Morgan Turinui says Hurricanes captain Brad Shields got him ”hook, line and sinker” when playing down his side’s chances in Super Rugby Pacific this year.
The Hurricanes weren’t tipped to be serious contenders this season with captain Ardie Savea on sabbatical in Japan yet sit top of the table as the only unbeaten team.
“I think I’ve underestimated them all year,” Turinui said on Stan Sport’s The Call Up.
“And I’m going to blame Brad Shields at the Super Rugby launch in Auckland. I had a quiet chat to him. He’s like ‘oh, we’re young, oh, I’m a bit busted. I’ve just come back in, you know, with this young group, we’re just gonna do our best.’
“And he did me – got me hook, line and sinker. They’ve been outstanding.”
The Brumbies have welcomed back Wallabies Allan Alaalatoa and Len Ikitau from injury following their record loss to the Blues.
Alaalatoa will start at prop in his first game since rupturing his Achilles tendon in the Bledisloe Cup last year but halfback Ryan Lonergan will continue to lead the side.
Ikitau will wear No.13 after recovering from a leg injury suffered in round four.
Hurricanes hooker Asafo Aumua will miss the rest of the regular season at least after suffering an MCL tear in his left knee.
Aumua has been ruled out for 6-8 weeks, meaning a return for the quarter-finals is a best case scenario.
The Hurricanes sent an SOS to Dane Coles but the All Blacks great picked up a hamstring injury of his own playing in Japan at the weekend.
BRUMBIES vs HURRICANES in Canberra, Saturday 2.35pm kickoff AEST
BRUMBIES (1-15): James Slipper, Billy Pollard, Allan Alaalatoa, Darcy Swain, Cadeyrn Neville, Rob Valetini, Rory Scott, Charlie Cale, Ryan Lonergan (c), Noah Lolesio, Corey Toole, Tamati Tua, Len Ikitau, Ollie Sapsford, Tom Wright
Reserves: Connal McInerney, Blake Schoupp, Sefo Kautai, Tom Hooper, Jahrome Brown, Harrison Goddard, Jack Debreczeni, Andy Muirhead
HURRICANES (1-15): Xavier Numia, James O’Reilly, Tyrel Lomax, Caleb Delany, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Brad Shields (c), Du’Plessis Kirifi, Brayden Iose, TJ Perenara, Brett Cameron, Salesi Rayasi, Jordie Barrett, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Kini Naholo, Ruben Love
Reserves: Raymond Tuputupu, Tevita Mafileo, Pasilio Tosi, Ben Grant, Peter Lakai, Richard Judd, Riley Higgins, Bailyn Sullivan
Referee: Angus Gardner
