Ex-Wallaby’s bold call: Drua could hand Hurricanes ‘first loss of the year’

Former Wallaby Morgan Turinui has tipped the Fijian Drua to hand the ladder-leading Hurricanes their “first loss of the year” in a blockbuster Super Rugby Pacific clash in Suva on Friday.

The Hurricanes have emerged as the team to beat with the table-toppers currently boasting a flawless 7-0 record which has included wins over the Blues, Melbourne Rebels and Chiefs.

Coach Clark Laidlaw hasn’t been afraid to test the squad’s depth this season, having made 14 changes to the First XV to play the Rebels and another 12 before facing the Highlanders.

But not everyone is convinced. Former All Blacks halfback Justin Marshall recently questioned whether the unbeaten Hurricanes are indeed the favourites to take out the title this season.

Marshall said the Hurricanes would need to go over to Fiji this week and win “as a start.” It’s a menacing challenge and not everyone believes the men from New Zealand’s capital will win.

“Interesting too when you look at their team… the experience off the bench,” Morgan Turinui said on Stan Sports’ The Call Up.

“I expected a big full 80 and a strong finish over there in Suva this week.

“This could be the first loss of the year for the Canes.”

The Hurricanes have challenged some of their squad members to go the job at ANZ Stadium this week with coach Laidlaw once again making a stunning amount of changes to the starting side.

Coach Laidlaw has made 10 changes to the starting side, including a fresh face at first five with Aidan Morgan replacing Brett Cameron in a still-supremely talented backline.

Wing Salesi Rayasi comes onto the left edge with Kini Naholo shifting to the right, while Josh Moorby shifts to fullback with Ruben Love set to provide impact off the bench.

This is a Hurricanes team that looks different but the core of the team remains the same. It’ll be a good test for the table-toppers and one that former All Black Mils Muliaina thinks they can do the job.

“You would be forgiven to say you take a weakened side over there and you could be bitten. We’ve seen that already a number of times,” Muliaina explained.

“But I don’t see that with this Hurricanes side.

“The pack up front, especially the front row, they’ve gone through a lot of work in terms of Tyrel Lomax and Asafo Aumua… the fact they get a little bit of a rest.

“Flanders and Du’Plessis Kirifi, I mean… how much competition do those guys need in this department?

“Of course, Aidan Morgan – he’s been there or thereabouts. Probably a chance also for Clark Laidlaw to be able to give him some game time.

“Salesi Rayasi, we all know what he’s capable of.

“I sense, even last week after that game against the Chiefs, they’ve sort of blocked this out and almost got the feeling that these players already knew they were going to go to Suva and they’re going to be starting.

“The preparation for team has probably already started.”