Canes rest All Blacks against Blues
Comments
0
Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd has named his team to face the Blues with a large contingent of All Blacks sitting out the final preparation match before the season kicks off against the Lions.
Ben May will mark his return to the Hurricanes with a run off the bench, while Callum Gibbins also looks set to return from a knee injury.
Dane Coles, Conrad Smith, Ben Franks, Victor Vito, Beauden Barrett, Julian Savea, Motu Matu’u and Chris Smylie will also travel to Auckland, but will not play against the Blues.
Following Friday’s match, a squad of 27 will be named to travel to South Africa.
Ma’a Nonu will remain in New Zealand while he awaits the birth of his third child. He will join the team in South Africa on February 12, but will not play the Hurricanes’ first match against the Lions.
Hurricanes: 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Rey Lee-Lo, 11 Jason Woodward, 10 James Marshall, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Blade Thomson,
7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Brayden Mitchell, 1 Reggie Goodes.
Replacements – from: Leni Apisai, Chris Eves, Ben May, Geoff Cridge, Vaea Fifita, Mark Abbott, Callum Gibbins, Frae Wilson, Otere Black, Vince Aso.
Date: Friday, February 6
Venue: QBE Stadium, Auckland
Kick-off: 16.00 (03.00 GMT)
Referee: Chris Pollock
ADVERTISEMENT
