Hurricanes vs Drua
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The Hurricanes head to Napier on Saturday afternoon in a must win game against a Drua team that fell short against the Brumbies in round 1. Scoring comp points is vital with the Blues up next in round 3.
After an electric start against the Crusaders, the Canes fell off the bandwagon and let them back in the game through some poor decisions and a few defensive lapses. (Looking at you Bailyn Sullivan).
The likely return of Billy Proctor will shore up some of those problems, but with the recent news of Higgins breaking his hand, Umaga-Jensen will likely retain the 12 jersey.
Positives from the weekend saw a solid first outing from Harry Godfrey at 10 so let's hope he retains the jersey for this round. Would be stupid if he didn't.
I'm predicting/hoping for the following team:
- X Numia
- J Devery
- P Tosi
- C Delany
- H Plummer (IWL went off injured so I don't expect him to suit up for this game).
- B Shields
- D Kirifi
- P Lakai (I'm picking the Canes will move Lakai into 8, Iose was disappointing as a starter and can provide impact from the bench).
- C Roigard
- H Godfrey
- K Naholo
- P Umaga-Jensen (Higgins gone for an extended period so he's our only option here)
- B Proctor (I pray Proctor is back, Sullivan was a shambles against the Crusaders)
- F Fineanganofo
- C Harkin (was good on debut against the Crusaders, doesn't have express pace but is a calm operator from the back and takes kicking pressure off Godfrey)
Impact: - R Tuputupu
- P Rakete-Stones
- T Mafileo
- W Tucker/T Allen (Hawkes Bay lad gets an opportunity)
- B Iose
- J Vijoen (Deserves a crack after the form shown last year)
- B Sullivan (can cover midfield and wing)
- K Banks (deserves an opportunity after a very solid NPC campaign, can cover wing and fullback)
Harkin can cover 10 from fullback and Banks can move into 15 if needed.
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Ticket sales for this game look strong with 6000 tickets sold and a crowd of over 10k expected.
Long range forecast is for perfect weather as well so no excuses.
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Canes should be able to bank this as a win. Drua can't travel and their indiscipline cost them a home victory in round one.
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@SBW1 said in Hurricanes vs Drua:
H Plummer thought he was a 10 at the Blues.
The Canes love a short lock. Haha Hugo Plummer just to clarify.
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@antipodean said in Hurricanes vs Drua:
Canes should be able to bank this as a win. Drua can't travel and their indiscipline cost them a home victory in round one.
Yeah should be a big win hopefully unless we've had more injuries. Fingers crossed.
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Nice article on Harry Godfrey and includes an interview with him:
From the article it mentions that Harkin sat out Monday training alongside Billy Proctor and Asafo Aumua. All unlikely to play on Saturday.
This will mean Tjay Clarke may come into the side so they don't have to move Godfrey.
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes vs Drua:
J Vijoen (Deserves a crack after the form shown last year with IWL out)
??????
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@Canes4life said in Hurricanes vs Drua:
From the article it mentions that Harkin sat out Monday training alongside Billy Proctor and Asafo Aumua. All unlikely to play on Saturday.
This will mean Tjay Clarke may come into the side so they don't have to move Godfrey.
Damm, this is a ridiculous amount of injuries.
Tijay not a bad replacement though.Would be a totally different team with Proctor, Love, Higgens, Aumua, Lomax. Pretty key guys.
But I think you have the team spot on.
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@cgrant said in Hurricanes vs Drua:
@Canes4life said in Hurricanes vs Drua:
J Vijoen (Deserves a crack after the form shown last year with IWL out)
??????
Lol don't know how I wrote that.
Fixed: J Vijoen (Deserves a crack after the form shown last year)
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Hurricanes team vs Drua and updated injury list
1 Xavier Numia
2 Jacob Devery
3 Tevita Mafileo
4 Caleb Delany
5 Hugo Plummer
6 Brad Shields (Co Captain)
7 Du’Plessis Kirifi (Co Captain)
8 Brayden Iose
9 Cam Roigard
10 Harry Godfrey
11 Kini Naholo
12 Peter Umaga-Jensen
13 Bailyn Sullivan
14 Fatafehi Fineanganofo
15 Callum Harkin
Impact
16 Raymond Tuputupu
17 Pouri Rakete-Stones
18 Pasilio Tosi
19 Will Tucker (Potential Debut)
20 Peter Lakai
21 Ereatara Enari
22 Riley Hohepa
23 Ngatungane PunivaiUnavailable due to injury
Injured
Brett Cameron
Devan Flanders
Daniel Sinkinson
Ruben Love
Lucas Cashmore
Isaia Walker-Leawere
Asafo Aumua
Tyrel Lomax
Tjay Clarke
Riley Higgins
Billy Proctor
Zac Gallagher -
A win this week is critical. Blues the following week which will be tough, then Moana which may be tougher than in the past. Then week 4 we may atleast get the first of our injured players starting to trickle back in before landers, tahs and blues and start to build some performances.
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@DurryMexted anyone portraying fear of MP is trolling.
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@Bones you dont think they are looking any good this year? all in all a few things go wrong and we end up 0-4 and looking at a grim season. 2-2 would be acceptable with these injuries, 3-1 would be unreal.
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@DurryMexted said in Hurricanes vs Drua:
@Bones you dont think they are looking any good this year? all in all a few things go wrong and we end up 0-4 and looking at a grim season. 2-2 would be acceptable with these injuries, 3-1 would be unreal.
Just as well it's not the force eh.
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Roigard doing the business already.
