Team Announcement: Hurricanes Vs NSW Waratahs

March 15, 2023
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Ultimate Rugby

The Hurricanes are preparing to take on the Waratahs at Sky Stadium this Friday, 7:05PM in round four of the Super Rugby Pacific competition, marking the Hurricanes 50th match played against all Australian sides in New Zealand.

Hurricanes Head Coach Jason Holland has named his squad with few changes to the 23 that fell to the Blues in Saturday's double-header.

In the forward pack, Asafo Aumua returns to the run-on side, with last week’s captain, Dane Coles, looking to provide power from the bench. Ardie Savea returns from a one-week suspension to captain the side from number eight, linking up with flankers, Devan Flanders and Du’Plessis Kirifi.

In the backs, Kini Naholo earns a debut on the wing opposite the Hurricanes all-time leading try scorer, Julian Savea.

Off the bench, midfielder Bailyn Sulivan makes a return from injury, with Hawke’s Bay lock Dominic Bird looking to make his Hurricanes debut.

Hurricanes to take on the Waratahs:

1 Xavier Numia
2 Asafo Aumua
3 Tyrel Lomax
4 James Blackwell
5 Isaia Walker-Leawere
6 Devan Flanders
7 Du’Plessis Kirifi
8 Ardie Savea ©
9 Cameron Roigard
10 Brett Cameron
11 Kini Naholo *
12 Jordie Barrett
13 Billy Proctor
14 Julian Savea
15 Josh Moorby

Reserves
16 Dane Coles
17 Pouri Rakete-Stones
18 Pasilio Tosi
19 Dominic Bird *
20 Braydon Iose
21 Jamie Booth
22 Aidan Morgan
23 Bailyn Sulivan

* Denotes debut

Waratahs Head Coach Darren Coleman has made six changes to his starting XV, while adding two new faces to his bench from last week.

After making a successful return from an Achilles injury via the bench last week, Harry Johnson-Holmes has been named in the starting front row alongside Tom Lambert and Mahe Vailanu.

Darren Coleman is missing both his starting locks from last week, with Hugh Sinclair ruled out for the next 4-6 weeks with a shoulder injury and Jed Holloway on leave to be with his wife and the imminent arrival of their second child.

Ned Hanigan will play his first match of the 2023 season in the second row alongside Taleni Seu who secured a valuable bonus point for the Waratahs in Melbourne with his try after the siren.

Charlie Gamble, who re-signed with the team this week, returns to the starting backrow at blindside flanker with Michael Hooper and one of the form players in the competition, Langi Gleeson.

WARATAHS TEAM TO FACE THE HURRICANES

1 Tom Lambert (Sydney Uni/ Wests Juniors/ Trinity Grammar)

2 Mahe Vailanu (Gordon/ Melbourne Harlequins/ Auckland Grammar)

3 Harry Johnson-Holmes (Sydney Uni/ Cowra Eagles/ Merewether High School)

4 Ned Hanigan (Randwick/ Coonamble Rams/ St Joseph’s College)

5 Taleni Seu (Southern Districts/ Grammar Tech/ Onehunga High School)

6 Charlie Gamble (Eastern Suburbs/ Saracens/ St Bede’s College)

7 Michael Hooper (Manly/ Manly Roos/ St Pius X College)

8 Langi Gleeson (Manly, Harbord Harlequins/ St Augustines)

9 Jake Gordon © (Sydney Uni/ Canterbury/ Blackwattle Bay)

10 (Randwick/ Clovelly Eagles/ Waverly College)

11 Nemani Nadolo (Western Sydney/ Souths Magpies/ St Joseph’s Nudgee College)