Northern Edition

Select Edition

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

Peter Umaga-Jensen in line for Super Rugby debut

Peter Umaga Jensen

Peter Umaga-Jensen has been named to start for the Hurricanes against the Reds on Friday night, ready to make a long-awaited Super Rugby debut.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Umaga-Jensen twins Thomas and Peter, nephews of Hurricanes and All Blacks legend Tana Umaga, burst onto the national scene playing 1st XV rugby for Scots College in Wellington where they made back-to-back national championship games in 2014 and 2015, sharing a title with Hamilton Boys and losing to Rotorua Boys in the other.

Their exploits for Scots College saw them both earn selection in the New Zealand schoolboys and they have been on a path to professional rugby since. Peter debuted for the Wellington Lions in 2016, playing eight games before the Hurricanes moved to secure one of their best local talents. He was signed for the 2017 season but didn’t find his way onto the field. With Ngani Laumape being forced to stand-down under mandatory All Black resting requirements, Umaga-Jensen gets his chance now.

Video Spacer

Head coach Chris Boyd expects the youngster to fit in nicely in a backline full of test experience.

“Pete’s a strong [ball] carrier. He’s got a very good passing game as well. He’s a good footballer,” he said.

“He’s got a near test-strength back line around him.

“There’s a massive amount of experience inside him with Beaudie, and also with Matt Proctor outside.”

ADVERTISEMENT

TJ Perenara has also been named to return to the starting lineup after coming off the bench against the Blues after over a month on the sidelines due to a knee injury. He will resume the captaincy duties after Brad Shields was named on the bench.

In other re-shuffling, Nehe Milner-Skudder moves to the wing in place of Julian Savea and Jordie Barrett moves from the bench to fullback.

Video Spacer

Hurricanes team to face the Reds

15 Jordie Barrett
14 Nehe Milner-Skudder
13 Matt Proctor
12 Peter Umaga-Jensen
11 Ben Lam
10 Beauden Barrett
9 TJ Perenara (c)
8 Blade Thomson
7 Ardie Savea
6 Reed Prinsep
5 Sam Lousi
4 Michael Fatialofa
3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen
2 Ricky Riccitelli
1 Toby Smith

Reserves

16 James O’Reilly
17 Chris Eves
18 Ben May
19 Vaea Fifita
20 Brad Shields
21 Jamie Booth
22 Jackson Garden-Bachop
23 Julian Savea

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 1 hour ago
'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

Even the 20/30 cappers did too I reckon.


IDK, I think Jordan has a limited life span in this side unless he can develop more to his game. Like you go on to mention, I think theyres more important things to worry about than the effectiveness of someone's extra strings, or secondary components to their game.


Bash backs are Fosters thing, and to a large part they've made it work. Theyre now one of the best teams in the world.


They boy's trucked it up a bit against Italy in the redzone, and against France, wasn't that effective without the right players probably.


Try and take a look at it this way. Dissapointed Havili and Blackadder were in the side? Havili despite clearly shown that he can't do what the team needs at 12 was kept on for the RWC. Back goes down and he brings in Blackadder who doesn't play. Refuses to drop Christie when he should and look who starts this season. Beauden Barret not playing well enough to keep his 10 jersey but we gotta keep him in the side. Weve only got one 8, we stuff developing another I'll just play Ardie every game.


This years team wasn't burdened overly with injuries but they were in every position Razor might have wanted to try and development, severely limiting options. I'm not defending Razor as there was also plenty of other opportunity to make up for it and he was a little gunshy, but I'm also not going to overly criticise him because he chose cohesion over a black slate.

How long are we going to keep blaming All Black failings on Ian Foster.

I think more and more people are on board with it being time to try alternatives, but then again, how would they have reacted to a loss against Italy? 😉

70 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Gatland defiant but Welsh rugby no nearer escape route with Springboks looming Gatland defiant but Welsh rugby no nearer escape route with Springboks looming
Search