Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France
34 - 19
FT
Super Rugby Pacific

Highlanders bring in the young guns to face the Hurricanes

Finn Hurley and Sam Gilbert of the Highlanders celebrate during the round 12 Super Rugby Pacific match between Highlanders and Crusaders at Forsyth Barr Stadium, on May 11, 2024, in Dunedin, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

The Highlanders have promoted a number of young guns into the starting side to play the Hurricanes with a playoff spot assured.

ADVERTISEMENT

After a comprehensive 39-3 win over the Fijian Drua, the Highlanders secured quarter-final qualification. But they are unable to find a way into the top four, using the final regular season game to play some emerging talent.

Last year’s New Zealand U20 rep Finn Hurley has been given a start in the No 15 jersey, while current New Zealand U20 rep Matt Whaanga has been named to start at centre.

Video Spacer
Video Spacer

In the halves, James Arscott will start at halfback giving Folau Fakatava a rest, while Ajay Faleafaga will start again at first five after a composed showing last week.

Loose forward Hayden Michaels is in line for his Super Rugby debut. The 22-year-old has been named on the bench.

All Black loosehead Ethan de Groot will start in what will be his 50th appearance for the club and at this level. Henry Bell will start at hooker with Jack Taylor deputising on the bench. Jermaine Ainsley anchors down the front row at tighthead, with Saula Ma’u in the reserves.

Will Tucker and Fabian Holland will lock down in the second row, while Max Hicks moves to blindside. Co-captain Billy Harmon starts at openside next to No 8 Nikora Broughton.

ADVERTISEMENT

Highlanders team to play Hurricanes:

1. Ethan de Groot (CC)
2. Henry Bell
3. Jermaine Ainsley
4. Will Tucker
5. Fabian Holland
6. Max Hicks
7. Billy Harmon (CC)
8. Nikora Broughton
9. James Arscott
10. Ajay Faleafaga
11. Jona Nareki
12. Sam Gilbert
13. Matt Whaanga
14. Connor Garden-Bachop
15. Finn Hurley

RESERVES

16. Jack Taylor
17. Daniel Lienert-Brown
18. Saula Ma’u
19. Tom Sanders
20. Hayden Michaels*
21. Folau Fakatava
22. Jake Te Hiwi
23. Martín Bogado

*Potential Debut

ADVERTISEMENT

Boks Office | Episode 37 | Six Nations Round 4 Review

Cape Town | Leg 2 | Day 2 | HSBC Challenger Series 2025 | Full Day Replay

Gloucester-Hartpury vs Bristol Bears | PWR 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 36 | Six Nations Round 3 Review

Why did Scotland's Finn Russell take the crucial kick from the wrong place? | Whistle Watch

England A vs Ireland A | Full Match Replay

Kubota Spears vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | JRLO 2024/2025 | Full Match Replay

Watch now: Lomu - The Lost Tapes

Trending on RugbyPass

1

Six Nations report card: Each team graded from A to F

2

Lions selection: 3 winners and losers from each country

3

Rassie Erasmus explains so-called Willie Le Roux Bok selection snub

4

Mitchell hints England's much-maligned habit is a thing of the past

5

Gregor Townsend breaks silence on his Scotland future

6

Fissler Confidential: Paddy Jackson set for Premiership return?

7

Four England talking points after their Six Nations rout of Wales

8

What Steve Borthwick told Matt Sherratt following Wales debacle

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

LONG READ

Did innovative England emerge strongest from the Six Nations?

Steve Borthwick's deluge of back-rowers and clever use of the bench points the way forward for teams who cannot deploy a bruising 7:1 split.

LONG READ

Underpants, duvet covers and Louis Bielle-Biarrey

LBB as he's known in France is a superstar-in-waiting and his genius will help those longing for the return of Antoine Dupont bearable

LONG READ

Mick Cleary: 'England are back among the heavyweights.'

Steve Borthwick's men were much maligned at the start of the Six Nations but their renaissance is gathering momentum

Comments on RugbyPass

C
Cathy Anderson 9 minutes ago
Crusaders prepare for 'dangerous in all elements' Chiefs game-breaker

