Aisle be Back: Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika at North Harbour

Action from when the Hurricanes and Moana Pasifika met in Wellington in the opening round. Billy Proctor starts at centre for his 78th Super Rugby appearance for the Hurricanes. Ories flanker Dominic Ropeti in hot pursuit is not playing this match, but Norths first-five Jackson Garden-Bachop is on their bench. 

• By Kevin McCarthy 

I had not realised there was great progress being made in organising a gift for me, and others, that we hadn’t remembered asking for.

In short, an ANZAC Day test with our old muckers across the Tasman Sea.  By definition that is with Australia, as the only other possible protagonist – the Ottoman Empire – hasn’t fielded a decent team since 1918.

It appears that NZR has had a change of heart, and is going to approve a 2027 fixture, in Australia, as the first of a three-match Bledisloe Cup series.

My curmudgeon side (yes, I do have one) is NOT excited by us playing Australia three times a year. They are a fair, but not ideal, gauge for what awaits in the rest of the world. They do not particularly present Super Rugby newbies with a taste of something different to what they are already seeing in their trans-Tasman SRP matches.

And it takes a chunk out of Super Rugby mid-comp – just when it’s hitting its stride. No doubt fringe players will be going gangbusters before an April 24 fixture, in order to boost their selection chances.

My other side however says if they can regularly clock up a few million to staunch the red ink on the balance sheet for both unions, and Super Rugby – then why not.

My third side says, well, it’s going to happen anyway isn’t it, so let’s see what occurs.

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So far so good, the first of the bogey sides – the Crusaders – have been beaten.

Now the Canes will obviously be looking to overwhelm poor Moana Pasifika, and score a bonus point win.  All other matches from here are tougher.

I know that sounds disrespectful – as does the resting of Jordie Barrett and Ruben Love, among others. No doubt Moana will go down swinging.

Cam Roigard of course is out for a month – and hopefully slightly less, as the playoffs loom.

Meanwhile we can first savour some big derby action tonight, as the Crusaders are a sellout at their new stadium for their favourite visitors, the  Blues. Surely the Saders will prevail?

And the Chiefs are not certainties as they go face the Reds at Suncorp.

Not certainties, but however much Canes fans might wish it, they will probably get across the line and continue to press on the table.

Keep an eye on the Brumbies hosting the Force. The metronomic ACT side is stuttering a bit this year, a very rare sight,  while the visitors from Perth are a threat.

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The Hurricanes face Moana Pasifika in round 13 at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday.

With the slide towards the finals series, the frontrunning Hurricanes have gone for rest and rotation, with seven changes to the starting lineup from last Friday’s win over the Crusaders.

This included hooker Vernon Bason coming straight off Lyndhurst Park and into the team at hooker.

Some other changes see Brad Shields coming off the bench to blindside flanker, while Ere Enari and Lucas Cashmore are at halfback and first-five and Jone Rova is at second five.

Former Hastings Boys’ High School blockbuster Kini Naholo has been named on the bench for the first time since rupturing his ACL while playing for the Hurricanes a year and three days ago. He played club rugby in Taranaki for Clifton last weekend.

Naholo makes his injury return alongside Bailyn Sullivan, who is named in the match day squad for the first time since late March.

Kick-off for Saturday’s match in Auckland is scheduled for 7:05pm.

HURRICANES TEAM TO PLAY MOANA PASIFIKA (Hurricanes caps in brackets)

1. Pouri Rakete-Stones (56)
2. Vernon Bason (2)
3. Pasilio Tosi (47)
4. Caleb Delany (48)
5. Isaia Walker-Leawere (86)
6. Brad Shields (137)
7. Du’Plessis Kirifi (101) – captain
8. Brayden Iose (61)
9. Ereatara Enari (21)
10. Lucas Cashmore (3)
11. Fehi Fineanganofo (22)
12. Jone Rova (9)
13. Billy Proctor (77)
14. Josh Moorby (48)
15. Callum Harkin (19)
16. Asafo Aumua (85)
17. Xavier Numia (86)
18. Siale Lauaki (12)
19. Hugo Plummer (11)
20. Devan Flanders (66)
21. Jordi Viljoen (6)
22. Bailyn Sullivan (46)
23. Kini Naholo (32)

UNAVAILABLE FOR SELECTION

Tyrel Lomax (ankle): 3 weeks
Taine Roiri (hamstring): 2 weeks
Cam Roigard (calf): 3-4 weeks
Brett Cameron (knee): Expected to miss season
Harry Godfrey (knee): Expected to miss season
Ruben Love (ankle): 1 week
Riley Higgins (shoulder): TBC
Josh Timu (ankle): 2 weeks