Hurricanes name team to face Brumbies in home Qualifying Final
- 157
The Hurricanes have named their side to face the Brumbies in this weekend’s Qualifying Final at Hnry Stadium.
After finishing the regular season in first place, a familiar side with numerous returning players has been named to face the sixth-placed Brumbies in Wellington on Friday.
Included among the new figures in the starting lineup are hooker Asafo Aumua and tighthead prop Pasilio Tosi. They join loosehead prop Xavier Numia in the front row.
Caleb Delany and Warner Dearns reprise their second row partnership, while co-captain Du’Plessis Kirifi returns from a shoulder injury to start at openside flanker. He forms a loose forward trio that also features Brad Shields at blindside flanker and Peter Lakai at No 8.
In the backline, Cam Roigard resumes his halves pairing with first-five Ruben Love, and co-captain Jordie Barrett has overcome a hamstring injury to start at second-five alongside centre Billy Proctor.
Kini Naholo is kept on the left wing, while a positional reshuffle sees Josh Moorby move to the right wing and Callum Harkin selected at fullback.
Several changes have also been made on the bench, with loosehead prop Pouri Rakete-Stones the only player retained in the reserves following last week’s match against the Crusaders in Christchurch.
He is accompanied on the pine by hooker Raymond Tuputupu, tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax, lock Isaia Walker-Leawere, loose forward Brayden Iose, halfback Ereatara Enari, midfielder Jone Rova, and wing Ngane Punivai.
"It’s an exciting week. The boys are really looking forward to welcoming the Brumbies to Wellington for a Qualifying Final,” Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw said.
“It’s great to have such a strong squad available at this time of the year, with most of the squad fit and available to select from.
“We’re welcoming back our captains Dupes and Jordie, which gives us leadership in playoff rugby. With so much of our squad having shared experiences over the last few years of the knockout stages, it gives us real confidence around our preparation and how we play.
“We’ve got a huge amount of respect for the Brumbies. They’re a high-quality team that can always get to the playoffs and we’ve got recent history in knockout games with them, so we understand the challenge that’s coming from them.
“We’ve played them under the roof in Christchurch during Super Round. I’m sure it’s going to be different conditions and a different game, but one we really can’t wait for on Friday night.”
Kick-off for Friday’s Qualifying Final against the Brumbies is scheduled for 7:05pm, with gates open from 5:30pm.
HURRICANES TEAM TO PLAY BRUMBIES (Hurricanes caps in brackets)
- Xavier Numia (89)
- Asafo Aumua (87)
- Pasilio Tosi (50)
- Caleb Delany (50)
- Warner Dearns (12)
- Brad Shields (140)
- Du’Plessis Kirifi (103) – co-captain
- Peter Lakai (48)
- Cam Roigard (58)
- Ruben Love (52)
- Kini Naholo (36)
- Jordie Barrett (122) – co-captain
- Billy Proctor (80)
- Josh Moorby (51)
- Callum Harkin (22)
- Raymond Tuputupu (23)
- Pouri Rakete-Stones (60)
- Tyrel Lomax (72)
- Isaia Walker-Leawere (90)
- Brayden Iose (64)
- Ereatara Enari (24)
- Jone Rova (13)
- Ngane Punivai (17)
UNAVAILABLE FOR SELECTION
Siale Lauaki (hamstring): 1 week
Devan Flanders (concussion): 1 week
Jai Tamati (knee): TBC
Brett Cameron (knee): Season
Harry Godfrey (knee): Expected to miss season
Riley Higgins (shoulder): Season
Fehi Fineanganofo (hamstring): 1 week
Drew Wild (shoulder): 1 week
