Super Rugby Pacific: Hurricanes and Moana Pasifika ring the changes for rescheduled match

David Skippers 11 Apr 2022 7:40 AM

Hurricanes head coach Jason Holland has named a much changed run-on side for his team’s Super Rugby Pacific encounter with Moana Pasifika in Wellington on Tuesday.

Up front, James O’Reilly will start at hooker alongside Tevita Mafileo (tighthead prop) and Alex Fidow (loosehead prop).

New captain

Blindside flanker Reed Prinsep captains the Hurricanes and he is joined in the back-row by fellow flanker Blake Gibson and Devan Flanders, who starts at number eight while Tom Parsons and Isaia Walker-Leawere pack down in the engine room.

In the backline, All Blacks scrum-half TJ Perenara and Aidan Morgan are the starting half-backs while Peter Umaga-Jensen and Bailyn Sullivan form the midfield combination. In the back three, full-back Ruben Love is joined by Wes Goosen and Salesi Rayasi, who are the starting wings.

Meanwhile, Moana Pasifika head coach Aaron Mauger has also rung the changes to his starting line-up after suffering a 37-17 defeat to the Highlanders in Dunedin in Round Eight of Super Rugby Pacific.

Former Wallabies fly-half Christian Lealiifano will skipper the side and he forms a half-back partnership with Jonathan Taumateine while Levi Aumua and Danny Toala are the starting centres. Toala famously scored the golden point try in extra time which secured an historic first victory for Moana Pasifika in the corresponding fixture between these teams in Round Five.

The rest of the backline comprises Tima Fainga’anuku and Neria Foma’i, who start on the wings, while Lolagi Visinia will run out as the starting full-back.

In the forwards, Henry Time-Stowers packs down at number eight while Alamanda Motuga and Alex McRobbie are the starting flankers with Samuel Slade and Mahonri Ngakuru selected as the two locks.

In the front-row, Joe ‘Apikotoa and Abraham Pole get the nod as the starting props and Samiuela Moli starts at hooker.

The teams:

Hurricanes: 15 Ruben Love, 14 Wes Goosen, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Salesi Rayasi, 10 Aidan Morgan, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Devan Flanders, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Reed Prinsep (c), 5 Tom Parsons, 4 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 3 Tevita Mafileo, 2 James O’Reilly, 1 Alex Fidow
Replacements: 16 Kianu Kereru-Symes, 17 Jared Proffit, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Justin Sangster, 20 Te Kamaka Howden, 21 Cam Roigard, 22 Teihorangi Walden, 23 Josh Moorby

Moana Pasifika: 15 Lolagi Visinia, 14 Tima Fainga’anuku, 13 Levi Aumua, 12 Danny Toala, 11 Neria Foma’i, 10 Christian Leali’ifano (c), 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Henry Time-Stowers, 7 Alamanda Motuga, 6 Alex McRobbie, 5 Samuel Slade, 4 Mahonri Ngakuru, 3 Joe ‘Apikotoa, 2 Samiuela Moli, 1 Abraham Pole
Replacements: 16 Ray Niuia, 17 Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 18 Taukiha’amea Koloamatangi, 19 Michael Curry, 20 Penitoa Finau, 21 Manu Paea, 22 Lincoln McClutchie, 23 Henry Taefu

Date: Tuesday, April 12
Venue: Sky Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 19:05 local (08:05 BST, 07:05 GMT)

Hurricanes