Northern Edition

Select Edition

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

Why Highlanders clash is a ‘danger game’ for ‘European-style’ Hurricanes

Cam Roigard of the Hurricanes talks to his teammates during the round three Super Rugby Pacific match between Hurricanes and Blues at Sky Stadium, on March 09, 2024, in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Former Wallaby Morgan Turinui has described the ladder-leading Hurricanes as “a European-style team” with coach Clark Laidlaw utilising the team’s incredible depth once again.

ADVERTISEMENT

After raising some eyebrows with an incredible 14 changes to their starting 15 to play the Melbourne Rebels in Palmerston North last week, the Hurricanes have basically done it again.

All Blacks Tyrel Lomax and Jordie Barrett, joined by former England international and team captain Brad Shields, are the only players to have retained their spots in the run-on side for round six.

Related

Video Spacer
Video Spacer

The Hurricanes have welcomed back the likes of Asafo Aumua, Peter Lakai, Cam Roigard, Billy Proctor and Ruben Love as they look to extend their unbeaten run to six matches.

But as Morgan Turinui explained, making mass changes like this can come at a cost and that makes the Hurricanes’ trip south to Dunedin a “huge danger game” against the Highlanders.

“Can you run through the list of the changes for the Canes as well? Every single one. It’s crazy. It’s a European-style team with the amount of depth, two almost full teams,” Turinui said on Stan Sports’ The Call Up.

“The Highlanders have done a lot right this year. They’ve toughed it out when needed to. They probably haven’t finished off and has been as clinical as they wanted to be with lots of opportunities they create.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Everyone gets excited seeing (Jona) Nareki, seeing their back three play. They’re better than a spoiler team even though I want to talk about them being a ‘spoiler’ against the top sides.

“I think this is a huge danger game for the Hurricanes because at some stage, yes having depth is great, but changing your team week in, week out… it’s got to cost you in terms of rhythm of play and a bit of cohesion at some stage. Maybe it is this week.”

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins
0
Draws
0
Wins
5
Average Points scored
15
32
First try wins
80%
Home team wins
40%

Turinui is still backing the Hurricanes to get the job done on Saturday evening and the Australian isn’t alone with former Highlanders winger Jeff Wilson also tipping the men from the capital.

The Hurricanes have named a star-studded squad from numbers 1 to 23, with Pouri Rakete-Stones, Justin Sangster, Du’Plessis Kirifi and TJ Perenara among those on the bench.

ADVERTISEMENT

Wilson, who is a former All Black, joked about wanting to predict an upset win for the Highlanders but couldn’t look past the Hurricanes.

“Ultimately they would’ve planned for it at some point giving these guys an opportunity. It’s very interesting. The Blues did something very similar in round three,” Wilson added.

“I think, up until now, but to your point (gesturing to Turinui), how long they do that, how much that start tinkering with it, they’ll have to manage a few All Black rest week.

“This is a real challenge for the Highlanders but what we saw from the Highlanders is the fact that… they can be dangerous. If you don’t put them away and you go to sleep, and the Chiefs went to sleep on them, then what they’ll look at it is, ‘We’ve got nothing to lose in this gam’ because they are the underdog.

“The Highlanders lost some momentum against the Brumbies in Dunedin where they didn’t play Rhys Patchell… this is a big tough challenge for the Highlanders and we’ll have to wait and see if they can hang in long enough under the roof in Dunedin.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Watch now: Lomu - The Lost Tapes

New Zealand vs Australia: Behind the Scenes with the Black Ferns Sevens Team | HSBC SVNS Embedded | E06

O2 Inside Line: This Rose | Episode 1

Argentina v Australia | HSBC SVNS Perth 2025 | Men's Final Match Highlights

New Zealand v Australia | HSBC SVNS Perth 2025 | Women's Final Match Highlights

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

Boks Office | Episode 33 | Dupont's Toulouse Too Good

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

3 Comments
F
Forward pass 312 days ago

Sorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

R
RedWarrior 2 hours ago
The reason given by Steve Borthwick for latest England setback

So England are allowed to have a tsunami whinge fest about the ref but if an Irish fan points out that some decisions hurt Ireland also they are being petulant.

Honestly some English supporters are all politeness until they lose then the claws and fangs come out.

Ok here we go, not complaints just pointing out where England got away with roul play:

1: M Smiths headbutt on James Lowe that started the fracas with Stewart. If the ref spots that in time then thats a second yellow if not a straight red for Smith. Probably worth another 14 points with England gassed so a 41-10 final scoreline?

2: Itoje's several stamps on Hansens instep in a clear attempt to damage metatarsals. Straight red or if he is lucky, 10 in the bin.

3. Currys block on Baird to create a gap that Smith used to break the line. Penalty and possession for Ireland deep in England 22 with score at 0:0.

4: The correct decision for the Cunningham South dangerous tackle was a yellow. Lowe blew it by confronting him. The ref didn't give South or Lowe a yellow. The ref couldn't give Lowe a yellow anyway as the TMO would have informed him that m Smith alone started the previosu fracas and its not unreasonable for a player to react to being headbutted.


One last thing missing from English analysis

How is coming over to Dublin acting like you own the place, committing filthy cowardly off the ball cheap shots working out for you? I mean you clearly dont care that we think your team are a crowd of a$$holes but...... rugby wise, how is riling the Irish team to focus and get the best out of themselves against such unpleasant opposition working for you on the scoreboard?


Food for thought old boy!!!!

30 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Ireland are Six Nations favourites but issues are starting to mount Ireland are Six Nations favourites but issues are starting to mount
Search