So with the Drua (away) and MP (Home) almost becoming must wins for the Hurricanes over the next two weeks, it will be interesting to see how Holland approaches his team selections.

I would start our strongest side in Fiji and then give some key players a week off against MP because after that match we have the Chiefs (A), Blues (A) and Crusaders (H) in a row before the playoffs.

Players that were unavailble for selection against the Brumbies were: Ruben Love, Tyler Laubscher, Reed Prinsep, TJ Perenara, Brett Cameron, Daniel Sinkinson, Billy Proctor, Bailyn Sullivan, Dane Coles.

You could probably add Caleb Delany and James Blackwell to that list after both went off with concussion issues over the weekend.

Assuming that no players return from injury apart from Justin Sangster, I expect this side to get a trot against the Drua:

1. Numia

2. Aumua

3. Lomax

4. Bird

5. Walker-Leawere

6. Flanders

7. Kirifi

8. Savea

9. Roigard

10. Morgan (would prefer Godfrey starting)

11. Rayasi (but he should be dropped after an appalling performance against the Brumbies)

12. Barrett

13. Umaga-Jensen

14. Savea

15. Moorby

16. Devery

17. Mafileo

18. Franks

19. Sangster/Howden

20. Iose

21. Booth

22. Godfrey

23. Naholo

Maybe PRS and Tosi on the bench.

I agree we can't really rest top guys against Drua or we'll lose.

@foobaNZ said in Drua v Hurricanes:

I agree we can't really rest top guys against Drua or we'll lose.

100%, the Chiefs and Crusaders have shown that you can’t take them lightly over there.

Justin Sangster to make a timely return this weekend.

Delany will be stood down for at least 12 days after his concussion. Blackwell is a ? for this week.

@Canes4life Glad to have him back.

Morgan made the stuff team of the week. Sometimes I wonder if they even watch all the games or just watch highlights and base it off that.

I can only assume the latter.

@foobaNZ I was surprised at that also and said the exact same thing

@Canes4life said in Drua v Hurricanes:

Justin Sangster to make a timely return this weekend.

Delany will be stood down for at least 12 days after his concussion. Blackwell is a ? for this week.

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Sub editor missed a trick there. Prime opportunity for a headline saying 'Hurricanes stocks short in the second row'

@foobaNZ said in Drua v Hurricanes:

Morgan made the stuff team of the week. Sometimes I wonder if they even watch all the games or just watch highlights and base it off that.

I can only assume the latter.

That TOTW writer has things they want to say about players so puts them in to say it. Much of the list is like that. I actually liked Morgan's play on the weekend but he wasn't the best 10 on show.

@foobaNZ said in Drua v Hurricanes:

Morgan made the stuff team of the week. Sometimes I wonder if they even watch all the games or just watch highlights and base it off that.

I can only assume the latter.

Some of those teams of the week are based only on online stats

Roigard made the PR team of the week. His kicking was outstanding esp for the first 30 minutes

Morgan did well enough esp in the 2nd half. But hes a step down from Cameron

Moorby also had his best game this year. UJ was also much better than his last start

1 Xavier Numia
2 Asafo Aumua
3 Tyrel Lomax
4 Justin Sangster
5 Isaia Walker-Leawere **
6 Devan Flanders
7 Du’Plessis Kirifi
8 Ardie Savea
9 Cameron Roigard
10 Aidan Morgan
11 Kini Naholo
12 Jordie Barrett
13 Billy Proctor
14 Julian Savea
15 Josh Moorby

Reserves:
16 Jacob Devery
17 Tevita Mafileo
18 Owen Franks
19 TK Howden
20 Brayden Iose
21 Jamie Booth
22 Harry Godfrey
23 Salesi Rayasi

**Denotes 50th Super Rugby match

Unavailable for selection: Ruben Love, Tyler Laubscher, Reed Prinsep, TJ Perenara, Brett Cameron, Daniel Sinkinson, Bailyn Sullivan, Dane Coles, James Blackwell, Caleb Delany, Dominic Bird.

@Duluth said in Drua v Hurricanes:

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1 Xavier Numia
2 Asafo Aumua
3 Tyrel Lomax
4 Justin Sangster
5 Isaia Walker-Leawere **
6 Devan Flanders
7 Du’Plessis Kirifi
8 Ardie Savea
9 Cameron Roigard
10 Aidan Morgan
11 Kini Naholo
12 Jordie Barrett
13 Billy Proctor
14 Julian Savea
15 Josh Moorby

Reserves:
16 Jacob Devery
17 Tevita Mafileo
18 Owen Franks
19 TK Howden
20 Brayden Iose
21 Jamie Booth
22 Harry Godfrey
23 Salesi Rayasi

**Denotes 50th Super Rugby match

Unavailable for selection: Ruben Love, Tyler Laubscher, Reed Prinsep, TJ Perenara, Brett Cameron, Daniel Sinkinson, Bailyn Sullivan, Dane Coles, James Blackwell, Caleb Delany, Dominic Bird.

Decent side, Salesi deserved to be dropped.

Wow that’s a lot of injuries, hopefully most of those players come back soon.

also hoping Cameron comes back soon as possible and Bird! Good to see Proctor back would've been good to see more of Lakai. Iose keeping him out deservedly so.

@BerhamporeNinja said in Drua v Hurricanes:

also hoping Cameron comes back soon as possible and Bird! Good to see Proctor back would've been good to see more of Lakai. Iose keeping him out deservedly so.

Some big games coming up. Will be good to have the likes of Sullivan and Love back too.

Pretty strong team. Nice to see Holland showing some selection consistency this year.
Has the team about right, from who is available in my opinion.

I think we are mostly happy with the teams each week now as we've dropped a lot of dead wood, so even if there is a bit of a merry go round it's still quality players.

Love how Franks is going off the bench too.

Can't take the Drua lightly or we'll get cooked. Looking forward to this should be plenty of running footy.

29 degrees. Similar to the Blues game last week