It all started when I was contacted by a woman named Clara, who introduced herself as a professional cryptocurrency broker based in Miami. She recommended a platform called Coinbit Net, claiming it was a reliable and profitable investment opportunity. The platform looked well-designed, and Clara’s pitch was convincing. After some consideration, I decided to invest a substantial amount of my savings. Initially, everything seemed fine. Small withdrawals were processed without issue, which built my confidence in the platform.However, things took a turn when I tried to withdraw a larger sum of my profits. To my shock, I found myself locked out of my Coinbit Net account. I attempted to reset my password, but nothing worked. Clara stopped responding to my emails, and the platform’s customer support was unresponsive. It quickly became clear that I had been scammed. My $43,000 was gone, and I felt utterly helpless.Desperate to recover my funds, I began searching for solutions online. That’s when I found Adrian Lamo Hacker. Their website featured success stories from individuals who had been in situations similar to mine and had successfully recovered their funds. Although I was skeptical at first, I decided to reach out for help.From the very first interaction with Adrian Lamo Hacker, I knew I was in good hands. Their team was professional and empathetic, taking the time to understand my case. They explained the process of recovering my funds in detail and reassured me that they had the experience and resources to handle such scams. This gave me hope that I might get my money back. Adrian Lamo Hacker worked tirelessly on my case, using their expertise to track down the fraudster and recover my funds. After weeks of consistent effort, they successfully retrieved the full $43,000 I had lost. I was beyond relieved and incredibly grateful for their dedication. Thanks to Adrian Lamo Hacker, I was able to recover my money and move forward. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation, I highly recommend reaching out to them via email: Adrianlamo@consultant.com/ WhatsApp: ‪+1 (909) 739‑0269‬/ Telegram: @ADRIANLAMOHACKERTECH. Their persistence and expertise were the key to my successful recovery.

8 Go to comments
P
Philou 40 minutes ago
Did innovative England emerge strongest from the Six Nations?

Just a thought on the 7-1: it obviously works best with multi-skilled forwards on the bench. Kwagga, for example, could slot into various positions in the backs thanks to his sevens background, as SK mentions. And you mention Deon Fourie, but in an ideal world the bench replacement at the WC would have been Malcolm Marx (an even better Swiss Army Knife). Looking at Rassie’s selections last year and for the camps this year, he’s as keen as you are not to end up with a Deon Fourie situation again, hence his investment in multi-dimensional players at hooker such as Jan-Hendrik Wessels (also a prop) and Johan Grobbelaar (vastly improving as a BD threat). And hooker is just one example of that progressive thinking. So, love it or hate it, the 7-1 is also evolving, in SA at least. It will be fascinating to see which evolution trumps which.

37 Go to comments
J
JPM 52 minutes ago
Six Nations report card: Each team graded from A to F

I agree that France have a B and not A. Mainly because of the England game that they lost due to themselves. But they still beat the record of tries and pretending that you have to play 5 perfect games to have a A (reference to the Scotland game) is unrealistic. Some time you need to play not such a fantastic rugby to win the game. Then SA would have a B or C.

England with a A is totally biased as even the English fans recognise it in their comments.

9 Go to comments
J
JB 57 minutes ago
Six Nations report card: Each team graded from A to F

All credit to England. It wasn’t their fault that France treated the ball like a bar of soap. My point was that France would probably have won that game by a large margin if they hadn’t made so many unforced errors.

9 Go to comments
J
JB 59 minutes ago
Six Nations report card: Each team graded from A to F

Did I mention France blaming a referee ?

9 Go to comments
D
Desmond Davidson 1 hour ago
What to watch in men’s rugby: Challenger kicks off, League One heats up

In Dec, 2021, I invested the sum of 19.78 BTC with a fake blockchain impostor I met online, all the money I had saved up since 2014 got stolen just within a Month, my whole life almost crumbled, to crown it all my FICO score was so bad that I couldn't even afford securing a loan to help my kids, but everything became better after I joined a forum online where I met people testifying about, a hacker who has been helping thousands of people all over the world. I decided to reach out to him via the following contact shared on the platform // jamesmckaywizard at gmail dot com or WhatsApp +31622647750., they responded and requested for all necessary information needed to aid my JOB, to my greatest surprise my bitcoin was recovered and my credit report fixed, FICO score was boosted to 783 across all 3-credit bureau's, all negative items cleared just within 8 days. I can't stop expressing my profound gratitude to this great team of hackers, I strongly recommend them to anyone in need.jamesmckaywizard at gmail dot com or WhatsApp +31657446248..

1 Go to comments
M
MichaelT4 1 hour ago
Six Nations report card: Each team graded from A to F

Last year England had 22 handling errors v Scotland and lost the game. I don’t remember any talk of England should have won. Should have is reserved for referee decisions that they get wrong, what actually happened on the pitch by the players cannot have a should have, they either did or didn’t do something.


The England Scotland game England were poor, but its also commonly said that the sign of a good team is winning when you play badly.


England could easily be sitting here with only 2 wins, no argument on that, but England did win both games, and deserved to.

