Perenara back to lead Hurricanes
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Scrumhalf TJ Perenara will return to lead the Hurricanes in Friday’s Super Rugby match against the Blues at Auckland’s Eden Park.
Perenara missed the Hurricanes 29-19 win over the Rebels last Saturday as he had the second of his All Black rest weeks but returns for what will be his 121st appearance for the team.
Wing Ben Lam also returns after a two-week absence because of a calf strain while Toby Smith has been named at loosehead prop in the only other changes to the starting XV.
Lam’s inclusion sees Chase Tiatia move to the bench while Richard Judd, who started at scrumhalf against the Rebels, drops out of the matchday squad after he suffered a minor shoulder injury.
Hurricanes head coach John Plumtree has reverted back to a five-forward, three-back split on the bench with lock Liam Mitchell unavailable after he suffered a hand injury against the Rebels.
Fellow lock Isaia Walker-Leawere, who impressed in his first start for the Hurricanes last week, retains his place in the run-on side.
. @DoveMenCare Team Naming | Eden Park Lineup 🌪 pic.twitter.com/HUBpAxfvx3
— Hurricanes Rugby (@Hurricanesrugby) May 8, 2019
Hurricanes: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Wes Goosen, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara (captain), 8 Reed Prinsep, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Vaea Fifita, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Jeff To’omaga-Allen, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Toby Smith.
Replacements: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Fraser Armstrong, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Kane Le’aupepe, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 James Marshall, 23 Chase Tiatia.
Date: Friday, May 10
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT)
Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand), Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
