THE HURRICANES AND Highlanders have both named unchanged teams for Saturday’s Super Rugby final [KO 08.35 Irish time], although the Canes are still uncertain whether openside Ardie Savea will be fit to play.
The 21-year-old flanker, who has been superb all season, will have his knee injury monitored until Saturday, with Callum Gibbins pencilled in as cover should Savea fail to prove his fitness.
Ardie Savea picked up a knee injury in the semi-finals. Photosport / Grant Down/INPHO
Photosport / Grant Down/INPHO / Grant Down/INPHO
More positively for Chris Boyd’s side, who have former Ireland forwards coach John Plumtree in their backroom staff as an assistant, the electric Nehe Milner-Skudder has been included in their starting XV.
A new member of the All Blacks squad, Milner-Skudder has been nothing short of a sensation in attack this season for the Hurricanes. He completes a mouthwatering backline alongside the likes of Ma’a Nonu, Beauden Barrett and Conrad Smith.
Jamie Joseph’s Highlanders are unchanged after last weekend’s semi-final win over the Brumbies, and have well-established attacking riches of their own that promise to thrill a sold out Westpac Stadium this weekend.
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‘The Cake Tin’ has had its capacity boosted to 36,000 for this all-New Zealand final, the first batch of tickets having sold out in 59 seconds on Monday.
Paddy Osborne takes route one against the Waratahs. Photosport / Paul Seiser/INPHO
Photosport / Paul Seiser/INPHO / Paul Seiser/INPHO
The prospect of Ben Smith, Waisake Naholo and out-half Lima Sopoaga facing off against Plumtree’s Hurricanes defence is exciting, although this final may well be decided by which pack can win the set-piece battle and out-muscle their opponents.
Whatever the outcome, this year’s Super Rugby final is set to be unforgettable.
The teams for the Super Rugby final are littered with major attacking quality
THE HURRICANES AND Highlanders have both named unchanged teams for Saturday’s Super Rugby final [KO 08.35 Irish time], although the Canes are still uncertain whether openside Ardie Savea will be fit to play.
The 21-year-old flanker, who has been superb all season, will have his knee injury monitored until Saturday, with Callum Gibbins pencilled in as cover should Savea fail to prove his fitness.
More positively for Chris Boyd’s side, who have former Ireland forwards coach John Plumtree in their backroom staff as an assistant, the electric Nehe Milner-Skudder has been included in their starting XV.
A new member of the All Blacks squad, Milner-Skudder has been nothing short of a sensation in attack this season for the Hurricanes. He completes a mouthwatering backline alongside the likes of Ma’a Nonu, Beauden Barrett and Conrad Smith.
Jamie Joseph’s Highlanders are unchanged after last weekend’s semi-final win over the Brumbies, and have well-established attacking riches of their own that promise to thrill a sold out Westpac Stadium this weekend.
‘The Cake Tin’ has had its capacity boosted to 36,000 for this all-New Zealand final, the first batch of tickets having sold out in 59 seconds on Monday.
The prospect of Ben Smith, Waisake Naholo and out-half Lima Sopoaga facing off against Plumtree’s Hurricanes defence is exciting, although this final may well be decided by which pack can win the set-piece battle and out-muscle their opponents.
Whatever the outcome, this year’s Super Rugby final is set to be unforgettable.
Hurricanes
15. James Marshall
14. Nehe Milner-Skudder
13. Conrad Smith (captain)
12. Ma’a Nonu
11. Julian Savea
10. Beauden Barrett
9. TJ Perenara
1. Reggie Goodes
2. Dane Coles
3. Ben Franks
4. Jeremy Thrush
5. James Broadhurst
6. Brad Shields
7. Ardie Savea/Callum Gibbins
8. Victor Vito
Replacements:
16. Motu Matu’u
17. Chris Eves
18. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
19. Callum Gibbins/Mark Abbott
20. Blade Thomson
21. Chris Smylie
22. Rey Lee-Lo
23. Matt Proctor
Highlanders
15. Ben Smith (co-captain)
14. Waisake Naholo
13. Malakai Fekitoa
12. Richard Buckman
11. Patrick Osborne
10. Lima Sopoaga
9. Aaron Smith
1. Brendon Edmonds
2. Liam Coltman
3. Josh Hohneck
4. Alex Ainley
5. Mark Reddish
6. Elliot Dixon
7. James Lentjes
8. Nasi Manu (co-captain)
Replacements:
16. Ash Dixon
17. Daniel Lienert-Brown
18. Ross Geldenhuys
19. Joe Wheeler
20. Gareth Evans
21. Shane Christie
22. Fumiaki Tanaka
23. Marty Banks
Which team do you think will claim the 2015 Super Rugby title? Who will be the standout players in this final?
Originally published at 13.03
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