Super Rugby: Hometown boy Gareth Evans defies pain for first Hurricanes start in a year
Evans will play his 33rd match for the Hurricanes. He played 30 minutes off the bench in the 35-13 win over the Rebels. The previous start for Hurricanes was against the Blues in Auckland on June 14 last year. Evans will start in place of another tough loose forward Devan Flanders. This is the only visit to McLean Park this year, after Napier City Council and Hawke’s Bay Rugby won the tender to host the Western Force. The last time the Force visited Mclean Park was in February 2020. They won 62-15. It was Evans' brother Bryn playing for Hawkes Bay.
Gareth Evans makes his first start in a year for the Hurricanes. The match is at McLean Park, Napier, on Friday at 7.05 pm.
Hurricanes have a strong squad with Jordie Barrett, Wes Goosen, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Ngani Laumape, Salesi Rayasi, Orbyn Leger, Luke Campbell, Gareth Evans, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Reed Prinsep, Scott Scrafton, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Tyrel Lomax, Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia.
Western Force are the team with Rob Kearney, Toni Pulu, Richard Kahui, Kyle Godwin, Jordan Olowofela, Domingo Miotti, Tomas Cubelli, Tim Anstee, Kane Koteka, Fergus Lee-Warner, Sitaleki Timani, Jeremy Thrush, Santiago Medrano, Andrew Ready, Tom Robertson.
