Preseason - Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika
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Moana Pasifika will take on the Hurricanes in their final pre-season game this Friday 16th February, at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport (NZCIS) in Upper Hutt. The game will start with an early kick off at 2:30pm and is free entry for fans. The teams will play a normal format of two 40 minute halves and a 10 minute half-time break. -
TJ Perenara to end over 450 day wait in Hurricanes' last pre-season match
All Blacks halfback TJ Perenara has been named to return to the rugby field for the first time since November 2022 ahead of the Hurricanes’ pre-season clash with Moana Pasifika.
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I can understand the forward pack starting selections. Lomax will obviously start but this could be the starting team next week with Shields out. Flanders looked a bit ordinary at 8 last WE and maybe his best position is 6, where he was in fine form last year during super rugby. Lakai is given a chance at 8 after Iose standout performance last week. And another good display for Kirifi will likely ensure he starts at 7.
But some of the back's selections are odd. And concerning. Why waste any more time on Morgan? Surely it would be much better to give Love or Godfrey a run there. Is Reon Paul even in the squad? Surely Higgins should be given a start.
Where is Roigard. And Judd. But hopefully with these 2 out we get to see more of the exciting Viljoen. Maybe too small for super rugby but certainly an exciting prospect
It's early in the season so too early to tell. But I'm happy with Jamie so far. But for the back I'm not so sure.
Jordi Viljoen
Jordi Viljoen is a South African Born scrumhalf. has strong ties to Springbok rugby and history. In 2023 he was selected to play for the Junior All Blacks, Viljoen is the grandson of Joachim Frederick Viljoen, fondly known as Joggie. Joggie is a Springbok…
1.69m/76kg DOB 14th Oct 2003
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@Winger you can't look too much into pre-season selections but I think Higgins will play centre in the second half outside Jordie. I think they will want to see him at centre to confirm he has the capaility to cover 12/13 equally. If he can play well there he should get that bench spot this year covering Jordie/Proctor.
I agree with you re Morgan, what are the Canes doing continuing with that midget? Get Love or Godfrey running the cutter and we'll look so much better.
TBH I don't think Flanders is physical enough to play 6. I'd rather start Howden there if Shields is injured, he's look so much better in that position. Flanders for me either starts at 8, or comes off the bench.
I'd say the second half team would look something like the following:
- Mafileo
- O'Reilly
- Lomax
- Tucker
- Sangster
- Howden
- Lasaga (haven't seen much of this guy).
- Iose
- Vijoen
- Cameron
- Naholo
- Barrett
- Higgins
- Sinkinson
- Godfrey
The 23 I think will start against the Force next week differs quite a lot to what we've seen so far.
- Numia
- Aumua
- Lomax
- Delany
- Sangster
- Shields/Howden
- Kirifi
- Flanders
- Roigard
- Cameron
- Naholo
- Barrett
- Proctor
- Moorby
- Love
- O'Reilly
- Rakete-Stones
- Mafileo
- Walker-Leawere
- Lakai
- Judd
- Godfrey
- Higgins
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@cgrant yeah but we have sixes coming out our ears. Is he that short though? I've seen him listed at 1.97/1.98m on multiple websites. To me you can get away with having a slightly shorter lock, especially considering he's strong in the lineout. I just think he needs to carry a bit more beef if he wants to stay in the second row.
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Sangster isn't too much taller than Delany but I feel having two locks around that 1.98m mark isn't the worst thing, they both definitely make up for it with a high skill set and work rate.
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@Canes4life I must admit, I didn't think Delaney was short, he would be as tall as Scott Barrett I am guessing, it's nice to have 2m+ locks but in reality very few teams have 2 at this level. And agree we got 6s coming out of ears, so probably a case of making best use of players, and he seems to be alright in lineout.
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@Dan54 I also think the Canes (bar injuries) should have players focusing on one position only for clarity.
I.e Shields and Howden focusing on 6, Kirifi and Lakai focusing on 7, and Flanders and Iose covering 8. Then the likes of Delany, Sangster and Walker-Leawere focusing purely on the second row.
I feel like Holland moved guys around too much and it all got too disjointed.
Anyway, looks like a good day here in Welly. They should hopefully get a good crowd up at their training base for the 2.30pm start.
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Only time I kind of wish I lived down there, would wander out and watch the trial. Went down to Levin for the preseason against Crusaders last year, but further is a step too far really. Got my tickets for Rebel's clash in Palmerston North the other day and my season tickets for Taranaki), so feel like season is coming up. I was getting them sorted out, same as first Rugby News being due, Mrs remined me perhaps I cme under the heading of being a rugby tragic, I didn't argue, she comes to super,tests and NPC games with me anyway, so I just let it slide!
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@cgrant said in Preseason - Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika:
Delany's future is not at lock IMO. He's just not tall enough (194 cm). But he is a pretty good 6 who could have pretensions for the black jersey.
But what is his real height
This https://www.wellingtonlions.co.nz/squad?tx_sports_showcurrentsquad[action]=show&tx_sports_showcurrentsquad[controller]=Player&tx_sports_showcurrentsquad[player]=37&cHash=cdf7631e51a8b7e5a7cbb8d0387af51fOr this
Or this . The Canes as 1.97
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@Canes4life said in Preseason - Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika:
@Dan54 I also think the Canes (bar injuries) should have players focusing on one position only for clarity.
I.e Shields and Howden focusing on 6, Kirifi and Lakai focusing on 7, and Flanders and Iose covering 8. Then the likes of Delany, Sangster and Walker-Leawere focusing purely on the second row.
I feel like Holland moved guys around too much and it all got too disjointed.
Anyway, looks like a good day here in Welly. They should hopefully get a good crowd up at their training base for the 2.30pm start.
Maybe. But the reality is with injuries and replacements most players, except for the front row and HB, need to cover more than one position
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Mate just sent me a picture. Big crowd has rolled in. The biggest thing to happen in Upper Hutt since Dragon welcomed in the New Year at Brewtown
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