HURRICANES TEAM TO PLAY CRUSADERS (Hurricanes caps in brackets)

Xavier Numia (88)
Raymond Tuputupu (22)
Tyrel Lomax (71)
Hugo Plummer (12)
Isaia Walker-Leawere (89)
Brad Shields (139) – captain
Cooper Flanders (debut)
Arese Poliko (1)
Cam Roigard (57)
Callum Harkin (21)
Kini Naholo (35)
Jone Rova (12)
Josh Timu (debut)
Taniela Filimone (debut)
Josh Moorby (50)

Jacob Devery (23)
Pouri Rakete-Stones (59)
Tevita Mafileo (67)
Tom Allen (1)
Matolu Petaia (1)
Jordi Viljoen (9)
Lucas Cashmore (5)
Bailyn Sullivan (50th match)

UNAVAILABLE FOR SELECTION

Siale Lauaki (hamstring): 1 week
Du’Plessis Kirifi (shoulder): Week-to-week
Devan Flanders (concussion): 2 weeks
Brett Cameron (knee): Season
Harry Godfrey (knee): Expected to miss season
Riley Higgins (shoulder): Season
Ngane Punivai (shoulder): Week-to-week
Anaru Paenga-Morgan (concussion): 1 week
Fehi Fineanganofo (hamstring): 2 weeks
Jordie Barrett (hamstring): 1 week
Drew Wild (shoulder): 2 weeks

George Bower, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Antonio Shalfoon, Jamie Hannah, Dom Gardiner, Ethan Blackadder, Christian Lio-Willie, Noah Hotham, Rivez Reihana, Sevu Reece, David Havili (c), Dallas McLeod, Chay Fihaki, Johnny McNicholl

Replacements: Manumaua Leitu, Finlay Brewis, Seb Calder, Liam Jack, Johnny Lee, Kyle Preston, Taha Kemara, Cooper Roberts

Shite to see Fehi is on the injured list now, joining Lauaki and Jordie with shitty hammys.

Overall, the Canes side looks about what I expected. Don’t think we will win this game by any means but we should be able to put a few points on the board.

Flanders to debut at 7. Not sure what Bason did not to be selected at hooker lol.

Hard to know which is going to be more influential; the Canes resting half their squad or the Crusaders resting Leicester. They've been overly reliant on him all year.

@BellsGeorg said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:

Hard to know which is going to be more influential; the Canes resting half their squad or the Crusaders resting Leicester. They've been overly reliant on him all year.

Good point. Home advantage though.

Still the Canes defence has been very aggressive and that's one less recognised carrier in the forwards.

@BellsGeorg said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:

Hard to know which is going to be more influential; the Canes resting half their squad or the Crusaders resting Leicester. They've been overly reliant on him all year.

Crusaders by a million

@Canes4life things were always going to swing with injury wouldn't worry tho.

Bulk of the key Canes leaders are gone so tough ask for this team beating the Crusaders away

@brodean said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:

Bulk of the key Canes leaders are gone so tough ask for this team beating the Crusaders away

It worked out for the Blues in 2024 when they played Crusaders away....

@canefan said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:

@brodean said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:

Bulk of the key Canes leaders are gone so tough ask for this team beating the Crusaders away

It worked out for the Blues in 2024 when they played Crusaders away....

We hammered the Chiefs in the last round of 2024. There was no chance of meeting the Crusaders in the finals. Slightly different scenario.

@brodean said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:

@canefan said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:

@brodean said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:

Bulk of the key Canes leaders are gone so tough ask for this team beating the Crusaders away

It worked out for the Blues in 2024 when they played Crusaders away....

We hammered the Chiefs in the last round of 2024. There was no chance of meeting the Crusaders in the finals. Slightly different scenario.

yeah, I was being glib. At least we have the luxury of letting injured bodies a week to heal

@Canes4life said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:

Shite to see Fehi is on the injured list now, joining Lauaki and Jordie with shitty hammys.

Reads to me like players who could play if it was required but why risk it

Given the team lists, Crusaders by 20+

Bit stink for Sullivan to be benched for his 50th.

@Bones Not sure why he isn't starting given he has barely played for about 7/8 rounds now. He is higher in the pecking order than Timu and should be playing. Timu to the bench and get 25 mins off the bench.

Seems Laidlaw likes to be a bit of a dick to a select few players?

@Rugbyman said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:

@Bones Not sure why he isn't starting given he has barely played for about 7/8 rounds now. He is higher in the pecking order than Timu and should be playing. Timu to the bench and get 25 mins off the bench.

Timu is only good for 25mins even if it starts anyway lol

@Rugbyman said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:

@Bones Not sure why he isn't starting given he has barely played for about 7/8 rounds now. He is higher in the pecking order than Timu and should be playing. Timu to the bench and get 25 mins off the bench.

I'd say Laidlaw's initial intention was not to have Sullivan in the squad at all and was probably looking to save him for the playoffs, however a shoulder injury to Punivai has probably seen Sullivan bumped up to a bench role. I don't think we'll see many minutes from him.

It's crazy how many Hurricanes players have had their 50th caps recently, almost a player a week atm. Shows the maturity of this side.

@Canes4life said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:

@Rugbyman said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:

@Bones Not sure why he isn't starting given he has barely played for about 7/8 rounds now. He is higher in the pecking order than Timu and should be playing. Timu to the bench and get 25 mins off the bench.

I'd say Laidlaw's initial intention was not to have Sullivan in the squad at all and was probably looking to save him for the playoffs, however a shoulder injury to Punivai has probably seen Sullivan bumped up to a bench role. I don't think we'll see many minutes from him.

It's crazy how many Hurricanes players have had their 50th caps recently, almost a player a week atm. Shows the maturity of this side.

Yep this crop of players have battled together for a few seasons now and really developed together

Excited to see Cooper Roberts having a go. He's one for the future.

What are the odds of two players named Cooper making their debut in one game on opposing teams?

In 20 years will we have two players named Blacksmith debuting at the same time?

@canefan said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:

@brodean said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:

Bulk of the key Canes leaders are gone so tough ask for this team beating the Crusaders away

It worked out for the Blues in 2024 when they played Crusaders away....

Nearly worked for the Tahs in 2002!

Blackadder out. Johnny Lee will start on the openside. Oli Mathis comes onto the bench.

Debut for Mathis?

The fuck was that Reihana?

Again, I won't blame Nisbo if he confuses Lakai with Rova.

CLW is a better first five than BB

Canes having to make 4 times as many tackle so far

Gardiner barely slowed him down

@Duluth said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:

Gardiner barely slowed him down

I know which one I want as AB blindside...

@Bones said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:

Again, I won't blame Nisbo if he confuses Lakai with Rova.

Hope not, Lakai is in Wellington.

Another shocking kick. A few howlers in this stadium so far.

@Canes4life said in Crusaders vs Hurricanes:

. A few howlers in this stadium so far.

Was thinking the same thing....

lol Timu is not Super standard.

Rova makes woeful decisions

Shields winding the clock back

Shields is the 6 the ABs need, but is he too old?

Suspect turnover from Fihaki

Lol clear knee on the ground.

Fern fav Havili carving it up .. nice set up