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Hurricanes welcome back Ardie Savea for Highlanders blockbuster
By Finn Morton
The return of world-class backrower Ardie Savea headlines a new-look Hurricanes side ahead of their highly anticipated clash with the Highlanders on Saturday night.
After recording a thrilling three-point win over the Western Force in Palmerston North last weekend, the Hurricanes are within touching distance of the ladder leading Chiefs.
The Hurricanes are in control of their own destiny, and would leap into first place on the ladder with a bonus point win over the in-form Highlanders in Dunedin.
Head coach Jason Holland has made nine changes to the starting XV ahead of the trip down south, which includes a new halves combination.
Prop Xavier Numia is back in the No. 1 jersey this week, while Pouri Rakete-Stones has been relegated to the bench.
Dane Coles, Tyrel Lomax, James Blackwell and Isaia Walker-Leawere make up the rest of the Hurricanes’ tight five.
Brayden Iose, who started at No. 8 against the Force, shifts to the blindside flank. Iose and Savea will join Du’Plessis Kirifi in the backrow.
As for the backline, halfback Cam Roigard is back. The rising star will partner Aidan Morgan in the halves after flyhalf Brett Cameron was injured in round six.
“Great to have Aidan back after a head knock in the Waratahs game. We expect that he will slot in easily to run our game,” coach Jason Holland said in a statement.
Billy Proctor, Julian Savea and Mosh Moorby have also returned to the run-on side for this weekends clash.
Hurricanes team to take on Highlanders
- Xavier Numia
- Dane Coles
- Tyrel Lomax
- James Blackwell
- Isaia Walker-Leawere
- Brayden Iose
- Du’Plessis Kirifi
- Ardie Savea (c)
- Cam Roigard
- Aidan Morgan
- Salesi Rayasi
- Jordie Barrett
- Billy Proctor
- Julian Savea
- Josh Moorby
Replacements:
- Asafo Aumua
- Pouri Rakete-Stones
- Owen Franks
- TK Howden
- Peter Lakai
- Jamie Booth
- Harry Godfrey
- Peter Umaga-Jensen
Unavailable: Ruben Love, Caleb Delany, Tyler Laubscher, Reed Prinsep, Justin Sangster, TJ Perenara, Jacob Devery, Devan Flanders, Brett Cameron
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If the Welsh players cannot be bothered to get themselves.fit, for what is essentially their full time job and their country, then there is no hope for them.
Most of their forwards were huffing and puffing within 15 minutes!
Go to commentsFor the sake of the game we must restrict the TMO to advising the ref only when called on to do so. Im sick to the back teeth of the endless interventions. With an inexperienced whistler like the bloke this morning, the TMO ran the show.
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