Hurricanes 'champing at the bit'
Brad Shields will lead the Hurricanes in their first Super Rugby pre-season match, when they take on the Crusaders in Eketahuna on Saturday.
In his first run as coach Chris Boyd has named a line-up featuring a raft of fresh faces.
Brayden Mitchell, Geoff Cridge, Jason Woodward and Vince Aso will get their first start for the Hurricanes – alongside a number of experienced heads.
Newcomers Leni Apisai, Tolu Fahamokioa, Vaea Fifita, Iopu Iopu-Aso, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Otere Black, Willis Halaholo and Ope Peleseuma will all be waiting in the wings to impress.
Manawatu scrumhalf Jamie Booth has also been called into the reserves for Chris Smylie, who suffered a calf niggle during the team's camp in Gisborne this week.
Game one has been a long time coming for Hurricanes players and management.
After 10 weeks of gruelling pre-season training, they are itching to get out on the park and put their conditioned bodies and game plans to the test.
Boyd said the team had had enough of training, and just wanted to get out there and play.
"It's a good chance to identify things that might need some extra focus before we head to South Africa, and it's obviously an opportunity for the guys to put their hands up and work towards securing a spot on that tour," Boyd said.
"We're looking forward to getting out there, and we know Eketahuna will put on a festive atmosphere which will be a great environment for both the teams and spectators."
Hurricanes: 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 14 Vince Aso, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Rey Lee-Lo, 11 Jason Woodward, 10 James Marshall, 9 Frae Wilson, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields (captain), 5 Mark Abbott, 4 Geoff Cridge, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Brayden Mitchell, 1 Ben Franks.
Replacements – from: Leni Apisai, Reggie Goodes, Chris Eves, Tolu Fahamokioa, Mike Kainga, Vaea Fifita, Iopu Iopu-Aso, Heiden Bidwell-Curtis, Jamie Booth, Otere Black, Willis Halaholo, Ope Peleseum.
Date: Saturday, January 31
Venue: Eketahuna Rugby Club, Eketahuna
Kick-off: 15.00 (02.00 GMT)
Referees: Glen Jackson & Ben O'Keeffe
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