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Former Blues star links up with Hurricanes as great redemption arc continues

02 Dec 2020

Lolagi Visinia. (Original photo by Kerry Marshall/Getty Images)

While the Hurricanes had already revealed many of their key signings for next year ahead of the official squad release, they’ve still managed to slip in a few surprises announcements today.

27-year-old Lolagi Visinia was, as far as anyone could tell, destined to play for the All Blacks from a young age. That never quite eventuated, with the rangey outside back heading offshore at the end of 2016. Visinia returned to New Zealand earlier this year, however, and instantly made an impact for Mitre 10 Cup Championship winners Hawke’s Bay.

Now, Visinia’s professional career is officially back on track, with the former Auckland earning a call-up to the Hurricanes for 2020.

The Breakdown panel discuss this week’s Healthspan Elite Fan’s Voice poll put to RugbyPass fans on whether they were happy with how new players were brought into the squad in 2020.

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The Breakdown panel discuss this week’s Healthspan Elite Fan’s Voice poll put to RugbyPass fans on whether they were happy with how new players were brought into the squad in 2020.

Visinia will join fellow pace-setters Julian Savea, Wes Goosen and Salesi Rayasi in a stacked outside backs contingent that also includes Jordie Barrett and Super Rugby debutant Pepesana Patafilo.

Rayasi was arguably the most dangerous player throughout the Mitre 10 Cup in 2020, and completed the season with 14 tries to his name. To put that in context, the competition’s next top try-scorer, hooker Ash Dixon, nabbed just nine. Rayasi will take the field for Moana Pasifika on Saturday when they take on the Maori All Blacks.

All Blacks half-centurion Savea, meanwhile, also returned to NZ earlier this year. Despite indicating that his preference was to play in the midfield, the 2015 World Cup title winner spent much of the provincial season on the wing and will likely be employed in a similar fashion by the Hurricanes.

Wellington’s Patafilo and Ruben Love, Manawatu’s Brayden Iose, and Bay of Plenty’s Luke Campbell are the only players in the squad who have yet to play Super Rugby.

Campbell has been brought in to compensate for TJ Perenara’s sabbatical in Japan, which will see the All Black miss the entire Super Rugby season. Jonathan Taumateine and Jamie Booth are the team’s other two halfbacks, though Booth will be sidelined for at least the first half of the season after being stretchered off the field during Manawatu’s provincial campaign.

Taumateine will likely have first shot at the No. 9 jersey and will almost certainly combine with Wellington’s Jackson Garden-Bachop in the halves.

Simon Hickey is the other experienced playmaking option in the squad while Love is a prospect for the future. Waikato’s Fletcher Smith has surprisingly missed out altogether despite receiving nominations for NZ provincial player of the year for 2018 and 2019 after spending the past two seasons with the Hurricanes but failing to nail down a starting role.

The Hurricanes have bolstered their playing stocks leading into the 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby Trans-Tasman campaign. #SuperRugbyAotearoa #SuperRugbyTransTasman #SuperRugby #Hurricanes https://t.co/fX8GSYXOcC
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 20, 2020

The loose forwards will again be an area of strength for the 2016 Super Rugby champions, with Ardie Savea, Du’Plessis Kirifi and Devan Flanders likely to form a blockbusting combination.

The Hurricanes kick off their campaign against the Blues in late February.

Hurricanes squad for 2021:

Forwards
Tevita Mafileo
Xavier Numia
Tyrel Lomax
Pouri Rakete-Stones
Alex Fidow
Fraser Armstrong
Dane Coles
Ricky Riccitelli
Asafo Aumua
Isaia Walker-Leawere
Scott Scrafton
Kane Leaupepe
James Blackwell
Liam Mitchell
Ardie Savea
Brayden Iose
Devan Flanders
Du’Plessis Kirifi
Vaea Fifita
Reed Prinsep
Gareth Evans

Backs
Luke Campbell
Jamie Booth
Jonathan Taumateine
Simon Hickey
Jackson Garden-Bachop
Ruben Love
Peter Umaga-Jensen
Ngani Laumape
Vince Aso
Billy Proctor
Danny Toala
Wes Goosen
Jordie Barrett
Salesi Rayasi
Julian Savea
Lolagi Visinia
Pepesana Patafilo

Listen to the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod below:

Boks Office | Episode 41 | Investec Champions Cup final preview

Hong Kong China vs Kazakhstan | Asia Rugby Emirates Women's Championship | Match Highlights

Kubota Spears vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Quarter Final Replay

Australia vs USA | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

New Zealand vs Canada | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

Argentina vs Australia | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 11 days ago

Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments

James 11 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

37 Go to comments

dw 11 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

37 Go to comments

dw 11 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments

dw 11 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.

Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 11 days ago

'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

91 Go to comments

JM 11 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 11 days ago

'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

4 Go to comments

OJohn 11 days ago

Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

0 Go to comments

Carlos 11 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments

Carlos 11 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments

Solenn Bonnet 11 days ago

Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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0 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 11 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 11 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 11 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.

Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

37 Go to comments

BC 11 days ago

Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

1 Go to comments

Otagoman II 11 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

37 Go to comments

NB 11 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