Hurricanes' bad boys revealed
Julian Savea, Cory Jane, Victor Vito, Ardie Savea, and prop Chris Eves were not considered for the Hurricanes team to face the Reds this weekend after breaking the team's self-imposed curfew while on tour in South Africa.
The five players were late back to the team hotel on the Tuesday night before the side played the Sharks and have been stood down for one match.
Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said the players had made a poor decision and the matter had been dealt with internally.
"Though some people may not see staying out late as being particularly serious, the team set their standards very high this year and everyone bought into that at the start of the season, said Boyd.
"We have a great bunch of guys in the squad and this was an isolated incident, but there are certain lines in the sand and when those lines are crossed there are consequences.
"The players involved know they made a mistake and I'm pretty confident they will be motivated to make up for that when they become available for selection again next week."
Meanwhile, South African-born wing Wes Goosen has been named to make his Super Rugby debut against the Reds.
Goosen, 20, takes over on the left wing from Julian Savea in one of five changes to the team that ran out against the Sharks in Durban.
Jason Woodward comes into the starting XV on the right wing for Jane, Matt Proctor returns at centre, Blade Thomson replaces Vito at No.8 and Callum Gibbins takes over at openside from Ardie Savea.
Boyd said he had full confidence in the team named to play the Reds.
"We are looking forward to seeing Wes Goosen make his Hurricanes debut. He's been knocking on the door since the pre-season and now he gets his chance. That's what Super Rugby is all about."
Goosen, a former New Zealand secondary schools representative out of Wellington College, has impressed for the Wellington Lions over the past two seasons both on the wing and at centre.
He will play outside Proctor, who was a late withdrawal due to illness in Durban where he was replaced in the starting team against the Sharks by Ngani Laumape.
Laumape drops back to the reserves against the Reds where there is a further three changes.
Loni Uhila takes Eves spot as the reserve loose head prop, while Hawke's Bay loose forward Tony Lamborn comes into the 23 along with Taranaki's Te Toirora Tahuriorangi, who replaces Jamison Gibson-Park as the reserve halfback.
Hurricanes: 15 James Marshall, 14 Jason Woodward, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Vince Aso, 11 Wes Goosen, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Callum Gibbins, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Michael Fatialofa, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles (captain), 1 Reg Goodes.
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Loni Uhila, 18 Ben May, 19 Mark Abbott, 20 Tony Lamborn, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Ngani Laumape, 23 Willis Halaholo.
Date: Saturday, May 14
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 19.35 (17.35 AEST; 07.35 GMT)
Referee: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Angus Mabey (New Zealand), Brett Johnson (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
