At a glance
Kiwi wing to start for Wales
George North was named at centre and the uncapped New Zealandborn Johnny McNicholl on the right wing for Wales against Italy in their Six Nations match tomorrow (NZ time) in Cardiff.
Another uncapped player, Saracens centre Nick Tompkins, was picked in the reserves yesterday.
Taulupe Faletau was recalled at No 8 after nearly two years out because of broken forearms and collarbone, and Tomos Williams will be the halfback with Rhys Webb as backup after Rugby World Cup starter Gareth Davies picked up an injury. Webb last played for Wales more than two years ago.
Also, flanker Josh Navidi, one of Wales’ best players in their World Cup semifinal run, could miss the first three rounds of the Six Nations after a hamstring injury. Another hamstring injury ended Navidi’s World Cup campaign in the quarterfinals.
North, normally on the right wing, is at centre for Jonathan Davies, who will miss the Six Nations after injuring his knee at
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny, Johnny McNicholl, George North, Hadleigh Parkes, Josh Adams, Dan Biggar, Tomos Williams; Taulupe Faletau, Justin Tipuric, Aaron Wainwright, Alun Wyn Jones (c), Jake Ball, Dillon Lewis, Ken Owens, Wyn Jones. Reserves: Ryan Elias, Rob Evans, Leon Brown, Cory Hill, Ross Moriarty, Rhys Webb, Jarrod Evans, Nick Tompkins.
Italy: Matteo Minozzi, Leonardo Sarto, Luca Morsi, Carlo Canna, Mattia Bellini, Tommaso Allan, Callum Braley; Braam Steyn, Sebastian Negri, Jake Polledri, Niccolo Cannone, Alessandro Zanni, Giosue Zilochhi, Luca Bigi (c), Andrea Lovotti. Reserves: Federico Zani, Danilo Fischetti, Marco Riccioni, Dean Budd, Marco Lazzaroni, Giovanni Licata, Guglielmo Palazzani, Jayden Hayward.
the World Cup. North has four previous starts at centre – the last in June, 2018 – in his 94-cap career, and has moved there during more recent matches.
‘‘And more recently for the Ospreys,’’ new Wales coach Wayne Pivac said. ‘‘We have been impressed with him there and he is excited by the opportunity.’’
McNicholl enjoyed a try-scoring start on the wing for Wales against the Barbarians last November in a non-cap match, and Pivac was impressed enough to give the Scarlets flyer a full debut against Italy.
Tompkins has been one of the form centres of the English Premiership. He qualified for Wales through his grandmother Enid.
Wales have only five changes from the side which narrowly lost to eventual champions South Africa in the World Cup semifinals in Japan in October.
New Italy coach Franco Smith handed lock Niccolo Cannone his debut. The 21-year-old Cannone will partner Treviso clubmate Alessandro Zanni, who will be making his 118th appearance for the Azzurri.
Uncapped Zebre prop Danilo Fischetti is in the reserves, and Leonardo Sarto is back on the right wing, more than two years after he last played for Italy.
Smith also opted for dual playmakers, pairing Tommaso Allan with Carlo Canna at second five-eighth.
What: Super Rugby, round one
Where and when: Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa, tomorrow 2.05am (NZ time)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa).
TAB: Stormers $1.69, Hurricanes $2.18
Hurricanes: Jordie Barrett, Wes Goosen, Billy Proctor, Ngani Laumape, Ben Lam, Fletcher Smith, TJ Perenara (c), Gareth Evans, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Reed Prinsep, Scott Scrafton, James Blackwell, Tyrel Lomax, Ricky Riccitelli, Fraser Armstrong. Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Tevita Mafileo, Vaea Fifita, Devan Flanders, Jamie Booth, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Vince Aso.
Stormers: Dillyn Leyds, Sergeal Petersen, Ruhan Nel, Jamie Roberts, Seabelo Senatla, Damian Willemse, Herschel Jantjies, Siya Kolisi (c), Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jaco Coetzee, Chris van Zyl, Salmaan Moerat, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff. Reserves: Scarra Ntubeni, Ali Vermaak, Wilco Louw, David Meihuizen, Ernst van Rhyn, Johan du Toit, Godlen Masimla, Rikus Pretorius.
Hurricanes captain TJ Perenara said it might be a bit difficult for some people to notice any difference during the game.
‘‘Billy is a lot like his brother. He’s very, very good defensively. He understands defensive reads, offensive shifts, makes good calls defensively.
‘‘Then offensively, he’s a big, strong kid who you put him in half a gap, he’ll take it. He’s got all the attributes to be a very good player.’’
Because Proctor signed a fiveyear contract as a 19-year-old in September 2018 it feels like he has been around a lot longer than he has. In fact, he’s had as many birthdays as Super Rugby caps since then: one.
Injury played a part in his 2019 season, but the lack of experience will be tested against the Stormers tomorrow. They boast 94-cap Welsh midfielder Jamie Roberts at 12 and experienced campaigner Ruhan Nel at 13. Perenara said having All Black Ngani Laumape inside him at second-five would be a big help.
‘‘Playing outside Ngani is only going to be good for him.
‘‘Ngani creates a lot of attention with the way that he plays the game, so that will help Billy. And Ngani’s experience at this level, having played in South Africa against these teams, the communication those guys will have throughout the week will help Billy.’’
The lack of backline experience continues with first-five Fletcher
Smith, but halfback Perenara was glowing in his praise of the 24-yearold. ‘‘Fletcher is up there with some of the best skills that I have seen in a player in a long time.
‘‘His catch-pass is second-tonone, he kicks off both feet well, and his ability to drive our team around is very good.’’ Another of Smith’s positive attributes is his goalkicking, with about 90 per cent accuracy at Mitre 10 Cup level.
Hurricanes coach Jason Holland said he would share the goalkicking duties with Jordie Barrett, much like Beauden Barrett did last season, with Jordie Barrett taking the long-range attempts at goal.
In all likelihood, Smith and Proctor might get the odd defensive test from a rampaging Roberts, but could spend a lot of time watching rolling mauls and pick-and-gos.
The Stormers have made no secret of their desire to continue their gameplan from last season, which saw them follow a pattern of winning scrum penalties, kicking to the corner and forming rolling mauls.
And why wouldn’t you do that when you’ve got five World Cupwinning Springboks – Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi and Steven Kitshoff – in your pack.
The gameplan was almost good enough for them to get a win in Wellington before they eventually lost 34-28 last season and Holland expected a similarly dour battle.
‘‘Their coach and some of their players have been talking about that all week around their intention for the whole season, not just us, to bully teams and be nice and direct and take us on up front.
‘‘We know that’s what they’re going to do. We need to meet that, but also put the Hurricanes’ game to them.
‘‘We want to play with a little bit of tempo, but we won’t shy away from the physical side of the game.’’