Hurricanes co-captain Dane Coles has recovered from injury and will start in their Super Rugby Aotearoa clash with the Blues in Wellington on Saturday.
Coles sat out the Hurricanes’ win over the Highlanders last weekend with a calf strain, but is back to full fitness and replaces Asafo Aumua, who drops to the bench.
Other than Coles, there are two further changes to the starting XV – both of them in the backline.
Jackson Garden-Bachop gets back the No 10 jersey from Fletcher Smith, after he sat out last weekend’s victory entirely.
Meanwhile, Peter Umaga-Jensen returns to the Hurricanes’ midfield in place of Vince Aso, who is left out of the match-day 23.
Saturday’s match will feature the long-awaited clash between the Barrett brothers, Jordie and Beauden, who start at fullback for their respective teams.
Hurricanes – 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 TJ Perenara (c-c), 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Reed Prinsep, 5 Scott Scrafton, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ben May.
Subs: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Fraser Armstrong, 18 Alex Fidow, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Vaea Fifita, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Billy Proctor, 23 Wes Goosen.
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