Stormers v Hurricanes (Round 1)
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Agree. I was hoping to see the back of Princep and Blackwell except with injuries. Armstrong and Riccitelli I can understand.
But Barrett and Perenara would have been better in the reserves. Maybe the coaches know what they are doing but based on this team it points in the opposite direction. That the Canes are now coached by fools who haven't a clue.
Edit. The back line though looks good. And no Tiatia thankfully. Maybe they plan to play Perenara and Barrett 60 minutes in the first 3 games (rather than 40+60+80).
But the forward selections is a concern. Gibbes seeme to love Plodders as much as Plumtree
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Stormers
15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Siya Kolisi, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Jaco Coetzee, 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Substitutes: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 David Meihuizen, 20 Ernst van Rhyn, 21 Johan du Toit, 22 Godlen Masimla, 23 Rikus Pretorius
Bolded: International players
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Boy is the Hurricanes front 5 putrid
Unless TJP, Laumape or Joride B play great,. Stormers are going to crush Canes up front
Stormers have best pack in Super Rugby this year
They should beat Canes though best time to travel is early in season
Canes by 2 points
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Hurricanes name strong All Blacks core for Super Rugby season opener
The Hurricanes have put their faith in Fletcher Smith to replace Beauden Barrett as their side is named to face the Stormers in their Super Rugby season opener on Sunday morning.
Smith, 24, has been named to start at first-five for the Hurricanes in Cape Town, beating competition from Jackson Garden-Bachop, named on the bench, and veteran James Marshall.
Elsehwere, TJ Perenara captains the side in Dane Coles' absence, the pair sharing leadership duties this season. Ricky Riccitelli starts in the front row in Coles' place.
All Blacks duo Jordie Barrett and Ngani Laumape both start at fullback and second-five respectively, while impressive 20-year-old Billy Proctor will play at centre after impressing for Wellington in last year's Mitre 10 Cup.In the forwards, Scott Scrafton and one-Test All Black Tyrel Lomax will both make their Hurricanes debuts.
The Hurricanes claimed victory in their last visit to Newlands, leaving with a 34-28 victory.
Hurricanes: 15. Jordie Barrett, 14. Wes Goosen, 13. Billy Proctor, 12. Ngani Laumape, 11. Ben Lam, 10. Fletcher Smith, 9. TJ Perenara (c), 8. Gareth Evans, 7. Du'Plessis Kirifi, 6. Reed Prinsep, 5. Scott Scrafton, 4. James Blackwell, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 1. Fraser Armstrong.
Reserves: 16. Asafo Aumua, 17. Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18. Tevita Mafileo, 19. Vaea Fifita, 20. Devan Flanders, 21. Jamie Booth, 22. Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23. Vince Aso. -
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The Canes will be simply looking to run the Stormers off the park with the side they've picked. Whether they can do it or not is another question. If we can hold firm at set-piece I think we should grind out a tight win, if we don't then it could get ugly.
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@Higgins Mafileo gets the start as I understand Fidow is about a week away from playing. I suspect him to be named next week against the Jaguares.
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@Canes4life Isn't Fidow almost permanently injured, a la Geoff Cridge/Hugh Renton?
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@Higgins said in Hurricanes 2020:
@Canes4life Isn't Fidow almost permanently injured, a la Geoff Cridge/Hugh Renton?
Cridge is not injured at the moment I think - he's been training with the Crusaders.
I wonder if Fidow will get punted by the Canes once his injury clears up as well?
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@Canes4life said in Stormers v Hurricanes (Round 1):
@Nepia if he has an injury-prone season this year then maybe.
@Higgins Cridge is big, but he is fairly lazy from what I've seen. It is frustrating that they continue to persist with midget at lock though.
That's not true at all, when he actually plays he goes well ... he just doesn't play very often due to his injuries.
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@Nepia Then why wasn't he picked last year when he was available? And why hasn't he been picked up by any NZ franchise on a main contract? Especially when you take into account the quality of locks that have left our shores.
If the Canes are willing to throw Blackwell into the fold instead of someone like Cridge that has a frame more fitting of a lock, it suggests to me that he just isn't good enough. More of a Dominic Bird than a Brodie Rettalick.
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@Canes4life said in Stormers v Hurricanes (Round 1):
@Nepia Then why wasn't he picked last year when he was available? And why hasn't he been picked up by any NZ franchise on a main contract? Especially when you take into account the quality of locks that have left our shores.
If the Canes are willing to throw Blackwell into the fold instead of someone like Cridge that has a frame more fitting of a lock, it suggests to me that he just isn't good enough. More of a Dominic Bird than a Brodie Rettalick.
A Dominic Bird is a decent Super player so you've actually complimented him.
I'm not saying he's an instant world beater, but he's a decent player, he's just an injury magnet.
The Canes rate Blackwell highly, more than just throw him into the fold, I don't know why.
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@Nepia I get what you are saying, it must be hard for the likes of Renton/Cridge/Fidow to assert themselves on the scene when they are always injured. Maybe it's a training issue at the Canes?
I rate Blackwell, he has a high work rate, he's a smart footballer, a natural leader. But he isn't a lock. 1.90m isn't big enough at Super level, I just can't see how the Canes don't get that. Simple minds maybe. I would rather see Blackwell at 6 over Prinsep.
