France-bound Laumape left out of Hurricanes team
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Hurricanes head coach Jason Holland believes there is plenty of excitement building in the squad as they head across the ditch to kick off their Super Rugby Trans-Tasman campaign against the Waratahs in Sydney.
After a week off following the end of their Super Rugby Aotearoa season, which ended with a confidence-building win over the Highlanders, Holland said there was no shortage of enthusiasm being shown.
“It does genuinely feel like a new competition to us and the fact that we get to front up against Australian opposition after more than a year has added to that,” he said.
“We have all wondered how we would shape up against them after that period of time not being able to play against some of our traditional rivals and now that opportunity is really close.
“We managed to have a bit of time off following that last game and the guys have come back together keen to get back into it.”
Holland has made several changes to the squad which last ran out at Sky Stadium, with Alex Fidow coming into the front row and Isaia Walker-Leawere joining him in the tight five.
The backline remains largely unchanged, the exception being in the midfield.
Star centre Ngani Laumape, who was recently confirmed to leave New Zealand for France after having signed a deal with Top 14 club Stade Francais, has been omitted from the side to play at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
In his place comes one-test midfielder Peter Umaga-Jensen, who featured off the bench in his side’s 41-22 thumping of the Highlanders.
There are some changes on the bench too, with scrumhalf Jonathan Taumateine and utility back Orbyn Leger named in the 23-man squad. Lock Liam Mitchell and prop Tevita Mafileo also earn recalls.
“We have a number of guys in the squad who have continued to really put their hand up for selection right through our domestic season and we’ve now given some of them a chance again,” Holland added.
Hurricanes: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Salesi Rayasi, 10 Ruben Love, 9 Luke Campbell, 8 Devan Flanders, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Reed Prinsep, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Alex Fidow, 2 Dane Coles (captain), 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Tevita Mafileo, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Liam Mitchell, 20 Brayden Iose, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 Orbyn Leger, 23 Pepesana Patafilo.
Date: Friday, May 14
Venue: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Kick-off: 19.45 (21.45 NZST; 09.45 GMT)
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant referees: Amy Perrett, Angus Gardner
TMO: James Leckie
