Savea 100th for ‘Canes

All Black wing Julian Savea will play in his 100th Super Rugby game on Friday when the Hurricanes host the Chiefs in Wellington. Savea returns to the left wing in place of Ben Lam in one of six changes to the team that played the Western Force in Perth last weekend. The Hurricanes team for Friday’s match also features the return of wing Nehe Milner-Skudder and loose forward Ardie Savea to the starting team, as well as an all new front row of Chris Eves, Leni Apisai and Jeffery To’omaga-Allen. Julian Savea will become the tenth player to reach 100 caps for the Hurricanes after Tana Umaga, Rodney So’oialo, Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata, Jeremy Thrush, Ma’a Nonu, Victor Vito, Conrad Smith and Cory Jane.

Otherwise known as The Bus, Savea made his Hurricanes debut against the Highlanders in Wellington in 2009 and has been a fixture on the wing ever since. Though it took him 16 matches to score his first Super Rugby try, Savea has been a try-scoring machine during his seven seasons in the Hurricanes.

He has crossed the try line 45 times in 99 matches, the same number of tries he has scored for the All Blacks.

Savea said it had always been a privilege to represent the club and it would be a proud moment to

Hurricanes:

15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara (c), 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Callum Gibbins, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Vaea Fifita, 4 Sam Lousi, 3 Jeff To’omaga-Allen, 2 Leni Apisai, 1 Chris Eves

16 Ricky Riccitelli /James O’Reilly, 17 Loni Uhila, 18 Mike Kainga, 19 Mark Abbott, 20 Reed Prinsep, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Matt Proctor, 23 Wes Goosen.