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Wellington - Flank Callum Gibbins will start at openside in one of three changes to the Hurricanes team named to play the Highlanders at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.
Gibbins' first start of the season means Ardie Savea will
play number eight with Reed Prinsep moving to the reserves, while loosehead
prop Chris Eves and fullback Jordie Barrett come into the run-on side for the
injured Loni Uhila and Nehe Milner-Skudder respectively.
Uhila (calf) and Milner-Skudder (fractured foot) were both
injured during last weekend's 26-18 loss to the Chiefs in Hamilton.
There are four further changes in the Hurricanes reserves.
Lock Sam Lousi and scrumhalf Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi come
into the match day 23 for the first time this season, while utility-back Wes
Goosen and prop Mike Kainga return to the fold after missing the cut against
the Chiefs.
Lousi, who is set to make his Hurricanes debut, adds his
considerable size at the expense of James Blackwell, while Tahuriorangi takes
Chris Smylie's place as TJ Perenara's back up.
Goosen provides outside back cover as he did against the
Sunwolves in Tokyo, while Kainga returns to the impact role he filled during
the opening two rounds of the season.
The bench also features prop Ben May, who will make his 50th appearance for the Hurricanes should he take the field against the Highlanders.
Teams
Hurricanes
15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Vince Aso, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Callum Gibbins, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Michael Fatialofa, 4 Mark Abbott, 3 Jeffery To'omaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles(captain), 1 Chris Eves
Substitutes: 16 Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Ben May, 18 Mike
Kainga, 19 Sam Lousi, 20 Reed Prinsep, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22
Otere Black, 23 Wes Goosen
Highlanders
TBA
