Aisle be Back: Hurricanes v Crusaders

Above: Wainuiomata midfielder Peter Umaga-Jensen set for his 50th cap for the Hurricanes tonight against the Crusaders in Wellington. 

• By Kevin McCarthy 

The Hurricanes have to win tonight.

Seventh is not where they need to be at the halfway mark, because this competition has very few match-ups that are sure things – which is great for fans of course.

A cursory glance at the stats show the Canes are marginally better on attack and defence than the Queensland Reds. Who sit well placed in third.

The shellacking of the Waratahs does flatter that comparison for the Canes.

But still the niggle is that this side is not living up to its potential – yet.

The Crusaders are hardly unbeatable this year, albeit vastly better.

If the Hurricanes are to prove to themselves they don’t deserve to be in the also rans, then tonight is the night, against the old foe.

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The 7-1 bench split debate won’t go away but World Rugby has concluded that the Springbok inspired strategy is not leading to more injuries.

That’s worth establishing, even though there is great irony in that the point of the bench originally would have been to cover for injuries.

So, the talk will shift onto whether it is in the spirit of the game- always dodgy ground, as cricket well knows. Is it in the spirit of the game – at which point the problem is defining what the spirit is.

You could argue the spirit of rugby, like any sport, is at its most raw, finding a way to win – hopefully, honestly. The bench issue allows a strategy to be pursued by sides blessed with powerful substitute forward beef. Sure, it’s not a foolproof strategy – should injury strike the backs.

I can’t think of a test where the strategy has come back to bite in that fashion, whereas it certainly has worked in producing victories.

I don’t think teams should be barred from trying this approach. The more the merrier when it comes to way to play the game.

But the bench used to be much smaller and only to be used for injury replacements, not tiredness in the Springbok front row. If World Rugby wants to curb the 7-1, then why not just rule that teams can make only 6 substitutes, or whatever number, from that 8.

Or drop the bench to six.

That would still allow heavily-tilted benches, but not to quite the same degree.

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And in that Fantasy rugby world, there are things called boosters – you can double a selected players points before a match.

I had a mediocre first match and decided to the hit the afterburner for the next game. And who else but to go to than Ardie Savea.

He delivered of course. Is there anything Ardie can’t do.

His move to Moana Pasifika has turned them from also rans to must-sees. For all the importance of tonight’s Cake Tin clash, the very real highlight could come at Eden Park.

Something you couldn’t have written 12 months ago.

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Peter Umaga-Jensen and Pouri Rakete-Stones are set to bring up 50 games for the Hurricanes tonight. Wainuiomata born, Peter Umaga-Jensen and Hawkes Bay’s, Pouri Rakete-Stones are both set for their 50th cap on Saturday night. Rakete-Stones made his debut against the Stormers in Cape Town in 2020, and Umaga-Jensen debuted against the Reds in Wellington in 2018. Umaga- Jensen went on to be capped by the All Blacks in 2020. Brad Shields will also make his 120th appearance to equal, Assistant Coach, Cory Jane in ninth place on the all-time list of Super Rugby matches played for the Hurricanes.

From the team naming media release this week: “The Hurricanes are back at Wellington for Round 9 vs the Crusaders and an amazing spectacle is planned for fans on and off the field. The Kubota “Light the Night” show will be a highlight with fireworks & a light show at halftime. There will be giveaways for fans meaning there is something to entertain everyone. The tight competition this season will see fans sitting on the edge of their seats in the Capital this Friday night.”

TEAM

1. Xavier Numia

1. Asafo Aumua (Co Captain)

1. Tyrel Lomax

1. Caleb Delany

1. Isaia Walker-Leawere

1. Brayden Iose

1. Du’Plessis Kirifi (Co Captain)

1. Peter Lakai

1. Cam Roigard

1. Riley Hohepa

1. Kini Naholo

1. Peter Umaga-Jensen (50th Cap)

1. Bailyn Sullivan

1. Ngatungane Punivai

1. Ruben Love

IMPACT

1. Raymond Tuputupu

1. Pouri Rakete-Stones (50th Cap)

1. Pasilio Tosi

1. Will Tucker

1. Brad Shields

1. Ereatara Enari

1. Callum Harkin

1. Fatafehi Fineanganofo

UNAVAILABLE DUE TO INJURY