Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Brayden Iose to force 'massive decisions' from Hurricanes coaches

Brayden Iose. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

Jason Holland has some “massive decisions” to make ahead of next weekend’s tussle with the Highlanders in Wellington.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Hurricanes will return to New Zealand’s capital following two matches in Dunedin – a win and a loss – and some strong performances in the latter game, in particular, could have a big influence on how Holland’s charges line up against the Highlanders.

The Hurricanes’ bench added significant impetus in the late stages of their matches against the Crusaders and Blues, helping the side to score a come-from-behind 33-32 win over the Aucklanders on Saturday evening.

Video Spacer

Pablo Matera explains his move to the Crusaders.

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Video Spacer

      Pablo Matera explains his move to the Crusaders.

      The likes of Ruben Love, Richard Judd, Ben May and Devan Flanders all contributed to the comeback but it was loose forward Brayden Iose who was perhaps the most impressive ‘finisher’, with the 23-year-old running amok like an bucking bronco late in the piece.

      Iose helped to generate plenty of momentum on attack for the Hurricanes – something they’d struggled to do earlier in the game. It was another big innings from the loosie after also standing out against the Crusaders in Round 1 and Holland will now have to make a call whether the seemingly specialist impact player deserves a go in the run-on side. With the likes of Ardie Savea, Du’Plessis Kirifi and Devan Flanders also all impressing over the first two weeks, that won’t be an easy task for Holland and his assistants.

      Related

      “He’s been outstanding for the last two weeks off the bench,” Holland said of Iose. “He provides that pace and power. He’s an outstanding bench player at the moment for us. He’s putting massive pressure on our backrow. We’ve got some massive decisions [to make].

      “I thought Devan Flanders, for the 11 minutes he was on, was outstanding as well. Yeah, both of them are going really well. Obviously Ards is there and playing well and Reedo [Reed Prinsep] got through a power of work and Blake [Gibson] has got through the first 45 minutes for a year or so since he played footy and we’ve got Dupes and TK Howden at home so we’ve got some really good choices there, we’ve just got to figure out what the best approach is.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      “Brayden came on and changed the game a little bit today with his carries so we’ll find out the best way to win a game of footy.”

      It wasn’t solely the bench that impressed, however, with left winger Salesi Rayasi bagging a hat-trick in his first game of the season – not that Holland noticed.

      “Did he [get three tries]? I thought he only got two,” Holland said. “We know what he can do with the ball, we know he’s quick. It was a good outing for him.

      “He’ll just keep working away and he’ll keep getting better and better at the small parts of the game and get him finishing three tries every week and everyone’s happy.”

      ADVERTISEMENT

      Rayasi is competing with the likes of Wes Goosen, Julian Savea and Baily Sullivan for a spot on the wing, with all three of those players also showing off their worth against the Blues.

      With a long season ahead, that entire group will undoubtedly all get ample opportunities throughout the Hurricanes’ campaign – but Rayasi may well have one hand on a starting spot after his excellent work on attack.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      Boks Office | Episode 35 | Six Nations Round 2 Review

      O2 Inside Line: This Rose | Episode 3 | France Week

      Second round of the Men's Six Nations | Whistle Watch

      Harlequins vs Bristol Bears | PWR 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

      Yokohama Canon Eagles vs Saitama Wildknights | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

      Watch now: Lomu - The Lost Tapes

      The Dupont Ploy: How France went from underdogs to Olympic gods | The Report

      Former rugby player is truly an NFL superstar | Walk the Talk | Jordan Mailata

      Trending on RugbyPass

      Comments

      1 Comment
      E
      Euan 1086 days ago

      Send the Bus to the bus-stop.

      Join free and tell us what you really think!

      Sign up for free
      ADVERTISEMENT

      Latest Features

      Comments on RugbyPass

      J
      JW 58 minutes ago
      'He wants players to be able to play four positions': Former All Black critiques Robertson's strategy

      Sorta “rent a comment” kinda guy really.

      Haha yep another great way to say it.


      Look I actually agree with the guy, he might have heard something said and seeing as he loves to make a spotlight, and be in it, he decided/mistakenly came up with this headline grabber?


      Despite what I already said was the actual idea for the topic he mistook, I think, at this particular moment, there are plenty of situations people should be sticking. I’m OK with the Dmac situation if its just until Stevenson and Etene start sharing the Fullback job. I’m OK with Barrett being left at 15 and Perofeta being given the job to displace Plummer (easy task for him imo) as the first five (with the ABs in mind). But pretty much all the others, like your suggestions, they are far off optimal understanding of their core positions so should be trying to specialize for a couple of years. Think Ioane and Proctor, one or the other, not trying to get both on. Barrett or ALB/Higgins/Lam, Sititi and Sotutu at 8, Finau/Haig/all the 6’s injured or gone etc.


      From Razors perspective, of a coach on the limit of what can be achieved, he wants to a balance of core and niche. Having players able to cover situations when your down a man, through card or because he’s lying on the ground, you want your players to be adaptable. Does this mean he’d like them to learn that adaptable by playing other positions fully, like for a whole game in another position, or just as in terms of their skills sets. Because if you apply what I suggested Razor was referring to as “four” positions, wingers can be very useful in other roles like a carrying 12, or a pilferring 7, let alone benefit from a tight relationship and understand of what a 13 is trying to do for them.


      This concept applies to pretty much every single position. Take your(my) Lock example, theyre now lifters, they can (size and shape allowing) ruck and maul like the front row, run like a back and offload like a basketballer. Many recent young locks of of this rangy razzle dazle variety.


      Personally I really like and think that adding versatility is inevitable with the amount of training and really early highperformance skill/athleticism work they get through. Max Hicks looked interesting as a 2m beanpole playing openside in France, PSDT showing the frame is certainly viable (as apposed to the typical 6 playing lock), opensides really need a running/carry side to their play these days and could easily play in midfield. Halfbacks are starting to play standing up straight rather than low to the ground, how cool would it have been if the Hurricanes had decided to retain Preston by switching Roigard to 10 for this season? Like Leroy Carter they’re already good wingers with the right pace. I do really see the back three players staying were they are for the most part though, unless theyre special players like Dmac.

      33 Go to comments
      LONG READ
      LONG READ Jack Conan: A Lion longer in the tooth, but bearing his claws Jack Conan: A Lion longer in the tooth, but bearing his claws
      Search