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Debutant starts ahead of Cam Roigard in first Hurricanes team of season

20 Feb 2024

Cam Roigard of the Hurricanes looks on during the Super Rugby Pacific Pre-Season Match between Hurricanes and Moana Pasifika at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport on February 16, 2024 in Upper Hutt, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

All Blacks Bronco champion Cam Roigard will come off the bench for the Hurricanes in Friday night’s opening-round clash with the Western Force at Perth’s HBF Park.

After missing the Hurricanes’ two pre-season matches due to a minor injury, four-Test All Black Roigard will come off the bench while debutant Jordi Viljoen has been handed a start.

With regular captain Brad Shields unavailable, hooker Asafo Aumua and midfielder Jodie Barrett will take the leadership reigns as co-captains to start the season.

“There were some tight selection decisions for the coaches in the end, but we’re really happy with the team that will run out in Round One,” coach Clark Laidlaw said in a statement.

“This is the first game of the competition, so we’re excited to see the starting group run out, but more importantly it’s going to take 23 players to get the job done.

“We’ve got a lot of respect for the Force and we’re under no illusions around how good of a performance we’re going to have to put out on the field to come away with a win.

“It’s going to take a squad effort to get the performance we’re after.”

Xavier Numia, co-captain Aumua and Pasilio Tosi have been given the nod to start in jersey’s one through three, while Caleb Delany and Isaia Walker-Leawere complete the tight five.

Devan Flanders, the ever-reliable Du’Plessis Kirifi and Peter Lakai complete a solid forward pack for the Canes who will look to lay the foundations for the backline to thrive.

Debutant Viljoen joins one-Test All Black Brett Cameron in the halves, while the outside backs combination of Kini Naholo, Josh Moorby and Ruben Love is both exciting and intriguing.

In the midfield, co-captain Barrett joins milestone man Billy Proctor. Proctor is set to play his 50^th game for the club.

“It’s a massive honour to play 50 games for the Hurricanes,” Proctor said. “It’s the team I grew up watching and it was always my dream to play just one game for the Hurricanes.

“But to be able to bring up 50 games this weekend and join my brother in the 50 club is something pretty special.”

The Hurricanes’ clash with the Western Force is scheduled for a 7.00 pm kick-off (local time) on Friday. So for fans staying up to watch if across the Tasman, it will start at midnight in New Zealand.

Hurricanes team to take on Western Force

Xavier Numia
Asafo Aumua (cc)
Pasilio Tosi
Caleb Delany
Isaia Walker-Leawere
Devan Flanders
Du’Plessis Kirifi
Peter Lakai
Jordi Viljoen*
Brett Cameron
Kini Naholo
Jordie Barrett
Billy Proctor
Josh Moorby
Ruben Love

Reserves

James O’Reilly
Pouri Rakete-Stones
Tyrel Lomax
Justin Sangster
Brayden Iose
Cam Roigard
Riley Higgins
Salesi Rayasi

Comments

1 Comment

mW 458 days ago

Here’s hoping Laidlaw decision making isn’t as disastrous as the Olympics squad.

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 11 days ago

Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments

James 12 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

37 Go to comments

dw 12 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

37 Go to comments

dw 12 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments

dw 12 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.

Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 12 days ago

'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

91 Go to comments

JM 12 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 12 days ago

'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

4 Go to comments

OJohn 12 days ago

Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

0 Go to comments

Carlos 12 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments

Carlos 12 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments

Solenn Bonnet 12 days ago

Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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0 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 12 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 12 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 12 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.

Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

37 Go to comments

BC 12 days ago

Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

1 Go to comments

Otagoman II 12 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

37 Go to comments

NB 12 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