Hurricanes rest key All Blacks

 

Both players need to sit out for one more game as part of an agreement to rest All Blacks, and coach Chris Boyd has decided that the weekend's fixture against a struggling Sharks is the time to do so.

 

Matt Proctor and Chris Smylie come into the line-up for the try-scoring duo.

 

Meanwhile, Manawatu prop Chris Eves will start his first Super Rugby match this weekend at Westpac Stadium.

 

The 27-year-old has played 21 matches for the Hurricanes, but this will be his first time running onto the park in the starting XV, with coach Boyd also giving Reggie Goodes a break from starting duties.

 

Eves is one of a number of changes to this week’s Hurricanes side which includes a returning Victor Vito, who has been out with a calf injury.

 

New Zealand Under-20 vice captain, Otere Black, has returned from the Oceania Junior Championship to take a spot on the bench.

 

Hooker Dane Coles was unavailable for selection this week after suffering a calf strain in the team’s match against the Crusaders last week.

 

Hurricanes: 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (captain), 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Matt Proctor, 10 James Marshall, 9 Chris Smylie, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Blade Thomson, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Motu Matu'u, 1 Chris Eves. 

Replacements: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Reggie Goodes, 19 Callum Gibbins, 20 Brad Shields, 21 Frae Wilson, 22 Otere Black, 23 Rey Lee-Lo.

 

Date: Saturday, 9 May

Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne

Kick-off: 19.35 (09.35 SAST, 07.35 GMT)

Referee: Chris Pollock 

Assistant referees: Ben O'Keeffe, Michael Lash

TMO: Aaron Paterson