't see IWL on any injury lists - weird that he can't even make the 23.
Keen to see Flanders get a full 80minutes.
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@mikey07 under the circumstances I don’t think it’s that bad.
Like that Fletcher is getting a start. Laumape and Aso back together. Jordie will be prominent in playmaking.
There are some decent players in there, they just need to play better as a unit.
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@ACT-Crusader I like the team just a few like May starting, no IWL though his status is unknown, PUJ not getting a chance to back up and JGB not even in the 23 I fail to understand why we continually don’t put a genuine 10 on the bench.
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@mikey07 said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
JGB not even in the 23 I fail to understand why we continually don’t put a genuine 10 on the bench.
I think that is obvious now. They want TJP on the field and think Booth at halfback is better than having a genuine 1st 5 on the bench and TJP sitting on the pine.
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So Taramai before IWL, ffs. Wouldn't be suprised if he signs for another franchise now and goes on to be a long term All Black. Unless he has already signed somewhere else and that's why they keep leaving him out...
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@mikey07 said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
@Kiwiwomble 23 TBN 😂😂😂
We're getting desperate, knowing T Brown they might actually be thinking outside the box and thinking a big loosie on the wing might mix things up a bit
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@Canes4life something is not adding up when it comes to IWL. I thought he was developing nicely last year.
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@ACT-Crusader the coaches obviously don't understand the definition of a lock. I don't know, maybe he hasn't been meeting the Hurricanes fitness standards.
In this 'What a lad' podcast with Alex Fidow (https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/what-a-lad/alex-fidow-what-a-lad-fML5pAEWCdy/) he admits that himself and the likes of PUJ, Aumua and IWL all had poor training habits in the first two years in the Wellington academy. Fidow mentions that Chris Gibbes brought him to tears when he turned up for the Wellington Lions weighing 137kg. He's now at a very fit 116kg aparently. What I'm getting at is IWL might not be meeting the fitness standards that Gibbes has brought into the Canes. I guess he will rise up to the challenge like Fidow and shape up or ship out to another franchise. (This is only an assumption of course).
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@mikey07 said in Hurricanes v Highlanders:
Wow still some rubbish selections here:
The majority of the rubbish starters are out. That is Tiatia, Armstrong, Blackwell and Princep (although Princep stepped up last week and if he always played like this ... ). May was a big step up on Armstrong (except for the first two scums) so if he can keep this up. Blackwell was his usual rubbish self but if he injured himself and was replaced by Fifita (with IWL in the reserves) it would be a very good starting 15
JGB is unluckly. I though would definitely have him in the reserves if not starting. And as Lam is leaving soon unsure why they don't give some other a run.
