Unbeaten Canes welcome selection headache
The Hurricanes coaches returned to work this morning with a headache after a big Friday night out in Palmerston North.
Which 15 men deserve to start against the Highlanders in Dunedin this Saturday?
Clark Laidlaw and his assistants have a major selection dilemma on their hands after they rested most of their frontline players and still produced one of their biggest wins of the season against Melbourne Rebels.
Captain Brad Shields, halfback TJ Perenara, first-five Aidan Morgan, wing Salesi Rayasi and fullback Harry Godfrey all scored tries in a comprehensive 54-28 victory after being handed their first starts of the season.
Fringe players James O’Reilly, Ngane Punivai and Dan Sinkinson also played vital roles as the Hurricanes racked up win No 5 to stay perfect in 2024.
They each got their opportunity with regulars such as Peter Lakai, Brett Cameron, Cam Roigard, Kini Naholo and Billy Proctor given the night off and Asafo Aumua, Brayden Iose and Josh Moorby moved to the bench.
The Hurricanes raced out to an early 33-0 lead after scoring four tries inside the space of 11 first-half minutes.
And although the game evened up in the second half, it was exactly what the coaches were hoping for when they overhauled their starting 15 and gave other players a crack.
Shields led from the front and got through plenty of work during a full 80-minute hit-out after recovering from a foot injury that kept him out of the first four rounds.
As captain, he should keep his spot at blindside flanker.
But the coaches will have plenty to ponder in the backline. Perenara looked back to his best, bagging try No 59 to move level with Doug Howlett in third on the all-time try-scorers list.
Morgan steered the team well from firstfive, while Rayasi and Godfrey threatened whenever they touched the ball.
They set up the try of the night when Godfrey leapt for a high ball, bumped off an opposition player and released Rayasi down the left wing.
The problem the Hurricanes coaches face now is deciding which players to retain for the Highlanders and who to bring back in.
“We were hoping a few guys would come out and say ‘hey, I’m still here’, and a few of those guys did that and put their hand up, which is exactly what you want,” assistant coach Cory Jane said.
Godfrey, 21, is one of the youngest players in the Hurricanes squad, but he got his opportunity, with Ruben Love nursing a minor ankle injury.
Already out of his moon boot, Jane said the Hurricanes were hopeful Love would come back into contention to play the Highlanders.
However, he said the coaches would have no hesitation picking Godfrey if Love was not ready to start again.
Godfrey had not featured at all in the first four rounds.
“Harry is such a good player and all he needs is time to play but if he keeps playing like he did against the Rebels [he will get his opportunities],” Jane added.
“I don’t think I’ve seen too many fullbacks or first-fives that are as tough as him because he runs straight at the biggest guys.He’s such a competitor.
“Even though Rubes has been our starting fullback, this brings competition to the boys and they know there’s guys trying to chase them.”
It’s that competition for places which has the Hurricanes flying high at the top of the table, unbeaten after the first five rounds.
“We were hoping a few guys would come out and say ‘hey, I’m still here’, and a few of those guys did that and put their hand up, which is exactly what you want.”
Hurricanes assistant coach Cory Jane