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Hurricanes bring All Blacks into starting team for Blues double-header
By Ned Lester
Round three sees not just culture round hit Wellington but also a Super Rugby double-header as the Hurricanes Poua open their 2025 season at home against the Blues.
Both Wellington teams face the reigning champions of their respective leagues and the men have brought their All Blacks to the fore for the occasion.
Having made their international debuts in 2024, Peter Lakai and Pasilio Tosi will each make their first start of the season in New Zealand's capital, lining up in the No. 3 and No. 8 jerseys respectively.
The other headline selection is that of Kade Banks. The former Blues flyer who enjoyed a breakout NPC campaign last season with North Harbour will make his Hurricanes debut at fullback.
Hurricanes Head Coach Clark Laidlaw said “We're excited to be back in Wellington and play our first home game at SKY Stadium for 2025. It’s Culture Round and we’ve had an enjoyable week connecting our different cultures.”
“It’s great to be able to have Kade Banks in the team this week, he’s had a really strong preseason and deserves this opportunity to debut”
“Being the 2024 champions, the Blues will be highly motivated and demand a top-quality performance from us. We certainly feel inspired to play well and meet that demand.”
Hurricanes team to play Blues
- Xavier Numia
- Raymond Tuputupu
- Pasilio Tosi
- Caleb Delany
- Isaia Walker-Leawere
- Brad Shields
- Du'Plessis kirifi
- Peter Lakai
- Cam Roigard
- Harry Godfrey
- Kini Naholo
- Peter Umaga-Jensen
- Bailyn Sullivan
- Fehi Fineanganofo
- Kade Banks*
Reserves
16. Jacob Devery
17. Pouri Rakete-Stones
18. Tevita Mafileo
19. Hugo Plummer
20. Brayden Iose
21. Ereatara Enari
22. Riley Hohepa
23. Ngatungane Punivai
Injury status
Brett Cameron, knee, out for season
Devan Flanders, ankle, R14
Tjay Clarke, shoulder, R9
Daniel Sinkinson, hamstring, R8
Ruben Love, ankle, R7
Lucas Cashmore, knee, R7
Riley Higgins, hand, R7
Tyrel Lomax, ankle, R5
Callum Harkin, head, R4
Billy Proctor, Achilles, TBC
Asafo Aumua, calf, TBC
Zach Gallagher, Achilles, TBC
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Latest Comments
What absolute rubbish. European rugby mimics test rugby because of their ‘cultural’ focus on the set piece which is the antithesis of multi-phase, ‘play whats in front of you’ attack from anywhere rugby - which dominated world rugby under the most successful win/loss AB’s era of the early 2000’s through to the 2019 WC.
No SA URC team would last in Super right now. The ‘pace’ of the game and referees clamping down on purposeful ‘slowing’ of the game which SA is famous for will expose them just like they were last time they featured. None of your teams feature in the Champions Cup and a Leinster academy team just tipped a Springbok team wearing Sharks jerseys last week.
Go to commentsThe yellow card was a bit harsh. SR isn’t known for soft yellows.
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