Hurricanes 2020

Stargazer

https://twitter.com/SuperRugbyNZ/status/1269781186093727762

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I don't know who writes these previews, but I wholeheartedly disagree with this scenario:

With Du’Plessis Kirifi in strong form in the seven jersey before the Investec Super Rugby season was cut short due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, and Vaea Fifita and Gareth Evans more than capable at blindside flanker, coach Jason Holland has hinted that we may see Savea at the back of the scrum during the New Zealand-only competition.

Flanders at 6 and Evans at 7, if Holland goes for Ardie at 8. Kirifi on the bench for me.
I prefer Ardie at 7 though, with Evans at 8.

Fifita can book a ticket to Timbuktu.

Canes4life

Agreed, Fifita can take a hike.

Big call coming from me but I would start Ardie off the bench for the first game and reward the Flanders, Kirifi and Evans combo for being so bloody good before lockdown, wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to ease Savea back into it considering how brutal this comp is going to be.

mikey07

@muddyriver Maybe we should sign an up and coming Argentinian prop for our front row

Winger

@Stargazer said in Hurricanes 2020:

Flanders at 6 and Evans at 7, if Holland goes for Ardie at 8. Kirifi on the bench for me.
I prefer Ardie at 7 though, with Evans at 8.

Is Evans really a 7?

My view it depends on the opposition. Kirifi was in great form before it stopped but with Ardie at 8 its a short 7/8 combo. So a good taller lineout jumper is needed. Fifita is excellent in this respect but he needs more discipline. Maybe Kirifi, Ardie and Flanders in some games to try as a combo.

Last year Shields was thrashed and lost his effectiveness so hopefully they rotate players this year.

Winger

@mikey07 said in Hurricanes 2020:

@muddyriver Maybe we should sign an up and coming Argentinian prop for our front row

Hopefully things will work out ok this year, Lots fo promsie at LH and a VG number one TH. And as long as Fidow stay injury free he should be fine as a replacement

Stargazer

@Winger Yeah, Evans can play all three loosie positions. He has played at 7 for the Highlanders and the Magpies. Evans should start, no matter where they play Ardie.

mikey07

@Winger Yeah I know like you said them staying injury free is the key the more experience they all get the better.

sparky

Where are we going to get a decent 10 from?

Bones

@sparky said in Hurricanes 2020:

Where are we going to get a decent 10 from?

Your ten was certainly not your problem against the blues. He did better than expected, unlike many others.

Stargazer

Hurricanes players playing club rugby this weekend in Wellington:

Jonathan Taumateine (Marist St Pat's)
Salesi Rayasi (Hutt OBM)
Murphy Taramai (Upper Hutt Rams)
Peter Umaga-Jensen (Wainuiomata)

Still trying to find out whether Hurricanes players from Hawke's Bay and Manawatu are playing club rugby this weekend, too.

Stargazer

More Hurricanes players expected to play club rugby.

Hawke's Bay:
Jonah Lowe (Clive)
Danny Toala (Hastings R&S)

Manawatu:
Liam Mitchell (Te Kawau)

Winger

@Stargazer said in Hurricanes 2020:

Danny Toala

Can Danny Toala play FB

I like what I saw of him at 2nd 5 (Ive only seen him in one game though) and would like to see a bit more of him in the Canes

Stargazer

@Winger Yes, he has played a lot at fullback when he was still playing for Hastings Boys. Also a good goal kicker.

Edited to add that he also played at fullback for NZU20s during the Oceania U20 championship.

Winger

@Stargazer said in Hurricanes 2020:

@Winger Yes, he has played a lot at fullback when he was still playing for Hastings Boys. Also a good goal kicker.

OK thanks. But not at NPC level. His best position is likely 2nd 5 so hopefully he gets a run there

Stargazer

@Winger He may have played at fullback for the Magpies during his first NPC year (from the bench). He didn't play there last year, because the Magpies desperately needed a good 12 and have several players capable playing at fullback. Tbh, I'm not sure his best position is 2nd 5 or fullback. He's a strong lad, so that makes him very handy at 12, but he definitely has the skills (including a good boot) for the 15 jersey.

Canes4life

Flanders locked in, great news.

https://www.hurricanes.co.nz/news/article/hurricanes-sign-flanders-mafileo-until-2022/

Nepia

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2020:

Flanders locked in, great news.

https://www.hurricanes.co.nz/news/article/hurricanes-sign-flanders-mafileo-until-2022/

Typical, the one time I don't want the Canes to actually care about a HB player they do - the Chiefs are in need of an 8.

Stargazer

@Canes4life Awesome news. Now, how about getting him on the field ...

Canes4life

@Stargazer how about we get all our young players on the field, can't go any worse than we have been. Why not try Toala at Fullback, give Rayasi a run instead of Lam considering he's leaving, move Barrett to his best position which will provide us with an extra playmaker. No doubt Holland will stick with the likes of Tiatia, Blackwell & Prinsep but that won't get us the result.

I would like to see a team close to this one for the Highlanders next week:

Mafileo
Aumua
Lomax
Scrafton
Walker-Leawere
Flanders
Savea
Evans
Perenara
Garden-Bachop
Rayasi
Barrett
Proctor
Aso
Toala
Coles
Armstrong/Numia/Rakete-Stone (whoevers available)
Fidow
Fifita
Kirifi
Booth
Laumape (Barrett to cover 10)
Goosen

Stargazer

@Canes4life I like the look of that squad, but I'd put Jonah Lowe at 13 instead of Proctor. From what I've seen on social media, I'm not sure Numia is fit, so Rakete-Stones starting or on the bench at LH. Armstrong was awful, last Sunday.

And damn, how much the Canes need a good, young 10 ... I hope McClutchie has a blinder of a Mitre 10 Cup season, and that the Canes finally get their act together. Sorry, broken record, I know.

The Silver Fern

Hurricanes 2020