Hurricanes' forwards reshuffle

 

One of the changes comes in the front row, where Reggie Goodes slots into loosehead prop for Ben Franks, who moves to tighthead in place of Jeffery Toomaga-Allen.

 

Ardie Savea also comes into the line-up, with Jack Lam moving to the bench.

 

The remainder of the team will be identical to that which faced the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday, provided lock Jeremy Thrush is cleared to play.

 

Thrush suffered a neck injury against the Waratahs, which will be monitored over the coming days.

 

Loose forward Brad Shields has joined the Hurricanes squad in Melbourne, and will come onto the bench if Thrush is deemed unfit, with Blade Thomson moving into the starting line-up.

 

Friday's match will be just the third encounter between the Hurricanes and the Rebels, since the latter joined the expanded Super Rugby competition.

 

Both have won a match each – the Rebels toppling the Hurricanes 42-25 in Melbourne in 2011, and the Hurricanes winning 66-24 at Westpac Stadium in 2012.

 

The two teams did not meet in 2013.

 

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 Ardie Savea, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Jeremy Thrush/Blade Thomson, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Reggie Goodes. 

Replacements: 16 Motu Matu’u, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Blade Thomson/Brad Shields, 20 Jack Lam, 21 Billy Guyton, 22 Tim Bateman, 23 Matt Proctor.

 

Date: Friday, May 9

Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne

Kick-off: 19.40 (09.40 GMT; 21.40 NZ time)

Referee: Matt O'Brien (Australia)

Assistant referees: Steve Walsh (Australia), Ed Martin (Australia)

TMO: Peter Marshall (Australia)