Hurricanes Without Barrett Brings 11 Changes To Western Force

Hurricanes manager Jason Holland has rotated his squad heavily ahead of the Super Rugby Pacific quarter-finals, making 11 changes to the side which lost 45-22 to the Rebels last weekend.
The Hurricanes travel to Perth to take on Western Force on Saturday and will be without talisman Jordie Barrett, who will serve his final week off from the All Blacks of the season, while captain Ardie Savea returns via the bench.
Wellingtonians will also have All Blacks hookers Dane Coles and Asafo Aumua on deck this week after the two retired late from last week’s win.
Predicting the Super Rugby Pacific play-offs.
Up front, Coles will combine with Pouri Rakete-Stones and Owen Franks in a new line while James Blackwell and Justin Sangster will pair up at second.
Du’Plessis Kirifi is the only player to retain his place in the trio of loose forwards with 2022 debutant Caleb Delany taking over on the blind flank of Blake Gibson, who falls to the bench, and Brayden Iose making his first appearance on returning from injury after last playing in the Hurricanes’ loss to Moana Pasifika in late March.
TJ Perenara retains his half-back spot and will once again captain the team as Aidan Morgan earns his fourth start in as many weeks in the No.10 shirt.
In midfield, Billy Proctor will fill in Barrett’s absent shirt and partner Bailyn Sullivan – who will be making his seventh start in eight matches.
The outside backs have received a complete refresh for this weekend, with Josh Moorby (who was a late left-wing call-up for Salesi Rayasi last weekend) taking over from Ruben Love at full-back, with Rayasi recovering his place in the No.11 jersey and Wes Goosen named on the right wing.
Aumua, Xavier Numia, Tevita Mafileo, Blake Gibson and Savea will cover the forwards from the bench while Jamie Booth, Jackson Garden-Bachop and Teihorangi Walden will do the same for the backs, with Walden making his first appearance since the rematch with Moana Pasifika. in April.
“We are delighted to see Brayden return to number 8 from injury as he was playing great rugby before he broke his wrist. Ardie and Blake will be huge in the back half of the game for us,” Holland said.
“In the back, Sullivan, Goosen, Rayasi and Booth have all recovered from illness and will be desperate to seize their opportunities on Saturday. We are confident they will do a good job,” Holland said.
“It’s been a crazy few weeks with the flu at our camp and we have boys who couldn’t travel. We built excellent depth and have an exciting 23 for Saturday night in Perth.
Saturday’s game between the Hurricanes and Western Force is scheduled to start at 8:00 p.m. AWST (midnight New Zealand) on Saturday night and is the fourth game in a quadruple header, which begins with the Drua taking on the Chiefs in Fiji. .
If the Drua stumbles the Chiefs, the Hurricanes could climb to fourth overall with a victory over the Force, earning themselves a quarter-final on home soil. A defeat, on the other hand, could drop the Hurricanes to sixth place if the Waratahs or Reds manage to upset the Blues or Crusaders in the final round of the Super Rugby Pacific regular season for 2022.
The Hurricanes team to face the Western Force:
1. Pouri Rakete-Stones
2. Danish Coles
3.Owen Franks
4.James Blackwell
5. Justin Sangster
6. Caleb Delany
7. Du’Plessis Kirifi
8. Brayden Iose
9. TJ Perenara©
10. Aidan Morgan
11. Salesi Rayasi
12. Billy Overseer
13. Bailyn Sullivan
14. Wes Goosen
15. Josh Moorby
SUBSTITUTES:
16. Asafo Aumua
17. Xavier Numia
18. Tevita Mafileo
19. Blake Gibson
20. Ardie Savea
21. Jamie Booth
22. Jackson Garden-Bacho
23. Teihorangi Walden
Unavailable for selection: Devan Flanders, Reed Prinsep, Pepesana Patafilo, Dominic Bird, Ruben Love, Alex Fidow, Tyrel Lomax, Isaia Walker-Leawere, TK Howden, Tyler Laubscher, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Jordie Barrett
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