Hurricanes 2021
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I'd pick:
1 Armstrong
2 Coles
3 Lomax
4 Fifita/Le'aupepe, or
5 Scrafton/Le'aupepe
6 Flanders/A Savea
7 Kirifi
8 A Savea/Flanders
9 Campbell
10 Hickey
11 Rayasi
12 Laumape
13 Umaga-Jensen
14 Visinia
15 Barrett
16 Aumua
17 Rakete-Stones
18 Fidow
19 Walker-Leawere
20 Evans
21 Taumateine
22 Garden-Bachop
23 Toala/Aso/GoosenIf Le'aupepe is available (I haven't seen any injury update about him), that might change more than the locking spots. Either IWL will miss out completely, or they shift Fifita to the 20 jersey and Flanders will miss out completely (because the coaches will pick Prinsep to start). I'd expect Le'aupepe to start with Scrafton.
My picks for 6, 7 and 8 are only to keep Kirifi in the starting line-up, but in reality I still think Ardie is more a 7 than an 8, which would mean 6 (yuck) Prinsep, 7 A Savea, 8 Flanders and 20 Kirifi, and Evans missing out. (I'd prefer Evans at 6, but we know that won't happen).
There obvioulsy is no rugby journo in Wellington anymore, so the media coverage of the Canes' preseason has been terrible.
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@KiwiMurph said in 2021 Hurricanes:
Hickey over Garden-Bachop? Surely not.
I am no JGB fan. But he upped his game as last season went along. He'll never have a ceiling any higher than a Jimmy Gopperth type (he's not there yet!!) but he will probably be the place holder until we can unearth another
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@canefan agree, JGB was very solid last year. Defs have him starting over Hickey.
@Stargazer I love your attempt to get as many HB players in there as possible but I can't see Visinia starting at 14 over Goosen. Goosen stood up massively with that performance against the Crusaders last year. Also, I think they will want a bit of consistency with selection from the back end of last year, so I doubt we will see too many new faces until injuries strike.
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@Canes4life It's not an attempt to get as many HB players in the squad. I think Visinia offers more than Goosen.
But don't worry, knowing the Canes coaches' previous selections, they will make sure they won't exceed their HB quota. We'll be lucky to have two players in the match day 23.
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@Stargazer he certainly didn’t offer more when playing for the Blues. Can’t see it happening tbh, Goosen deserves first crack at 14 with the way he finished the season last year.
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The last hurrah: Dane Coles eyes Super Rugby glory in Canes swansong
Dane Coles' is off contract at the conclusion of 2021 and the All Blacks hooker is determined to make his last year with the Hurricanes a winning one.
"Obviously my last year coming up with the Canes. I haven't completely ruled out staying on, but I've just got to appreciate it this year mate," Coles said on his future.
(...)
Coles had planned on retiring from professional rugby at the end of 2021 and the Covid-19 disrupted 2020 season left Coles reflecting on that move. If he does pull the pin he will step away from the game completely, with no desire to get into media, punditry or coaching.
He may become a firefighter and plans to play one last season for his beloved Paraparaumu Rugby Club (where he first played and grew up), before hanging up the boots for good.
This year though he has things to achieve with the Hurricanes and the All Blacks.
"I still love playing for New Zealand and still passionate about it. I'm still driven to get there and it all starts by performing for the Hurricanes."
And while retirement seems more likely, would the 2023 tournament be a bridge too far?
"Haha, never say never mate. Especially with Roger (Tuivasa-Sheck) coming over to rugby, it would be awesome to play with him. I'm not ruling out anything, I'm likely to keep going as long as I can until the coaches say that's enough, haha."
(...)
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@Nepia hard to argue if Evans can get back to his best form. I guess the Canes have the luxury of rotating a number of those guys and still having a very solid back row unit. We all know the coaches will select Prinsep though which is painful.
I’d just really love to see Flanders get a good trot at 8.
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@Stargazer been one of the Canes greatest players you would have to say. Never forget him playing through the pain in the 2016 final. Hopefully we have a great season and send him off in style.
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Agree with both your starting team. And unfortunately your coaches team too.
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@canefan said in 2021 Hurricanes:
@KiwiMurph said in 2021 Hurricanes:
Hickey over Garden-Bachop? Surely not.
I am no JGB fan. But he upped his game as last season went along. He'll never have a ceiling any higher than a Jimmy Gopperth type (he's not there yet!!) but he will probably be the place holder until we can unearth another
Gopperth was useless at super rugby level. was pleased to finally see him go. JGB isn't a world beater but at least he does the basics well. Including defending. He doesn't wave them through. And his line clearing is good as well (unlike Gopperth). And he has a VG partnership with Barrett.
