Bulls v Hurricanes
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FIFITA TO BLINDSIDE AS CANES RESHUFFLE SIDE FOR BULLS
Vaea Fifita will start at blindside for the first time this season in a re-shuffled Hurricanes team named to play the Bulls in Pretoria on Sunday morning (NZT).
Fifita, who has started the last four matches at lock, will join openside Ardie Savea and No.8 Brad Shields in a new-look loose forward trio for round 14 of the Investec Super Rugby season at Loftus Versfeld.
Fifita's positional shift allows Mark Abbott to return to his regular starting spot in the second row and pushes versatile loose forward Reed Prinsep to the reserves.
There are two other changes to the team that started against the Cheetahs in Wellington with Jordie Barrett returning at fullback and Loni Uhila making his first start since round three at loose head prop.
Jordie Barrett replaces older brother Beauden, who moves back to his favoured position of first five in place of Otere Black, while Uhila takes over in the No.1 jersey from Ben May.
Last time the two teams met was in 2015 with the Hurricanes winning a close match 17-13 in Pretoria.
In contrast to the Hurricanes 2017 record of nine wins from 11 matches, the Bulls have won just three matches heading into the weekend.
However, the overall rivalry between the two clubs has been a close one with the Hurricanes holding a narrow 10-9 advantage over 19 matches. In Pretoria the teams have split the honours five apiece.
The three players in the Hurricanes 26-strong tour squad not selected in the match day 23 this week were Cory Jane, James Blackwell and James O'Reilly.
The Hurricanes team to play the Bulls? at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday, May 28 is:
1 Loni Uhila, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Jeff To'omaga-Allen, 4. Mark Abbott, 5. Sam Lousi, 6. Vaea Fifita, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Brad Shields
9 TJ Perenara, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Julian Savea, 12. Ngani Laumape, 13. Vince Aso, 14. Wes Goosen, 15. Jordie BarrettReserves:
16 Leni Apisai, 17. Chris Eves, 18. Ben May, 19. Reed Prinsep, 20. Callum Gibbins, 21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22. Otere Black, 23. Ben Lam -
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Stoked Fifita is on the flank. That is his best position and hope he rips it up there.
Actually that backrow is pretty damn nice.
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woulda been tempted to give Lam a run at 14 over Goosen.
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@taniwharugby said in Bulls v Hurricanes:
woulda been tempted to give Lam a run at 14 over Goosen.
Yep. Goosens did some great things back in the earlier rounds but has been pants ever since. Lam looked bloody good when he came on last week.
At the risk of incurring Siam's wrath, I'd still prefer the centres pushed out one spot, i.e. Jordie, Laumape and then Asdo on the wing.
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Jordie in after a great pass from Mr T.
Bumper crowd....
BB a late withdrawal apparently. Boychild gets his chance.
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His name is Jordie, not Jodie you knob jockey.
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Laumape! Fuck yeah.
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Poor boychild off. Looks like TTT and TJP at 10!
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This ref is shit. Wtf was wrong with that? Ardie drove through fair and square.
Mmmmm cheerleaders.
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@hydro11 said in Bulls v Hurricanes:
Ref is fine. We are just giving away penalty after penalty for dumb shit. It's a shame because the Bulls cant tackle.
No, that was a ridiculous penalty.
Nice try to Goose.
Boychild back on btw.
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@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Bulls v Hurricanes:
@hydro11 said in Bulls v Hurricanes:
Ref is fine. We are just giving away penalty after penalty for dumb shit. It's a shame because the Bulls cant tackle.
No, that was a ridiculous penalty.
Nice try to Goose.
Boychild back on btw.
Wasn't against Ardie I think.
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Nice try!
I'm going to bed. 11 point buffer. Hopefully enough.
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@Tordah said in Bulls v Hurricanes:
Hurricanes defence of the maul has been absolutely unbelievable. So good to watch. Stupid Bulls don't learn and always choose the linneout option only to get mullered again. Idiots
Canes have a good sized forward pack on the park today to be disruptive. Big locks and backrow with Fifita, Shields and of course the biggest openside in rugby since Burger, Ardie Savea.
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Oh, no, please, not another case of concussion!
Hurricanes first five Beauden Barrett's late withdrawal due to headaches, saw Otere Black wear the No.10 jersey and the latter added three conversions and a penalty to keep the Bulls at bay. Boyd said the source of Barrett's head aches was still unclear, but he had been withdrawn from the match by the medical team as a precaution. Barrett left the field at halftime during last weekend's win over the Cheetahs in Wellington, passed a concussion test and had shown no symptoms until the team landed in Johannesburg. Although the team doctor was unsure whether his headaches were due to travel, altitude or humidity, it was decided the day before the match to withdraw him from the Bulls match the day before kick off as a precaution. Barrett had exercised earlier in the week without any issues, Boyd said.https://www.hurricanes.co.nz/the-canes/news/single/item/canes-beat-bulls-34-20-at-loftus-versfeld/
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@Tordah said in Bulls v Hurricanes:
Hurricanes defence of the maul has been absolutely unbelievable. So good to watch. Stupid Bulls don't learn and always choose the linneout option only to get mullered again. Idiots
But but but mauls are impossible to defend!
