Team News: Hurricanes vs Crusaders

Hurricanes Head Coach Jason Holland has named his side for Saturday’s final round-robin clash of the 2023 DHL Super Rugby Pacific competition against the Crusaders at Sky Stadium.  

The match is part of a doubleheader, with the New Zealand Under-20s taking on the Junior Wallabies in an exciting fixture at 4.30PM. 

Dane Coles returns to the starting XV at hooker, flanked by the powerful propping combination of Tevita Mafileo and Tyrel Lomax.  

James Blackwell starts at lock, alongside Wellington’s Caleb Delany, and Justin Sangster will provide impact off the bench. Flankers Devan Flanders and Du'Plessis Kirifi join Hurricanes captain, Ardie Savea, in a strong loose forward combination 

There are two changes to the backline from last week's game, with Brett Cameron set to start at first-five and Daniel Sinkinson to partner Kini Naholo on the wing. 

Off the bench Ruben Love makes a long-awaited return from injury, which will be his first run of the season. Bailyn Sullivan is also returning from injury. 

Hurricanes to take on the Crusaders:     
1. Tevita Mafileo         
2. Dane Coles         
3. Tyrel Lomax         
4. James Blackwell         
5. Caleb Delany
6. Devan Flanders         
7. Du’Plessis Kirifi         
8. Ardie Savea ©         
9. Cam Roigard         
10. Brett Cameron         
11. Kini Naholo         
12. Jordie Barrett         
13. Billy Proctor         
14. Daniel Sinkinson          
15. Josh Moorby         

Replacements:                  
16. Jacob Devery         
17. Pouri Rakete-Stones         
18. Owen Franks         
19. Justin Sangster         
20. Brayden Iose         
21. Jamie Booth         
22. Ruben Love         
23. Bailyn Sullivan

Crusaders

In the front row, the evergreen John Afoa returns for his 2nd Crusaders cap and 497th First Class game. Alongside him will be Codie Taylor and Tamaiti Williams, who is welcomed back into the matchday 23. 

Quinten Strange and Sam Whitelock start at lock with Tom Christie, captain Scott Barrett and Christian Lio-Willie making up the rest of the loose forwards. 

Mitch Drummond will start alongside his mate Richie Mo’unga. The centre pairing will be an All Blacks pair of Jack Goodhue and Brayden Ennor, with our outsides looking sharp in the form of the precocious Leicester Fainga’anuku, Dallas McLeod, and the newly re-signed Will Jordan. 

The bench holds Brodie McAlister, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, and Reuben O’Neill, with the latter coming off a successful Crusaders debut last weekend. Zach Gallagher and Sione Havili Talitui will likely make an appearance as the game ticks on. Finally, debutant Louie Chapman is joined by Chay Fihaki and the versatile Fergus Burke.