Aisle be Back: Hurricanes v Highlanders in Dunedin

• By Kevin McCarthy 

Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. Or tops the Super Rugby Pacific table – with a game in hand.

Wise heads, and myself as well, are treating tonight’s excursion by the Hurricanes to the Highlanders as the first real test of their title credentials. Especially with those teams nipping at their heels.

Fair enough, although the Highlanders themselves are in that uncomfortable zone of turning a corner, or falling off the kerb.

On the other hand, perhaps we should reject that concept, and enjoy the ride while it lasts. To quote the old, and still the best, marketing phrase – expect the unexpected.

Certainly, as the Hurricanes so often do, they flatter with the amount of firepower on display when they gain ascendancy and begin to dismantle the opposition.

As newly-reappointed coach Clark Laidlaw said this week, the identity of the team and the way it wants to play the game is something he personally aligns with.

In short, Hurricanes are going to be Hurricanes. Indeed, no coach has ever managed to change the DNA of the side – which of course is attack, always attack.

And oh how that has entertained us – and punished us – in equal parts.

Now, would you trade that for a more conservative hard-nosed, win at any cost approach – if indeed that was achievable.

Perhaps you would, but then it wouldn’t be the Hurricanes.

Back in the real world, we’re about to get some real time data over the next few weeks – amd then, post second bye, the heavy hitters really line up. April 11 to May 1.

The Canes won’t win them all of course – but with game in hand, keeping the pedal on the metal seems, counterintuitively, the least risk strategy.

It’s a curious table so far – with the Crusaders languishing in eighth, when no-one in their right mind would think them to be an eight-rate team.

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It was only a short time ago that Gulf states were talking up a good game about bidding for the Rugby World Cup in 2035.

Before that, well before that, Qatar would be hosting at least part of the new competition we didn’t know we wanted, the Nations Cup.

Rugby fans would at least have time to sober up before heading to countries where alcohol is off the dial, as are the temperatures.

If you think the long tail of the war with Iran is a few months of higher prices and carless days, then that’s nothing compared to world rugby’s long tail.

I predict it will be several years before anyone starts touting the Middle East as a new happy hunting ground for rugby to colonise and monetise.

Then again, perhaps world rugby is right now working up its own Peace Prize.

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Oriental-Rongotai Loosehead prop Xavier Numia and Avalon Wolves hooker Asafo Aumua return to the starting lineup to play the Highlanders to reprise their front row combination with Paremata-Plimmerton tighthead prop Pasilio Tosi.

Petone’s Peter Lakai returns to start at openside flanker, while Wainuiomata’s Ruben Love returns to the side to first-five and OBU’s Callum Harkin moves to fullback and Marist St Pat’s’ Billy Proctor slots in at centre.

Palmerston North College Old Boys hooker Vernon Bason is set to make his debut off the bench.

The bench features numerous established figures such as loose forwards Du’Plessis Kirifi from Norths and Brad Shields from Petone.

Norths prop Siale Lauaki is also included on the bench, while Tawa lock Hugo Plummer returns after missing the last two fixtures.

Coch Clark Laidlaw acknowledged Bason’s potential debut, which would come following his inclusion in the full Hurricanes squad after being involved in the wider training group last year.

“It’s a big day for Vernon on the bench,” Laidlaw said.

“We’re really excited. He’s a player who’s come through our pathway, has been training with us for over a year, and is as ready as he’s going to be to get out there and make his debut, so that’s really exciting for him and his family.”

Kick-off for Friday’s match is scheduled for 7:05pm.

HURRICANES TEAM TO PLAY HIGHLANDERS (Hurricanes caps in brackets)

1. Xavier Numia (80)
2. Asafo Aumua (79)
3. Pasilio Tosi (41)
4. Caleb Delany (42)
5. Warner Dearns (4)
6. Devan Flanders (60)
7. Peter Lakai (40)
8. Brayden Iose (55)
9. Cam Roigard (51)
10. Ruben Love (44)
11. Fehi Fineanganofo (16)
12. Jordie Barrett (115) – captain
13. Billy Proctor (71)
14. Josh Moorby (42)
15. Callum Harkin (14)
16. Vernon Bason (debut)
17. Siale Lauaki (7)
18. Tevita Mafileo (60)
19. Hugo Plummer (10)
20. Brad Shields (132)
21. Du’Plessis Kirifi (95)
22. Ereatara Enari (15)
23. Bailyn Sullivan (44)

UNAVAILABLE DUE TO INJURY

Tyrel Lomax (ankle): 1-3 weeks
Isaia Walker-Leawere (concussion): 1 week
Taine Roiri (hamstring): 4 weeks
Jai Tamati (ankle): 5-7 weeks
Brett Cameron (knee): Expected to miss season
Harry Godfrey (knee): Expected to miss season
Josh Timu (foot): 3-5 weeks
Ngane Punivai (hamstring): TBC
Kini Naholo (foot): 2-4 weeks