Hurricanes
29
Match Complete
Rebels
19
| J. Barrett |  | 74 | ||
| 69 |  | R. Hodge | ||
| 64 |  | Q. Cooper | ||
| 63 | | B. Meakes | ||
| 53 | | Q. Cooper | ||
| 52 | | M. Philip | ||
| B. Barrett | | 21 | ||
| V. Fifita | | 20 | ||
| W. Goosen | | 14 | ||
| B. Barrett | | 9 | ||
| B. Barrett | | 7 | ||
| B. Barrett | | 5 | ||
| N. Laumape | | 4 |
| 4 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 3 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Hurricanes take on the Rebels in a top of the competition clash at Westpac Stadium on Saturday evening as Round 12 of Super Rugby continues.
The other top of the table clash saw a very tense affair with the Crusaders scoring vital points after the final hooter to draw with the Sharks.
Can the Rebels be more successful on Kiwi soil and steal the points from the in form Canes? Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of this exciting clash starting from 3:15pm AEST.
We’re into the final third of the regular season and teams are working hard to put themselves in with a chance of Finals rugby.
Similar to 2018, the Rebels have stumbled a bit after an impressive start to the season with two losses in their past two games.
Coming off the bye their fans will hope that they are fresh and ready to mix it with one of the best attacking sides in the competition.
There are reasons for the Rebels faithful to be excited about this clash – they’ve got their captain back as Dane Haylett-Petty returns to fullback.
Not only will he be eager to help his club get back into winning ways, he’ll also know that the Wallabies No.15 jersey could well be up for grabs and he is arguably the leader of the pack hunting it down. A strong end to the season should see him get his hands on it.
Reece Hodge moves to the centres while Billy Meakes will come off the bench and the Rebels backs look full of potential. Where the team might struggle though is up front especially with powerhouse Adam Coleman out injured.
For the Canes there are some important changes with two big names missing in Dane Coles and TJ Perenara.
The omission of the in-form Perenara could create a real opportunity for the Rebels and Will Genia will be eager to be all over his opposite man.
There are some exciting head to heads in this game but the pick of the bunch is going to be Beauden Barrett versus Quade Cooper.
Barrett has been in good form lately and managed the Canes’ games very well. Cooper is having a good season but not a great on… yet.
A dominant performance against the All Blacks’ first-choice No.10 would go a long way to putting Cooper side by side with Bernard Foley in the Wallabies discussion.
With the Australian conference being so tight – just four points between first and fourth – this game is very important for the Rebels.
Prediction
The Hurricanes are going to be the favourites going in and with their back line it’s easy to see why. If the Rebels forwards can get on top of the home side early then they could really threaten the Canes but overall you have to say it’ll be another home win for the men from Wellington.
Hurricanes to win by 12.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 3:15pm AEST on Saturday.
Where: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Date: Saturday 4th May 2019
When: 3:15pm AEST
TV: Foxsports
Betting: Hurricanes $1.24, Rebels $4.00
Hurricanes
15 Jordie Barrett
14 Wes Goosen
13 Matt Proctor
12 Ngani Laumape
11 Chase Tiatia
10 Beauden Barrett (c)
9 Richard Judd
8 Reed Prinsep
7 Ardie Savea
6 Vaea Fifita
5 Isaia Walker-Leawere
4 James Blackwell
3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
2 Asafo Aumua
1 Fraser Armstrong.
Replacements
16 Ricky Riccitelli
17 Toby Smith
18 Alex Fidow
19 Kane Le’aupepe
20 Liam Mitchell
21 Du’Plessis Kirifi
22 Finlay Christie
23 James Marshall
Rebels
15 Dane Haylett-Petty (c)
14 Jack Maddocks
13 Tom English
12 Reece Hodge
11 Marika Koroibete
10 Quade Cooper
9 Will Genia
8 Isi Naisarani
7 Rob Leota
6 Angus Cottrell
5 Matt Philip
4 Luke Jones
3 Jermaine Ainsley
2 Anaru Rangi
1 Tetera Faulkner
Replacements:
16 Hugh Roach
17 Matt Gibbon
18 Sam Talakai
19 Ross Haylett-Petty
20 Pone Fa’amausili
21 Michael Ruru
22 Billy Meakes
23 Campbell Magnay
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant Referee: Paul Williams Glen Jackson
TMO: Aaron Paterson
2019 Form
Hurricanes – LWBWW
Rebels – WWLLB
Played 7
Hurricanes won 6
Rebels won 1
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Most NZ teams drop their 10 back too at times. Carter was often dropped back. It’s more around maximising kickers at the back.
