The Hurricanes team to face the Sharks on Friday has been named, with the home side benefiting from the return of two key forwards after injury lay-offs.
Prop Ben May and lock Jason Eaton have come into the starting lineup this week to strengthen the pack, while former Crusader Tim Bateman comes in at inside centre to partner captain Conrad Smith in a dangerous-looking midfield. Number 8 Victor Vito, withdrawn on the eve of the Cheetahs match, was named to start against the SHarks, but in breaking news this morning has once again been ruled out. Jack Lam will play at number 6 with Faifili Levave moving to 8.
The Canes have contracted Samoan test pivot Tusi Pisi and he’s named in the number 21 jersey, set to make his debut for the franchise if he makes it off the bench this week.
Hurricanes: 15 Andre Taylor, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (captain), 12 Tim Bateman, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Faifili Levave, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Jack Lam, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 James Broadhurst, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ben May.
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu’u, 17 Michael Bent, 18 Mark Reddish, 19 Jeremy Thrush, 20 Chris Eaton, 21 Tusi Pisi, 22 Charlie Ngatai.
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This is a dangerous backline. Especially 12,13,14. We need to make sure we do not give them too much space to work with.
This is going to be a tight one! I can see this game going one of three ways. 1: High scoring on both sides, with a last minute try by one of the teams to take the win. 2: Run away game by the Canes. 3: Run away game by the Sharks
@G West (Comment 2) :
The Sharks don’t have the killer instinct to ‘run away with a game’ unfortuntely.
@G West (Comment 2) : I also see it going one of three ways:
1) The Sharks will win
2) The Canes will win
3) It will be a draw
🙂
@robdylan (Comment 4) :
Thank you captain obvious 😉
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 5) : you can always count on me, mortal