Hurricanes

Pouri Rakete-Stones, Jacob Devery, Pasilio Tosi, Caleb Delany, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Brad Shields, Du'Plessis Kirifi (co-c), Devan Flanders, Cam Roigard, Callum Harkin, Fehi Fineanganofo, Jordie Barrett (co-c), Jone Rova, Bailyn Sullivan, Josh Moorby

Replacements: Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia, Tyrel Lomax, Warner Dearns, Brayden Iose, Jordi Viljoen, Ruben Love, Riley Higgins

Force

Tom Robertson, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Jeremy Williams (c), Darcy Swain, Will Harris, Carlo Tizzano, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Henry Robertson, Ben Donaldson, Bayley Kuenzle, Kurtley Beale, George Bridge, Darby Lancaster, Max Burey

Replacements: Nic Dolly, Marley Pearce, Misinale Epenisa, Franco Molina, Lopeti Faifua, Nathan Hastie, Taj Annan, Hamish Stewart

Serious bench for the Canes

Outrageous bench. Good to see Delaney back, as well as Love, Lomax and Higgins

Still hard to tell where we are at until we play a kiwi team, what a bizzarre draw for us to the season and sets us up for a brutal back end. But some guys have had a strong start to the year - Flanders, Harkin, Fineanganofo, Sullivan, Dearns in particular. Hope Viljoen makes a good fist of this game

@KiwiMurph said in Hurricanes v Force:

Serious bench for the Canes

Good to see Lomax, Delany, Love and Higgins back.

Proctor, Lauaki, Mafileo and Lakai all rested. Good to see they are keeping the squad fresh.

We might see Barrett take a seat next week.

@DurryMexted said in Hurricanes v Force:

Outrageous bench. Good to see Delaney back, as well as Love, Lomax and Higgins

Still hard to tell where we are at until we play a kiwi team, what a bizzarre draw for us to the season and sets us up for a brutal back end. But some guys have had a strong start to the year - Flanders, Harkin, Fineanganofo, Sullivan, Dearns in particular. Hope Viljoen makes a good fist of this game

Yep, we really need three wins over the next three games before the bye. That will ease the pressure somewhat in the second half of the season which will be brutal.

The Force team is probably close to the strongest they can put out so I expect our bench will play a huge factor in this game.

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes v Force:

The Force team is probably close to the strongest they can put out so I expect our bench will play a huge factor in this game.

Nope.
Ok in the forwards; but can see the canes blowin thru the midfield easy out back.

@mohikamo said in Hurricanes v Force:

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes v Force:

The Force team is probably close to the strongest they can put out so I expect our bench will play a huge factor in this game.

Nope.
Ok in the forwards; but can see the canes blowin thru the midfield easy out back.

The Force lineout suffered when Paenga-Amosa went off last week. Dolly had a bad game. I would have left him out for Oviedo. They had enough chances to win last week too.

A shame Ekuasi is out this week too. He's been one of the best loosies in the comp so far (easily the Force's best imo). Wonder if he's eligible for the Wallabies soon? He's definitely worth a look.

@African-Monkey said in Hurricanes v Force:

A shame Ekuasi is out this week too.

Assuming Ekuasi was rotated.
Has done a lot of work so far.
They'll be ok in the set piece, and field position; the issues are in general play.
Lack of go forward with the ball in hand, and not winning the collision on D, or attack.
I can see the backs getting rearranged quite early.

Ekuasi has a quad injury. I am surprised a NZ team hasn't approached him to return to NZ. I am sure he'd come back to Auckland if the Blues were interested.

@mohikamo said in Hurricanes v Force:

@African-Monkey said in Hurricanes v Force:

A shame Ekuasi is out this week too.

Assuming Ekuasi was rotated.
Has done a lot of work so far.
They'll be ok in the set piece, and field position; the issues are in general play.
Lack of go forward with the ball in hand, and not winning the collision on D, or attack.
I can see the backs getting rearranged quite early.

Lack of go forward with ball in hand will be worse as well with no Ekuasi. He's one of the only ones who can carry effectively. They have the bye next week so hopefully he'll be back for the Chiefs game.

@Bovidae said in Hurricanes v Force:

Ekuasi has a quad injury. I am surprised a NZ team hasn't approached him to return to NZ. I am sure he'd come back to Auckland if the Blues were interested.

Yeah it is a surprise. Barnes has gone well, but Ekuasi would probably have the inside running to replace Sotutu if he was back.

As I mentioned, maybe his goal is to play for the Wallabies? He's worth a look if he became eligible for them.

Based on my lack of knowledge I don't think the Force have much depth in their squad, which isn't a surprise given its makeup of retirees and journeymen unwanted or discarded by other SR teams.

They defend well, which shows heart but I can't see them troubling the Canes for 80mins.

That kiss of death complete, I'll tip accordingly.

Balmy night in Napier, should be a highly entertaining game.

looks to be plenty of space passing out the back door once

Pretty good defensive shifts from both sides. Expect it will open up massively after 20 mins.

I wonder if teams understand you can take a lineout and drive it to pull defenders in
Whole lot of movement and nothing happening

Roigard is in a deep hole eh. Making Christie look like a magician.

fuck off they aren't missing that.... ffs

Roigard used to have that Beauds tinbum luck - now nothing is going his way.