9 Go to comments
D
Desmond Davidson 1 hour ago
Lion among 2 Wales stars ruled out of England clash with injuries

In Dec, 2021, I invested the sum of 19.78 BTC with a fake blockchain impostor I met online, all the money I had saved up since 2014 got stolen just within a Month, my whole life almost crumbled, to crown it all my FICO score was so bad that I couldn't even afford securing a loan to help my kids, but everything became better after I joined a forum online where I met people testifying about, a hacker who has been helping thousands of people all over the world. I decided to reach out to him via the following contact shared on the platform // jamesmckaywizard at gmail dot com or WhatsApp +31622647750., they responded and requested for all necessary information needed to aid my JOB, to my greatest surprise my bitcoin was recovered and my credit report fixed, FICO score was boosted to 783 across all 3-credit bureau's, all negative items cleared just within 8 days. I can't stop expressing my profound gratitude to this great team of hackers, I strongly recommend them to anyone in need.jamesmckaywizard at gmail dot com or WhatsApp +31657446248..

0 Go to comments
B
BP 1 hour ago
Mick Cleary: 'England are back among the heavyweights.'

Don’t bother with him mate…….always thinks he knows better.

9 Go to comments
T
Tom 1 hour ago
Six Nations report card: Each team graded from A to F

I don't think you can neglect the fact that England really should have lost both Scotland and France games. 99 times out of 100 France aren't dropping the ball over the line 3 or 4 times, that was a freakish run of good fortune. They played well in the second half against France and deserve a lot of credit for hanging in there but if we're judging their performances - they were very good in one half against France and quite poor for the whole Scotland game. The forwards were very impressive throughout the whole campaign but England need to find their attacking identity. If the Wales match was the blueprint sobeit but we need to see them own that performance and for it not to be a blip like last year's Ireland performance.

9 Go to comments
T
Tom 1 hour ago
Six Nations report card: Each team graded from A to F

An A is pushing it for England. I was pleasantly surprised by the Wales performance but the rest of the matches we were just OK. We did well to hang in there against France and Scotland but could/should have lost both games. You've given England an A but let's be brutally honest, if Fin Russell gets that last kick, you wouldn't be giving England an A. Our forwards deserved an A for the whole tournament. The backs and the attack in general struggled to find their feet for most of the tournament and our defense was iffy at times. Some fantastic work from a group of forwards who are turning into one of the best packs in the world but overall an identity and attacking shape was really lacking for most of the tournament and as well as England played, there will be tougher tests than Wales to judge them on.

9 Go to comments
T
The Late News 2 hours ago
How Rassie Erasmus and the Springboks are winning rugby's secret information war

Cheers mate.

71 Go to comments
R
RedWarriors 2 hours ago
Six Nations report card: Each team graded from A to F

France were under pressure all through that match. England played well enough to bring it down to a tight encounter and their plan for a late try worked. No referees for France to blame this time either.

9 Go to comments
M
MichaelT4 2 hours ago
Mick Cleary: 'England are back among the heavyweights.'

In fairness to Borthwick he has done a good job of blooding youngsters already himself in matches against the top tier teams. Fin Baxter starting against New Zealand last summer, Cunningham-South too. Fin Smith this year. The squad depth is impressive when you also consider Furbank, Underhill, IFW and George Martin can come back in.


If, and its a big if, Borthwicks plan is to create 30 odd test players then he is going about it quite well. Fingers crossed.

9 Go to comments
Z
ZamaZama 2 hours ago
Easterby hits back at France's conduct in the wake of Dupont injury

Once again the whining schoolboy wants to tell everyone how to behave. What a 💩

17 Go to comments
R
RedWarriors 2 hours ago
Easterby hits back at France's conduct in the wake of Dupont injury

He publicly demanded that the Irish players should be cited and declared their actions reprehensible. The obvious implication is that the referee has made grave errors and that the ‘culprits’ and ‘butchers’ of Dupont were not reprimanded. Of course he publicly stated that he didn’t blame the referee. Ofcourse his meaning was clear and the evidence is collective rage by the French public against the referee. This is dishonest and cowardice by Galthie. The two Irish players he attacked then received threats to their safety by French ‘supporters’.


We know that France have more suspensions for dangerous tackles than all other six nations combined under Galthie.


We know that he publicly lied about the ‘injustice’ of the Ntamack v Ringrose bans. He knew the difference, he acknowledged it in his evidence for Ntamack and he knew that French players had benefitted more than any others over both cases in previous years.


The last thing rugby needs is trial by media by mini Trumps who are only interested in cheating for their own country and disguising their own short comings.

