Hurricanes come to town for doubleheader and good vibes
Hurricanes fever has hit Palmerston North, with the city set to host the men’s and women’s teams tomorrow.
The Hurricanes Poua woman play Chiefs Manawa at 4.35pm and the Hurricanes men play the Melbourne Rebels at 7.05pm.
While in Palmerston North, the men’s team held an open training session and school visits, including to Te Kura O Takaro yesterday.
The men’s team will be looking to build on the momentum of their start to the season, having gone unbeaten through the first four rounds.
They beat the Crusaders 14-10 last week, but have made a host of changes to play the Rebels, resting some players who have injury niggles.
Captain Brad Shields and All Blacks back Jordie Barrett return to the side.
Ngane Punivai will make his Hurricanes debut at centre, while halfback Richard
Judd, first-five Aidan Morgan and outside backs Daniel Sinkinson and Harry Godfrey will also make their first appearances for the year.
Manawatū loose forward Brayden Iose, who was named on the bench, was the only Manawatū player named in the matchday 23.
The Rebels have won two of their four games, but went down 53-26 to the Reds last week.
Meanwhile, Poua coach Ngatai Walker named an unchanged starting XV from the team that lost 52-5 to the Blues last week. The Poua have won one from three games.
Regular captain Jackie Patea-Fereti is unavailable through injury so Layla Sae and Iritana Hohaia remain as co-captains.
Hooker Te Uarangi Olsen-Baker and outside back Fia Laikong are set to make their debuts from the bench.
Walker said the team had prepared well this week, including a thorough review of what they could improve after the Blues loss. “This week we’ve been looking at improving our execution at set piece and making sure we get some things right like making sure there is support when we make our line breaks .... We’re hoping to right some wrongs from last week in this game.”
He said they were pumped to play in Manawatū, with the squad members from Manawatū keen to play in front of family and home fans.
In the Hurricanes team from Manawatū are locks Rachael Rakatau and Kahurangi Sturmey, loose forwards Elinor-Plum King, Rhiarna Ferris and Sae. On the bench is lock Sam Taylor, Olsen-Baker and halfback Paige Lush.