Rugby: Thrush stepping in to fill the void

Jeremy Thrush. photo / Sarah Ivey

Hurricanes lock Jeremy Thrush has happily stepped in to a leadership role in the new-look Super Rugby side this season.

Coach Mark Hammett this morning named his side to play their first game of the Super Rugby campaign against the Stormers in Cape Town on Sunday morning and Thrush will start in the second row.

The 1.98m lineout ace has captained Wellington at provincial level and said he and a few team-mates had stepped up following last year's clearout of senior players.

"I guess I wouldn't call it pressure, but I understand now that I have to perform and do my job to help lead this team," Thrush said from South Africa.

"I'm actually looking forward to the challenge and a lot of the boys who, I wouldn't say were leaders last year, that stuck around are really taking that step forward and putting their hand up and are showing some leadership which has been good."

The young Hurricanes will need every ounce of experience Thrush has garnered from his 50 Super Rugby caps when they're thrown into the high-pressure environment of playing at Newlands Stadium against a fired-up Stormers outfit.

Three players were named to make their Hurricanes debut in the run-on side. Tristan Moran, Tim Bateman and Ben May are set to wear the jersey for the first time after playing Super Rugby for another franchise previously.

Four rookies in the form of Motu Matu'u, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Brad Shields and TJ Perenara could make their Super Rugby debut from the bench.

World Cup winner Conrad Smith will captain the side and despite a limited pre-season the centre put his hand up during the week to start this game and lead the side from week one.

Thrush said Smith was an ideal skipper.

"He's been good, just the same old Conrad, really. I guess that's why he's our captain - all the boys respect him and what he does on and off the field and that's what we want from the captain."

As expected, Taranaki pivot Beauden Barrett has been selected to steer the ship from first-five, and Dan Kirkpatrick provides cover from the pine.

Barrett, 20, said he expected the Hurricanes to play a slightly different style this season rather than the run-and-gun teams of old.

"We are definitely looking to play more of a territory game than the Hurricanes have played in the past. But I'd still like to have a crack with the ball in hand when I get the opportunity to and definitely won't shy away from that."

Andre Taylor will wear the No 15 jersey following Cory Jane's decision to play on the wing at Super Rugby level.

Team:
1. Tristan Moran, 2. Dane Coles, 3. Ben May, 4. Jeremy Thrush, 5. Jason Eaton, 6. Faifili Levave, 7. Jack Lam, 8. Victor Vito, 9. Chris Eaton, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Alapati Leiua, 12. Tim Bateman, 13. Conrad Smith (c), 14. Cory Jane, 15. Andre Taylor

Reserves: 16. Motu Matu'u, 17. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18. James Broadhurst, 19. Brad Shields, 20. TJ Perenara, 21. Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22. Charlie Ngatai