The Hurricanes can go level on points with the high‑flying Crusaders tonight if they beat the Waratahs with a bonus point tonight in Wellington.
After four wins from five games, which has also seen them pick up five bonus points, they can put their game in hand to good effect this week.
That would put the pressure on Scott Robertson’s Crusaders, who are on a bye this week, in a fiercely competitive New Zealand conference.
In contrast the ‘Tahs have won two of their six games but due to the Brumbies not firing they’re only three points off Australia’s summit.
Julian Savea and Vince Aso drop out of the XV – Savea gets a weekend off – while an injury to Ardie Savea sees him miss out.
The last time the two teams met, the Hurricanes ended a two‑game losing streak against the Waratahs with a 28‑17 win in Sydney last season.
The Hurricanes will host the Waratahs at 7.35 tonight.
In other matches tomorrow, the Highlanders will take on the Blues at 7.35pm while the Brumbies will meet the Reds at 9.45pm.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs will roll out their biggest piece of artillery in this weekend's clash against the Stormers in Cape Town, with hulking prop Sosefo Kautai set to make his Super Rugby debut.
The 20‑year‑old, who tips the scales at 133kg ‑ the biggest in the Chiefs' squad ‑ has been named on the bench for the match at Newlands.
First‑choice tight head Nepo Laulala was ruled out of the three‑week overseas trek due to concussion suffered in the last‑up win over the Bulls in Hamilton last Saturday night, so Atu Moli gets the No 3 jersey, with Kautai to back him up.
The Chiefs play the Stormers at 3.15am Sunday.
Source: stuff.co
