An exciting top four showdown looms this Saturday evening as the Hurricanes take on the Chiefs in their DHL Super Rugby Pacific (SRP) Round Eight match at Sky Stadium in Wellington.
Head Coach Clark Laidlaw has named a relatively unchanged side from the one that beat the Highlanders in Dunedin in Round Six, with the one notable omission being halfback Cam Roigard, who suffered a rupture to his left patella tendon in the Highlanders match and will miss the rest of the SRP season.
Hurricanes all-time top try scorer TJ Perenara slots into the starting halfback position, while fellow halfback Richard Judd moves onto the bench. Loose forward Devan Flanders also comes back into the matchday 23 and has been named on the bench.
Laidlaw said the Hurricanes are refreshed and energised having come off a bye week and will be looking to make it seven wins on the trot in 2024 against a strong Chiefs side who he believes will be their biggest test of the season thus far.
“It’s going to be a massive battle,” said Laidlaw.
“The Chiefs are last year’s finalists. They’re full of very good players and coaches. They’ve got threats right across the field when they get on the front foot. There’s the obvious threat around Damien Mackenzie and how well he’s been playing, so we’re expecting the hardest game of the year, so we’re preparing for it.
“But the team is feeling energised, refreshed, and ready for this. It was nice to have the time off to reflect on where we’re at, and now the team has come back in with real energy and a purpose to get back on the horse as quickly as possible. We’ve had two good days of training, so it’s been good.”
The match against the Chiefs will also be part of Charity Round, with Life Flight being the Hurricanes charity partner.
Hurricanes fans will get the chance to show their support for Life Flight by donating $2, $5, or $10 to Life Flight at checkout on all ticket sales this season.
At Charity Round, there will be a Life Flight Mini Airplane at the game, a DHL Box Seat Experience, Chemist Warehouse will giveaway bottles, and there will be Life Flight merchandise available, with all proceeds going to supporting Life Flight and the work they do for our community.
From 21 March – 12 May, Chemist Warehouse will also be supporting the five NZ Super Rugby club charity partners, including Life Flight.
Chemist Warehouse have 32 brands on board to help with donations. Every time a purchase is made on one of these participating products, five percent will be donated to these charities.
In a bonus, people will receive a free gift (while stocks last) for every $5.99 donation made.
Donating through Chemist Warehouse will boost donations and awareness to Life Flight’s cause and make a big difference across New Zealand.
Purchase your tickets before game day and get 2 for $60 (Adult Silver tickets), or 2 for $40 (Adult Bronze tickets). Available online only! Tickets can be purchased here.
Hurricanes SRP Round Eight team to play the Chiefs at Sky Stadium in Wellington. Kick-off: 7.05pm.
- Xavier Numia
- Asafo Aumua
- Tyrel Lomax
- Caleb Delany
- Isaia Walker-Leawere
- Brad Shields (Captain)
- Peter Lakai
- Brayden Iose
- TJ Perenara
- Brett Cameron
- Kini Naholo
- Jordie Barrett
- Billy Proctor
- Josh Moorby
- Ruben Love
REPLACEMENTS:
16. James O’Reilly
17. Pouri Rakete-Stones
18. Pasilio Tosi
19. Justin Sangster
20. Du’Plessis Kirifi
21. Devan Flanders
22. Richard Judd
23. Peter Umaga-Jensen