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Former Blues star links up with Hurricanes as great redemption arc continues
By Tom Vinicombe
While the Hurricanes had already revealed many of their key signings for next year ahead of the official squad release, they've still managed to slip in a few surprises announcements today.
27-year-old Lolagi Visinia was, as far as anyone could tell, destined to play for the All Blacks from a young age. That never quite eventuated, with the rangey outside back heading offshore at the end of 2016. Visinia returned to New Zealand earlier this year, however, and instantly made an impact for Mitre 10 Cup Championship winners Hawke's Bay.
Now, Visinia's professional career is officially back on track, with the former Auckland earning a call-up to the Hurricanes for 2020.
Visinia will join fellow pace-setters Julian Savea, Wes Goosen and Salesi Rayasi in a stacked outside backs contingent that also includes Jordie Barrett and Super Rugby debutant Pepesana Patafilo.
Rayasi was arguably the most dangerous player throughout the Mitre 10 Cup in 2020, and completed the season with 14 tries to his name. To put that in context, the competition's next top try-scorer, hooker Ash Dixon, nabbed just nine. Rayasi will take the field for Moana Pasifika on Saturday when they take on the Maori All Blacks.
All Blacks half-centurion Savea, meanwhile, also returned to NZ earlier this year. Despite indicating that his preference was to play in the midfield, the 2015 World Cup title winner spent much of the provincial season on the wing and will likely be employed in a similar fashion by the Hurricanes.
Wellington's Patafilo and Ruben Love, Manawatu's Brayden Iose, and Bay of Plenty's Luke Campbell are the only players in the squad who have yet to play Super Rugby.
Campbell has been brought in to compensate for TJ Perenara's sabbatical in Japan, which will see the All Black miss the entire Super Rugby season. Jonathan Taumateine and Jamie Booth are the team's other two halfbacks, though Booth will be sidelined for at least the first half of the season after being stretchered off the field during Manawatu's provincial campaign.
Taumateine will likely have first shot at the No. 9 jersey and will almost certainly combine with Wellington's Jackson Garden-Bachop in the halves.
Simon Hickey is the other experienced playmaking option in the squad while Love is a prospect for the future. Waikato's Fletcher Smith has surprisingly missed out altogether despite receiving nominations for NZ provincial player of the year for 2018 and 2019 after spending the past two seasons with the Hurricanes but failing to nail down a starting role.
The loose forwards will again be an area of strength for the 2016 Super Rugby champions, with Ardie Savea, Du'Plessis Kirifi and Devan Flanders likely to form a blockbusting combination.
The Hurricanes kick off their campaign against the Blues in late February.
Hurricanes squad for 2021:
Forwards
Tevita Mafileo
Xavier Numia
Tyrel Lomax
Pouri Rakete-Stones
Alex Fidow
Fraser Armstrong
Dane Coles
Ricky Riccitelli
Asafo Aumua
Isaia Walker-Leawere
Scott Scrafton
Kane Leaupepe
James Blackwell
Liam Mitchell
Ardie Savea
Brayden Iose
Devan Flanders
Du’Plessis Kirifi
Vaea Fifita
Reed Prinsep
Gareth Evans
Backs
Luke Campbell
Jamie Booth
Jonathan Taumateine
Simon Hickey
Jackson Garden-Bachop
Ruben Love
Peter Umaga-Jensen
Ngani Laumape
Vince Aso
Billy Proctor
Danny Toala
Wes Goosen
Jordie Barrett
Salesi Rayasi
Julian Savea
Lolagi Visinia
Pepesana Patafilo
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Latest Comments
I guess the other option would be to start ALB, he's looked good in the 12 so far when he starts and sets up those outside him. But that would mean putting the vice captain on the bench, which is unlikely. Another option would be to drop Reiko to the bench and play Proctor, though he's gone home so that's not going to happen either.
Both of those players just offer more of the soft distribution skills good centres learn from playing their careers there. Unfortunately that's what's lacking with the current combo.
Go to commentsWhatever let's see if this load of waffle is still valid in 2 years time. ABs will rise we have a lot of new talent coming through. The NPC was the highest standard for years. The game is changing to suit the fast pace we like to play. We get to play the Springboks more, including the franchises, which will make us better! Overall I am optimistic. I will add having watched the England game multiple times we made most of the play. England are an awesome physical team, but you can expect the All Blacks to get better and better at executing the chances. It could easily have been 5 tries to one instead of 3 to 1.
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