Canes rush duo back for Bulls
Comments
0
Vito Victor will start at No.8 and Brad Shields will be on the bench for the Hurricanes when they host the Bulls in Napier on Saturday.
Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett wasted no time in bringing the hard-running Vito into his starting line-up after the 22-cap All Black was cleared to return to action after recovering from a knee injury that has seen him miss the opening six games of the season.
Imposing flank Shields is straight back into the mix too, after recovering from a knee injury, and he takes a place on the bench – meaning impressive 20-year-old openside Ardie Savea misses out on the matchday 23.
The fact that his side is playing one of the more physical sides in the competition doesn't worry Hammett when bringing back players like Vito and Shield from injury lay-offs.
Hammett says the physical nature of their own game and their training sessions means that it's no problem for players to return straight from injury into the side and that Tim Bateman's successful return from injury against the Crusaders last week is an example.
"That's probably why you saw Timmy come back and have a great game and we're pretty confident Brad and Vic are in the same boat – we wouldn't put them out there if we didn't think so."
Cory Jane returns from an ankle injury to take the right wing spot, which sees the powerful tackle-busting wing Alapati Leiua shift to inside centre in place of the injured Tim Bateman – who has a fractured shoulder which could see him remain sidelined for between two and six weeks.
Tighthead prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen received a head knock against the Crusaders last week and will be assessed later in the week to determine whether he is fit to take his place in the starting line-up. If he is not, then John Schwalger will move up into the run-on side and Reggie Goodes will make his return from injury from the bench.
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/John Schwalger, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ben Franks.
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Chris Eves, 18 John Schwalger/Reggie Goodes, 19 Blade Thomson, 20 Brad Shields, 21 Billy Guyton, 22 Hadleigh Parkes, 23 Marty Banks.
Date: Saturday, April 5
Venue: McLean Park, Napier
Kick-off: 19.35 (06.35 GMT; 08.35 SA time)
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Nick Briant (New Zealand), Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
ADVERTISEMENT
