The Hurricanes return home to SKY Stadium, following a bye, to take on the Waratahs at 7:05PM on Friday 28 March.
The opposition side currently sit in fourth place on the table and will want to showcase their Wallabies. It will be a good match up for the Hurricanes and it seems both teams will channel the great Australia vs New Zealand rivalry.
Asafo Aumua will co-captain the home team alongside Du’Plessis Kirifi for the first time this season. The forward pack will be powerful especially with Xavier Numia and Tyrel Lomax named in the starting 15 this week. Harry Godfrey has sustained an injury to his lower leg and will be out for approximately 6 weeks, Riley Hohepa slots into first-five to face the Waratahs.
NPC stand out player, Kade Banks will look to impress off the bench and Sevens star, Fatafehi Fineanganofo, will bring a thrill to SKY Stadium with his fast feet and speed. Coach Laidlaw can call on lots of experience in players like Isaia Walker-Leawere and Brad Shields if he needs to lift the intensity in the second half.
Head Coach Clark Laidlaw said “We have quite a consistent selection for the 23 this week. There is great energy in the group coming off a bye week. We are clear on a few areas that we need to improve after our first block of games and really looking forward to our second game at SKY Stadium for this season.”
“The Waratahs have had a good season so far and they look like they know what type of team they want to be. They have a big forward pack and they’re super direct. It’ll be a big challenge, but we’re excited for it and can’t wait to play this Friday.”
- Xavier Numia
- Asafo Aumua (Co Captain)
- Tyrel Lomax
- Caleb Delany
- Zach Gallagher
- Brayden Iose
- Du’Plessis Kirifi (Co Captain)
- Peter Lakai
- Cam Roigard
- Riley Hohepa
- Kini Naholo
- Peter Umaga-Jensen
- Bailyn Sullivan
- Ngatungane Punivai
- Ruben Love
IMPACT
16. Jacob Devery
17. Pouri Rakete-Stones
18. Tevita Mafileo
19. Isaia Walker-Leawere
20. Brad Shields
21. Jordi Viljoen
22. Fatafehi Fineanganofo
23. Kade Banks
UNAVAILABLE DUE TO INJURY
| PLAYER | INJURY | POTENTIAL RETURN |
| Brett Cameron | Knee | Season |
| Devan Flanders | Ankle | RD 12 |
| Tjay Clarke | Shoulder | RD 11 |
| Daniel Sinkinson | Hamstring | RD 8 |
| Riley Higgins | Hand | RD 8 |
| Harry Godfrey | Lower Leg | RD 11 |
| Billy Proctor | Achilles | TBC |
