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Jordie Barrett missing as Vaea Fifita returns for Hurricanes ahead of Crusaders clash
By Online Editors
Two changes have been made to the Hurricanes starting line-up set to face the Crusaders at Sky Stadium this Sunday.
The shake-up to the starting XV comes within the forward pack. Lock Vaea Fifita gets the nod ahead of Scott Scrafton, whilst Ardie Savea will start at number eight for the first time since his knee surgery late last year.
As reported earlier on Friday, star fullback Jordie Barrett has failed to make the team for a second week running as a troublesome shoulder injury keeps him sidelined.
It’s the first live sporting event Wellington has hosted since before the lockdown, and crowds are predicted to be in excess of 20,000.
The Hurricanes will be looking to bounce back from a 30-20 loss to the Blues at Eden Park a week ago.
Head coach Jason Holland says the team has been working hard.
“It’s important we perform better in some key areas of the game and we have worked hard during the week to improve.”
The Crusaders are yet to play a game in the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition.
Holland says the team is excited to be hosting a derby at home in front of fans.
“We can’t wait to play at our home stadium and are excited to play again in front of our awesome fans. Performing in front of them is a big driver for us this week.”
The Hurricanes team set to face the Crusaders this Sunday at Sky Stadium is:
1. Fraser Armstrong
2. Dane Coles [cc]
3. Tyrel Lomax
4. James Blackwell
5. Vaea Fifita
6. Reed Prinsep
7. Du’Plessis Kirifi
8. Ardie Savea
9. TJ Perenara [cc]
10. Jackson Garden-Bachop
11. Ben Lam
12. Ngani Laumape
13. Vince Aso
14. Wes Goosen
15. Chase Tiatia
REPLACEMENTS:
16. Asafo Aumua
17. Ben May
18. Alex Fidow
19. Scott Scrafton
20. Gareth Evans
21. Jamie Booth
22. Billy Proctor
23. Kobus Van Wyk
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i think Argentina v France could be a good game too, depending on which Argentina turns up. The most difficult to call is Scotland Australia.
Go to commentsSmith is playing a different game with the rest of the backs struggling to understand. That's the problem with so called playmakers, if nobody gets what they're doing then it often just leads to a turnover. It gets worse when Borthwick changes one of them, which is why they don't score points at the end. Sometimes having a brilliant playmaker can be problematic if a team cannot be built around them. Once again Borthwick seems lacking in either coaching or selection. I can't help but think it's the latter coupled with pressure to select the big name players.
Lastly, his forward replacements are poor and exposed either lack of depth or selection pressure. Cole hemorrhages scrum penalties whenever he comes on, opponents take advantage of the England scrum and close out the game. Is that the best England can offer?
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