South-African born prop Reggie Goodes will make his first start of the season for the Hurricanes against the Blues in Wellington on Friday.
The introduction of the 22-year-old loosehead prop is the only change that Hurricanes head coach Mark Hammett has made to his side for the arrival of the Auckland-based side, and it is injury-inforced.
rugby365
Ben Franks has been ruled out of the game with a groin-injury he suffered in the Hurricanes last match – their 25-20 victory over the Bulls on April 5 before last week’s bye.
Goodes, who was born in Witbank and lived in South Africa until he moved to New Zealand with his family at the age of 14 when his father got a job in Wellington, has featured just once this season – when he came off the bench against the Bulls.
The mobile front row forward will make just his sixth start for the Hurricanes in what will be his 21st appearance for the Wellington-based side since joining them in 2012.
Brad Shields might have secured a place in the starting line-up after coming off the bench against the Bulls, but a knock to his knee in training on Monday has ruled him out and so 20-year old openside flank Ardie Savea comes onto the bench to replace him.
Despite the loss of Franks and Shields, there is some positive news on the injury-front as inside centre Tim Bateman and scrumhalf Chris Smylie both return from spells on the sidelines to take their places on the replacements bench, which sees Billy Guyton and Hadleigh Parkes drop out of the matchday 23.
Explosive hooker Motu Matu’u returns to the matchday squad and takes the place of Ash Dixon on the bench, while former NZ Under-20 wing takes the number 23 jersey from Marty Banks.
Hurricanes: 15 Andre Taylor, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (Captain), 12 Alapati Leiua, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Reggie Goodes
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu’u, 17 Chris Eves, 18 John Schwalger, 19 Blade Thomson, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 Chris Smylie, 22 Tim Bateman, 23 Matt Proctor.
Date: Friday 18 April
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Kick-Off: 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 07:35 GMT)
Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand), Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
TMO: Chris Watt (New Zealand)