Canes call on All Blacks

The Hurricanes have named all their fit and available All Blacks in their starting lineup for the match against the Lions at Ellis Park on Friday.

They will welcome back as many as five internationals, who missed last week's narrow victory over the Blues in their final warm-up match.

Beauden Barrett will start at flyhalf, with Julian Savea and captain Conrad Smith providing added firepower among the backs.

Up front, Ben Franks and Dan Coles will provide the grunt in the front row, although second-rower Jeremy Thrush will miss out with a calf injury. He returned to New Zealand on Wednesday and is expected to be out for between four to six weeks.

Elsewhere, Jason Woodward will make his debut at fullback, while Brayden Mitchell and Callum Gibbins are set to get their first taste of Vodacom Super Rugby action from the bench.

Hurricanes – 15 Jason Woodward, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (c), 12 Rey Le-Lo, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Mark Abbott, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dan Coles, 1 Ben Franks.
Subs: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Reggie Goodes, 18 Chris Eves, 19 Callum Gibbins, 20 Victor Vito, 21 Chris Smylie, 22 James Marshall, 23 Matt Proctor.

Photo: Rob Jefferies/Getty Images