Plumtree reveals Hurricanes team for Chiefs clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: In-form midfielder Ngani Laumape will start his 50th match for the Hurricanes on Friday in the Round Five Super Rugby encounter against the Chiefs in Hamilton.
The back-to-back Hurricanes Player of the Year, who has played in 48 Super Rugby games as well as facing the British and Irish Lions, has been in fantastic early season form to lead the competition’s try scorers with five.
He will again partner with Matt Proctor in the midfield in a backline that features just one change to that which faced the Highlanders last round.
Wes Goosen comes in on the left wing in place of Ben Lam who has been rested following a heavy early-season workload.
Up front, there are three changes in the pack with experienced props Toby Smith and Ben May named to start, the former making his first appearance in 2019.
The other change comes on the side of the scrum where Reed Prinsep is recalled with Vaea Fifita moving into lock.
The bench features two potential Hurricanes debutants with wing Salesi Rayasi and loose forward Hedien Bedwell-Curtis.
Hurricanes head coach John Plumtree was delighted about the prospect of two more players getting an opportunity.
“We said at the start of the season that we want to trust our squad and be smart with how we use our players and Heiden and Salesi have worked really hard and deserve their chance if the opportunity presents itself,” he said.
“We have real belief in the other players we have brought in and we are also really happy for Ngani to bring up his 50th match in what promises to be a tough New Zealand derby against a dangerous Chiefs team.”
. @DoveMenCare Team Naming | Hamilton Lineup pic.twitter.com/6JFDrsRsuA
— Hurricanes Rugby (@Hurricanesrugby) March 13, 2019
Hurricanes: 15 Chase Tiatia, 14 Jordie Barrett, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Wes Goosen, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Reed Prinsep, 5 Vaea Fifita, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Ben May, 2 Dane Coles (captain), 1 Toby Smith.
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Fraser Armstrong, 18 Alex Fidow, 19 Liam Mitchell, 20 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23 Salesi Rayasi.
Date: Friday, March 15
Venue: FMG Stadium, Hamilton
Kick-off: 19.35 (06.35 GMT)
Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand), Nick Hogan (New Zealand)
TMO: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
