Lowe to blow up a storm
Karl Lowe will make his first Super Rugby start in almost two years when the Hurricanes host the Cheetahs in Wellington on Saturday.
Lowe has returned from injury to start at openside flank. He played for the Hurricanes Development side last week against Samoa A.
It will be his first appearance for the Hurricanes since they played the Waratahs in their final round of the competition in May 2010.
Lowe will be eager for action, after missing the entire 2011 campaign with a knee injury. He returned to the field later in the year for the Hawke’s Bay Magpies, scoring two tries against Counties Manukau – the team he played against when he suffered a cruciate ligament knee injury the previous year.
The dynamic openside flank, Lowe, was a standout player for the Hurricanes in 2009, producing a string of strong games in a debut season – which earned him selection in the Junior All Blacks side that retained the Pacific Nations Cup in June
His form for the Hurricanes in 2010 was solid, earning nine starts out of a possible 13 in his favoured No.7 jersey and was subsequently selected for the New Zealand Maori side for their successful centenary series of matches.
Other changes to the Hurricanes team will see James Broadhurst and Charlie Ngatai make their first starts on Saturday – after five and four appearances respectively off the bench this year.
Jayden Hayward also comes into the matchday 22 for the first time and will be on the bench for Saturday’s clash.
The Hurricanes had to make a change to their starting line-up with No.8 Victor Vito pulling out of the game with a calf strain following training on Thursday. Brad Shields will now make his first start for the Hurricanes and Mark Reddish comes on to the bench.
This will be the Cheetahs last stop on their tour of Australia and New Zealand.
It is only the second home game of the season for the Hurricanes.
Hurricanes: 15 Andre Taylor, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (captain), 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Brad Shields, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 James Broadhurst, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Tristan Moran.
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu’u, 17 Michael Bent, 18 Mark Reddish, 19 Jack Lam, 20 Chris Eaton, 21 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22 Jayden Hayward.
Date: Saturday, March 31
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 17.30 (04.30 GMT)
Referee: Ian Smith (Australia)
Assistant referees: Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
