Savea back to face the Tahs
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Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd has named a similar starting side to that which faced the Stormers two weeks ago, with the inclusion of Ardie Savea, who returns from a finger injury, to face the Waratahs in Wellington.
Injury has ruled out Victor Vito and Chris Smylie (both with calf problems), while Blade Thomson (concussion), and Dane Coles (elbow) also remain unavailable.
All Black lock Jeremy Thrush will become the seventh Hurricane centurion in the franchise's history when he lines up against the Tahs this weekend.
Thrush made his debut seven years and 61 days ago for the Canes, against the same opponents he will face on Saturday.
The lock, who will also celebrate his 30th birthday on Sunday, has contributed 45 points during his time in black and yellow.
Flyhalf Beauden Barrett is also edging closer to becoming the top Hurricanes point scorer of all time, needing just 10 points to break the record set by David Holwell in 2006, of 676 points.
Hurricanes: 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (captain), 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Brad Shields, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Callum Gibbins, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Motu Matu'u, 1 Reg Goodes.Replacements: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Chris Eves, 19 Mark Abbott, 20 Adam Hill, 21 Frae Wilson, 22 Rey Lee-Lo, 23 James Marshall.
Date: Saturday, April 18
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 16.30 (14.30 AEST, 04.30 GMT)
Referee: Glen Jackson
Assistant Referees: Shane McDermott, Jamie Nutbrown
TMO: Glenn Newman
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