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Hurricanes drop one All Blacks and bring in another for final Super Rugby Aotearoa clash

(Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

The Hurricanes have made just two changes to their starting side to face the Highlanders at Sky Stadium in Wellington on Friday.

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Former All Blacks wing Julian Savea returns to the right wing in place of Wes Goosen after missing out on last week’s last-gasp 26-24 defeat at the hands of Damian McKenzie and the Chiefs in Hamilton.

The only other alteration comes in the midfield, where one-test All Blacks centre Peter Umaga-Jensen has swapped onto the bench to hand impressive youngster Billy Proctor a starting berth in the No. 13 jersey.

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Why Jordie Barrett is still first choice fullback for the All Blacks | Aotearoa Rugby Pod

Umaga-Jensen is one of three new faces in the reserves, as loosehead prop Fraser Armstrong replaces Pouri Rakete-Stones, while wing Pepesana Patafilo is in line his Super Rugby Aotearoa debut as he slots in for lock Liam Mitchell on the pine.

Although the match acts as a dead-rubber for the Hurricanes, who can’t finish any higher than last place, head coach Jason Holland said he expects his side to step up to give their fans something to cheer about in their final domestic clash.

“It’s something we have talked about, to put on a performance our loyal fans and members will be really proud of, and that’s a key motivation for us,” he said in a statement.

“We have been really close in a number of games this season and we feel we are not far away. There’s no doubt the Highlanders will feel exactly the same and the way the two sides play, it’s going to be a match not short of opportunities given the positive intent we have.”

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The Hurricanes will have a bye next week as the Crusaders and Chiefs contest the Super Rugby Aotearoa final in Christchurch before Super Rugby Trans-Tasman kicks-off the following week.

Kick-off for Friday’s match is scheduled for 7:05pm NZT.

Hurricanes team to face Highlanders on Friday

1. Xavier Numia
2. Dane Coles (c)
3. Tyrel Lomax
4. James Blackwell
5. Scott Scrafton
6. Reed Prinsep
7. Du’Plessis Kirifi
8. Devan Flanders
9. Luke Campbell
10. Ruben Love
11. Salesi Rayasi
12. Ngani Laumape
13. Billy Proctor
14. Julian Savea
15. Jordie Barrett

Reserves:

16. Asafo Aumua
17. Fraser Armstrong
18. Alex Fidow
19. Isaia Walker-Leawere
20. Braydon Iose
21. Cam Roigard
22. Peter Umaga-Jensen
23. Pepesano Patafilo

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

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R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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