SR Aotearoa Preview: Hurricanes v Crusaders
Sunday, Wellington, 3.35pm
Expect more of a mid-winter forward-dominated contest in Wellington on Sunday when the Hurricanes host the Crusaders who will be making their Super Rugby Aotearoa debut.
The forecast is for some traditional Wellington southerlies and rain for the game and that would ensure the home side would face a physical test up-front.
Coach Jason Holland said, "The boys will look forward to the physical challenge of that. Our forwards have been going pretty well before Covid with our ball and contact areas and we want to get back to where we were there. We were a little bit off the pace at the weekend just gone.
"It'll be who's the smartest team, mixed with that physicality, who'll get the result," he said.
With Ardie Savea making a start at No.8, the Hurricanes would take a shot of confidence into the game.
Holland said: "He's dying to get into it and starting him will give him the ability to get his hands on the ball and get some carry for us," he said.
Vaea Fifita's placement at lock is a surprise choice for the Hurricanes.
The former blindside flanker would cover that role if required. But Holland said, "The beauty about Vaea is that he can do both. For this week, the best thing is to get Vaea in the engine room and get him highly involved in those lineouts."
Lineouts are a concern for the Hurricanes after they were exposed in that area by the Blues last week. With All Black Sam Whitelock back in the mix for the Crusaders, and Luke Romano coming off the bench, there is an experienced core in that area of craft that will test the home side.
However, captain Scott Barrett is missing from the side, ruled out by a foot injury.
Making returns to the match 23 are utility back David Havili who has recovered from abdominal surgery while also making his first appearance for the year is loose forward Ethan Blackadder, who had shoulder surgery after the 2019 campaigns.
Captaincy is in the hands of hooker Codie Taylor who said he would make full use of Whitelock's experience in the role.
"He has captained this team for three years and I am not going to pretend he doesn't know what he is doing," he said. "I am just going to take all the knowledge that he can share when we are out there on Sunday and go from there."
The teams are:
Hurricanes: 1.Fraser Armstrong, 2.Dane Coles (co-captain), 3.Tyrel Lomax, 4.James Blackwell, 5.Vaea Fifita, 6.Reed Prinsep, 7.Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8.Ardie Savea, 9.TJ Perenara (co-captain), 10.Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11.Ben Lam, 12.Ngani Laumape, 13.Vince Aso, 14.Wes Goosen, 15.Chase Tiatia.
Substitutes: 16.Asafo Aumua, 17.Ben May, 18.Alex Fidow, 19.Scott Scrafton, 20.Gareth Evans, 21.Jamie Booth, 22.Billy Proctor, 23.Kobus van Wyk.
Crusaders: 1.Joe Moody, 2.Codie Taylor (captain), 3.Michael Alaalatoa, 4.Samuel Whitelock, 5.Mitchell Dunshea, 6.Cullen Grace, 7.Billy Harmon, 8.Whetukamokamo Douglas, 9.Bryn Hall, 10.Richie Mo'unga, 11.George Bridge, 12.Jack Goodhue, 13.Braydon Ennor, 14.Sevu Reece, 15.Will Jordan.
Substitutes: 16.Brodie McAlister, 17.George Bower, 18.Oliver Jager, 19.Luke Romano, 20.Ethan Blackadder, 21.Mitchell Drummond, 22.David Havili, 23.Leicester Faingaanuku.