Coles, Barrett on bench for Canes
Beauden Barrett will be on the bench for the Hurricanes tomorrow night.
The star first five-eighth apparently has All Blacks return-to-play protocols to meet and will be on the sideline when the team run onto the Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium to meet the Sunwolves.
Manawatu’s Otere Black will wear the No 10 jumper instead, having played well during last Friday’s 33-27 pre-season win over the Crusaders.
Hurricanes captain Dane Coles will also begin his Super Rugby campaign from the bench, for the same reason as Barrett.
‘‘Beauden and Dane are both following their return to play protocols and part of that is that they were always going to have a graduated entry into the Super Rugby season,’’ Hurricanes head coach Chris Boyd said in a statement.
‘‘They’re both key guys for us and there is no benefit in pushing them any faster than we need to, but they’ll both have a part to play in Tokyo.’’
Coles sat out the Crusaders game, while Barrett and fellow All Blacks TJ Perenara, Julian Savea and Ardie Savea played just 40 minutes each, as part of these protocols. There was no mention of Hurricanes team to play the Sunwolves: Jordie Barrett, Cory Jane, Matt Proctor, Ngani Laumape, Julian Savea, Otere Black, TJ Perenara (c), Blade Thomson, Ardie Savea, Brad Shields, Michael Fatialofa, James Blackwell, Jeff To’omaga-Allen, Ricky Riccitelli, Chris Eves. Reserves: Dane Coles, Ben May, Mike Kainga, Reed Prinsep, Callum Gibbins, Chris Smylie, Beauden Barrett, Vince Aso. the protocols continuing once the season started, or indication of whether Perenara and the Saveas will now be on limited minutes against the Sunwolves.
Perenara will captain the side, which includes Jordie Barrett. He’ll make his debut at fullback, in place of the injured Nehe MilnerSkudder.
Other features of the sstarting line-up include the naming of James Blackwell at lock, Ngani Laumape at second five-eighth and Blade Thomson at No.8. Injuries mean the Hurricanes are light at lock for the time being, while Thomson gets a chance to make a name for himself in Victor Vito’s old spot, having previously been a bit of a utility.
Meanwhile, the powerful Laumape gets first crack at forming a longterm midfield combination with centre Matt Proctor.