The Slow Eater
Roar Rookie
Really ? The ref gave the Canes not one but two final warnings for infringing in the red zone and still did not produce a card.
Fionn
Guest
Point = spectacularly missed. The question is not how competent Quade is in a vacuum. All that matters is how he compares to his competitors. None of whom can claim to have had a season as good as Quade.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
“just don’t understand some fans obsession with Cooper.” Exactly Redsfan. Like the narrow minded who need to jump on here are blame one man, the man with a hand in most of teams points, for the whole team’s failure.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
If Cooper has ‘plateaued’ , then is the incumbent striding towards the summit of .....?
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Is your definition of ‘totally outplayed’ similar to your definition of ‘well argued’ Redsfan? Foley hasn’t totally outplayed anyone, let alone Australia’s only fully skilled international 10.
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Canes rock!
Redsfan1
Guest
Did you watch the game? You did see Quade Cooper missed an easy lock at the end for a bonus point? Not to mention being totally outplayed by Foley previously.
riddler
Roar Rookie
Yep. Not good at all. Think Morgan T made a similar sort of comment a few weeks back when he was caught out again there. I even think grey has had him defending there a couple of times for oz. Absolutely bamboozles me how anyone could think he can defend there. He must do something great at training. The sooner we stop this hiding of tens the better off we will be.
TimO
Roar Rookie
Rocks to diamonds display from both sides. Some moments of spectacular though. I thought the Canes were going to post a cricket score after first quarter, but brave comeback from Rebels. Meakes made a difference when he came on - he should have started.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Ah ok. If that is the case Wessels has alot to answer for putting Koriobete in at 13 for defence. He isn't smart enough
riddler
Roar Rookie
Wallabies are winning 13% of their games?
riddler
Roar Rookie
He is mate. Cooper is out the back on those plays, dhp or maddocks was last man/wing defenders. Cooper was defending at 10 when they were the canes 22 and they were kicking it out. From what I was seeing. Still too many musical chairs for oz teams.
TheReds
Roar Rookie
Quade Cooper is the reason the rebels are in a position to win games or draw. Their forwards are not physical and go most of the times backwards against the top teams. They need some mongrel in the forward pack. Naisarani is the only one who provides that. Barrett would strugle in this rebels teams. People here who are calling for Foley as the savior are forgetting the wallabies have won 13% of their games with him in the team. The rebels were awful last year with Hodge as the fly half. Quade Cooper is the best number 10 in Australia.
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Liked Reb's # 20.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
I don't think he's technically defending at 13. Often the FB goes wide of wing that close to the line. Sweeper is Genia. Koriobete is hopeless unless there is just one possible target in front of him. His defensive nous is no more intelligent than HULK SMASH!!!
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Just watched. Terrible game Rebels, and Cooper should cop just as much as Foley did last week for missing the even more kickable BP loss gimmie. Some poor defence across the board for the Rebels. Hodge needs to be 15. 15 or 23 are the only numbers for Hodge and DHP. Meakes showed he's a better 12 when he came on. Hodge's impacts could have been just as effective coming up from the back. Hodge runs great lines, but Meakes provides better spark. 70 mins and only 1 penalty from the most penalized team in the comp? I think the Reb's can stop complaining about the Lions match. Have not double-checked the teamsheet, but not a full strength Canes I'm guessing. Though may have mainly just being TJP. I have to assume the front line front row also else the Rebs should be happy with the progression of their scrum.
Redsfan1
Guest
Quade Cooper is amateur hour. After beating the Sunwolves he and Coach Wessels were declared geniuses. I just don't understand some fans obsession with Cooper. Yet another poor performance, but no doubt it will be on his team mates and quickly forgotten by his followers.
riddler
Roar Rookie
cheers charlie. very few on here ever correct themselves. appreciate it.
numpty
Roar Rookie
Rebels no better than local B grade team for 20 minutes and on the other hand the only Aus team that can take it to a top ranked nz team. How frustrating. I’d love to see that match again with Meakes starting and the ref not leaving his yellow card in his shorts for a wash cycle last week.