17 Go to comments
M
MichaelT4 3 hours ago
Six Nations report card: Each team graded from A to F

I definitely watched the game - England did stun them by winning, no one expected that. Not Englands fault that France dropped the ball - figuratively and literally - and it was England who then outscored them and out scrummed them and battered their big forwards back several times. England arent given enough credit for that win. Game of the tournament. Ireland v France wasnt a game by the second half, it was one-way.


For the Scotland game they were lucky Russell missed his kicks, but Scotland should have had a red card for the head contact from the winger on Chessum. No arms, jumped up and first contact was with the head. Evens out on the luck front.


Not sure England deserve an A that this article gives them, should be reserved for the winner, but they won their games by scoring more points. If another team had the same tournament as England, they would be lauded for their character and grit.

9 Go to comments
J
JB 3 hours ago
Six Nations report card: Each team graded from A to F

Re England … “they stunned France …”

Really? Were we watching the same game? France left at least 3 tries begging, none of which were due to England’s defense - they should have been out of sight by half time.

For me, it was more France losing the game than England winning it.

France were stunned, yes, but by themselves

9 Go to comments
J
Jahmirwayle 3 hours ago
Crusaders rookie earns 'other than Dupont' praise from All Blacks star

It started with a gut-wrenching realization. I’d been duped. Months earlier, I’d poured $133,000 into what I thought was a golden opportunity a cryptocurrency investment platform promising astronomical returns. The website was sleek, the testimonials glowed, and the numbers in my account dashboard climbed steadily. I’d watched my Bitcoin grow, or so I thought, until the day I tried to withdraw it. That’s when the excuses began: “Processing delays,” “Additional verification required,” and finally, a demand for a hefty “release fee.” Then, silence. The platform vanished overnight, taking my money with it. I was left staring at a blank screen, my savings gone, and a bitter taste of shame in my mouth.I didn’t know where to turn. The police shrugged cybercrime was a black hole they couldn’t navigate. Friends offered sympathy but no solutions. I spent sleepless nights scouring forums, reading about others who’d lost everything to similar scams. That’s when I stumbled across a thread mentioning a group specializing in crypto recovery. They didn’t promise miracles, but they had a reputation for results. Desperate, I reached out.The first contact was a breath of fresh air. I sent an email explaining my situation dates, transactions, screenshots, everything I could scrape together. Within hours, I got a reply. No fluff, no false hope, just a clear request for more details and a promise to assess my case. I hesitated, wary of another scam, but something about their professionalism nudged me forward. I handed over my evidence: the wallet addresses I’d sent my Bitcoin to, the emails from the fake platform, even the login credentials I’d used before the site disappeared.The process kicked off fast. They explained that scammers often move funds through a web of wallets to obscure their tracks, but Bitcoin’s blockchain leaves a trail if you know how to follow it. That’s where their expertise came in. They had tools and know-how I couldn’t dream of, tracing the flow of my coins across the network. I didn’t understand the technical jargon hash rates, mixing services, cold wallets but I didn’t need to. They kept me in the loop with updates: “We’ve identified the initial transfer,” “The funds split here,” “We’re narrowing down the endpoints.” Hours passed , and I oscillated between hope and dread. Then came the breakthrough. They’d pinpointed where my Bitcoin had landed a cluster of wallets tied to the scammers. Some of it had been cashed out, but a chunk remained intact, sitting in a digital vault the crooks thought was untouchable. I didn’t ask too many questions about that part; I just wanted results. They pressured the right points, leveraging the blockchain evidence to freeze the wallets holding my funds before the scammers could liquidate them. Next morning, I woke up to an email that made my heart skip. “We’ve secured access to a portion of your assets.” Not all of it some had slipped through the cracks but $133,000 worth of Bitcoin, my original investment, was recoverable. They walked me through the final steps: setting up a secure wallet, verifying the transfer, watching the coins land. When I saw the balance tick up on my screen, I sat there, stunned. It was real. My money was back.The ordeal wasn’t painless. I’d lost time, sleep, and a bit of faith in humanity. But the team at Alpha Spy Nest Recovery turned a nightmare into a second chance.  I’ll never forget what they did. In a world full of thieves, they were the ones who fought to make things right. Contacts below: email: Alphaspynest@mail.com, WhatsApp: +14159714490‬, Telegram: https://t.me/Alphaspynest

8 Go to comments
T
TI 3 hours ago
Lions selection: 3 winners and losers from each country

Hugo Keenan played well in games where Ireland didn’t. I think he should be listed as a winner instead of Beirne, or Sheehan, who were always going to go.

2 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Was Dublin drubbing the end of an era or a bump in the road for Ireland? Was Dublin drubbing the end of an era or a bump in the road for Ireland?
Search