Cavalry returns to lift Canes
The Hurricanes have added 182 All Blacks caps to their starting XV to take on the Brumbies.
Beauden Barrett, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Ngani Laumape and Vaea Fifita will all take their place in the run-on team in Palmerston North tomorrow night.
Barrett and Savea were on All Blacks leave/rest during last weekend’s 38-22 loss to the Crusaders, Perenara and Laumape came off the bench, while Fifita played 50 minutes for the development team on his way back to fitness after a hamstring injury.
Jordie Barrett drops out of the squad as he serves one of his two All Blacks rest weeks.
Savea, somewhat surprisingly, will wear the No 8 jersey.
Gareth Evans has a calf injury, but Hurricanes coach John Plumtree elected to retain young gun Du’plessis Kirifi in the No 7 jersey, instead of playing Reed Prinsep at No 8, who drops to the bench. Fifita takes the No 6 jersey from Prinsep.
‘‘We’re interested in seeing him [Savea] play there. He did a pretty good job for the All Blacks,’’ Plumtree said.
Ben May starts at prop ahead of Jeff Toomaga-allen in the only change to a tight five which features Liam Mitchell and James Blackwell at lock.
In the backline, Vince Aso has shifted to right wing to facilitate Laumape’s return, forcing Wes Goosen to the bench.
Chase Tiatia makes his Hurricanes debut at fullback in Jordie Barrett’s absence.
On the bench, Richard Judd and Jackson Garden-bachop are preferred as the 9-10 backups, meaning Finlay Christie and Fletcher Smith – who started against the Crusaders – drop out of the 23.
Plumtree said it had been a fine balancing act with his squads across the first three weeks of the season, especially after he pushed Perenara, Savea and Laumape to 80 minutes in a tight contest in week one against the Waratahs.
‘‘We had a tough start with Waratahs away, Crusaders away and the Brumbies, who have won the competition before and are always a great side.
‘‘It was about making sure I had experience playing in both games, but playing guys in Sydney [against the Waratahs] for 80 minutes put us under pressure for the next two games.’’
The Brumbies are yet to name their team, but expect to have Wallabies star David Pocock back from concussion as they seek to build on their 54-17 win over the Chiefs in Canberra last weekend.
Hurricanes team to play the Brumbies:
Chase Tiatia, Vince Aso, Matt Proctor, Ngani Laumape, Ben Lam, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Ardie Savea, Du’plessis Kirifi, Vaea Fifita, Liam Mitchell, James Blackwell, Ben May, Dane Coles (c), Chris Eves. Reserves: Ricky Riccitelli, Xavier Numia, Jeff To’omaga-allen, Isaia Walkerleawere, Reed Prinsep, Richard Judd, Jackson Garden-bachop, Wes Goosen.