Super Rugby Semi-Final: Hurricanes vs Brumbies

[Jaguares]

1 Reggie Goodes
2 Dane Coles
3 Ben Franks
4 Jeremy Thrush
5 James Broadhurst
6 Brad Shields
7 Ardie Savea
8 Victor Vito
9 TJ Perenara
10 Beauden Barrett
11 Julian Savea
12 Ma’a Nonu
13 Conrad Smith (c)
14 Nehe Milner-Skudder
15 James Marshall

Reserves:

16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Mark Abbott, 20 Blade Thomson, 21 Chris Smylie, 22 Rey Lee-Lo, 23 Matt Proctor

1 Scott Sio
2 Stephen Moore (c)
3 Ben Alexander
4 Rory Arnold
5 Blake Enever
6 Scott Fardy
7 David Pocock
8 Ita Vaea
9 Nic White
10 Christian Lealiifano
11 Joe Tomane
12 Matt Toomua
13 Tevita Kuridrani
14 Lausii Taliauli
15 Jesse Mogg

Reserves:

16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Allan Alaalatoa, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Jordan Smiler, 20 Jarrad Butler, 21 Michael Dowsett, 22 Nigel Ah Wong, 23 Robbie Coleman

City: Wellington
Country: New Zealand
Stadium: Westpac
Capacity: 34,500​

 

[Kiwi_]

Hurricanes will smash them. See you in Wellington in two weeks!

 

[William18]

We should be too good for a team coming back from South Africa. If we do lose and if the Highlanders beat the tahs then the final will be in Dunedin.

 

[Kiwi_]

Crusaders should have taken a woeful Stormers spot as well. Finished with more points, the competitions a joke.

 

[Picking Daisies]

It'll be a great match, I've always admired the Brumbies as a team and organisation - I still recall a particular heartbreaking result in 1997 (?) when they beat us in Canberra and Mark Allen damaged his neck, which unfortunately was the end of the line for Bull's playing career I believe...

As for the result, naturally I'm picking the Hurricanes, but it's a rational pick too - the Brumbies will be shot due to the amount of travel they would have endured by matchday, they'll fall off the pace in the second half and the Hurricanes should close it out by 10-15 points. We'll be fresh, the first-half struggle and second-half freedom will set us up nicely for the battle that will occur at Westpac the following week vs the Waratahs (though I'd rather the Highlanders made it).

 

[nickdnz]

Going to this game, so here is really hoping for a Canes win.

We enter as favorites - but it's certainly not going to be a walk in the park. We have the potential to run them off the field, but we could just as well lose a close one.

 

[Regan]

Brumbies will come out firing you'd think but I just can't see them maintaining the pace with the SA travel. Basically the only thing I am concerned about is our lineout which has been shaky in recent weeks. That aside we should just be too good come 2nd half.

 

[Jaguares]

Canes starting XV:

1 Reggie Goodes
2 Dane Coles
3 Ben Franks
4 Jeremy Thrush
5 James Broadhurst
6 Brad Shields
7 Ardie Savea
8 Victor Vito
9 TJ Perenara
10 Beauden Barrett
11 Julian Savea
12 Ma’a Nonu
13 Conrad Smith (c)
14 Nehe Milner-Skudder
15 James Marshall

Reserves:.

16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Mark Abbott, 20 Blade Thomson, 21 Chris Smylie, 22 Rey Lee-Lo, 23 Matt Proctor

 

[Regan]

Brumbies are going to be exhausted - apparently not arriving into Welly until tomorrow. Their flight from SA went to Canberra and now to here.

 

[Jaguares]

Brumbies starting XV:

1. Scott Sio
2. Stephen Moore (c)
3. Ben Alexander
4. Rory Arnold
5. Blake Enever
6. Scott Fardy
7. David Pocock
8. Ita Vaea
9. Nic White
10. Christian Lealiifano
11. Joe Tomane
12. Matt Toomua
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Lausii Taliauli
15. Jesse Mogg

Reserves:

16. Josh Mann-Rea
17. Allan Alaalatoa
18. Ruan Smith
19. Jordan Smiler
20. Jarrad Butler
21. Michael Dowsett
22. Nigel Ah Wong
23. Robbie Coleman

 

[TobesHodges]

I hate it when they play NMS at 14 to accommodate marshall :/ I'd Rather see Ray-LeeLo on the wing and play NMS in his best position.. Does anyone agree or not? (Not saying marshall is a bad player, would just rather see scudz at 15)

 

[Regan]

I hate it when they play NMS at 14 to accommodate marshall :/ I'd Rather see Ray-LeeLo on the wing and play NMS in his best position.. Does anyone agree or not? (Not saying marshall is a bad player, would just rather see scudz at 15)

I agree that NMS is a better fullback yes and Marshall has been better at 10 for us BUT I don't agree that Lee-Lo should play on the wing. I'm not a fan of him on the wing. The only other option is play Proctor at 14 and NMS at FB with Marshall on the bench but tbh Proctor is only just coming back from injury and I feel that Marshall at 15 and NMS at 14 is the better option - especially in a game like this.

 

[nickdnz]

I agree that NMS should not be at 14, but also agree that there is now way Ray Lee-Lo is a wing. Matt Proctor (as mentioned above) would be my preferred option, but tbf Marshall has been solid at fullback when asked to play there (he's better there than at 10 IMO - although I can understand wanting NMS at 15). Such a shame Woodward is out...

 

[Kiwi_]

James Marshall was woeful when he last played FB vs the Crusaders.

 

[nickdnz]

James Marshall was woeful when he last played FB vs the Crusaders.

Terrible is a stretch - he didn't stand out, but he made all his tackles, beat two defenders and made a nice offload.

That said, he has played FB more recently than that game - including the demolition of the Highlanders - so I think one game would be very harsh to say he can't do a job there.

 

[Regan]

Yeah exactly. He has been a good lil player for us who has definitely started more than he or anyone would have expected this season (thanks to Woodward's injury and Barrett missing a few) - he's stepped in well for us at 10 (he was all class in that win against the Chiefs recently) so you can't really fault him. If he plays like he did against the Chiefs he'll do fine. I don't think you can really fault him for NMS having to play 14 and should do solid enough. If not we have Proctor if need be.

 

[Kiwi_]

Still, have Skudder at 15 is much more productive than at 14, especially since Proctor can play at 14 instead. NMS is still great there, but he is a game winner at 15.

 

[SomeOke]

Do you think the reason Marshal is being accommodated is because he'll still be kicking for poles? Maybe they don't want to aggravate Barret's injury by rushing him into kicking duty. I can't actually remember if he kicked last week, but I do remember for at least his first game back he wasn't.

Anyway Canes deserve the victory, and it would be a real shame if they don't win. I'm not sure if the Brumbies looked dangerous or if we were just woeful, anyway GL Canes.

 

[nickdnz]

Maybe, but I think unlikely. I Barrett will kick.

 

[Jaguares]

Ponies by 1