Hurricanes captain Brad Shields will return to the starting XV for his 100th Super Rugby match against the Blues at Westpac Stadium tonight.
Shields became the 14th member of the Hurricanes centurions club when he played against the Highlanders last month having made 99 Super Rugby appearances and the dramatic draw against The British and Irish Lions in 2017.
First five‑eighth Beauden Barrett, who fulfilled the second of his All Black stand‑down matches last week, returns while his brother Jordie moves from centre to fullback with Wes Goosen promoted to the No 13 jersey.
There is also a couple of positional changes with Julian Savea moving from the right to the left wing while Nehe Milner‑Skudder moves from fullback to the right wing.
Lock Vaea Fifita and prop Ben May return along with Shields while the experienced Blade Thomson moves from the reserves into the starting XV.
The Hurricanes have won their last six matches against the Blues, their best winning sequence against a New Zealand side.
The Hurricanes will face the Blues at 7.35 tonight.
In other matches, the Chiefs will take on the Bruimbies at 5.15pm while the Waratahs meet the Sunwolves at 9.45pm.
Meanwhile, the Crusaders will remain in Christchurch as long as they stay alive in the Super Rugby playoffs but injures to Joe Moody and Ryan Crotty were their biggest concerns after beating the Highlanders 45‑22 last night and in another match the Reds upset the Rebels 37-23.
Hurricanes: Jordie Barrett, Nehe Milner‑Skudder, Wes Goosen, Ngani Laumape, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Blade Thomson, Sam Henwood, Brad Shields (c), Sam Lousi, Vaea Fifita, Ben May, Ricky Riccitelli, Toby Smith. Reserves: James O'Reilly, Fraser Armstrong, Jeff To'omaga‑Allen, Michael Fatialofa, Gareth Evans, Jamie Booth, Ihaia West, Ben Lam.
Blues: Matt Duffie, Melani Nanai, Michael Collins, Rieko Ioane, Caleb Clarke, Stephen Perofeta, Augustine Pulu (c), Akira Ioane, Blake Gibson, Jerome Kaino, Matiaha Martin, Gerard Cowley‑Tuioti, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Matt Moulds, Alex Hodgman Reserves: James Parsons, Pauliasi Manu, Sione Mafileo, Ben Nee‑Nee, Murphy Taramai, Sam Nock, Bryn Gatland, TJ Faiane.
[Source:Newshub]
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