Hurricanes’ big guns return as All Blacks star set to hit milestone
The Hurricanes' All Blacks prop Tyrel Lomax will play his 100th Super Rugby game against the Highlanders.
The Hurricanes will be bolstered by the return of several of their first choice players when they face the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday while Tyrel Lomax is set to play his 100th Super Rugby match.
The All Blacks tighthead prop made his debut for the Rebels in 2017 and represented the Melbourne-based outfit in 13 matches before moving to the Highlanders where he made 31 appearances in 2018 and 2019.
In 2020, Lomax joined the Hurricanes and on Saturday he is set to play his 56th game for the Wellington-based franchise.
Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw paid tribute to Lomax ahead of his milestone Super Rugby match.
High praise for Lomax
“We’re super proud of him. For Tyrel to play 100 games at prop, and he’s still a young man in prop terms, is unreal,” he said. “He’s really found his form over the last three weeks, and it will be a special day for him and his family.”
The Hurricanes are the only unbeaten team left in Super Rugby Pacific and Laidlaw has rung the changes to his matchday squad as they go in search of their sixth successive victory.
Amongst the forwards, Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Peter Lakai and Brayden Iose all return to the starting line-up, while All Blacks inside centre Jordie Barrett is the only survivor in the backline from the Round Five win over the Rebels as Cam Roigard, Brett Cameron, Kini Naholo, Billy Proctor, Josh Moorby and Ruben Love have all been named to start.
Laidlaw admitted that it was a “difficult” task to select his team for the derby against the Highlanders as numerous players are in fine form.
“Picking the side for this match was very hard for us,” he said.
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“The coaches spent a couple of days trying to settle on a (matchday) 23 trying to fit in players who put on really good performances against the Rebels and probably deserve to be in this week.
“But we obviously rested some of the boys last week who had played a lot of minutes and had been playing well, so the opportunity for them to come back in was there. There were also a couple of other boys who had niggles that have come right now. So, it’s been a bit of a selection headache, but long may it continue.”
Laidlaw said his side are aware of how dangerous the Highlanders can be after they suffered a defeat against their New Zealand rivals in a pre-season match earlier this year.
“They’re a tough prospect at home, and they’re physical,” he said.
“They showed against the Chiefs they only need a half chance, and they can get back in the game. We felt that in pre-season. They gave us a comprehensive touching up so we’re under no illusions around what to expect going down there. We need to be on the money this week in our preparation for what we know will be one hell of a tussle.”
Hurricanes team to face Highlanders
Hurricanes: 15 Ruben Love, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Brett Cameron, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Brad Shields (c), 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia
Replacements: 16 James O’Reilly, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Justin Sangster, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 23 Ngane Punivai
Date: Saturday, March 30
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dundin
Kick-off: 19:05 local (06:05 GMT)
Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Jordan Way (Australia), Jeremy Markey (Australia)
TMO: Ollie Kellet (Australia)
