The Hurricanes have named a strong starting lineup for their final pre-season game against the Blues on Friday.
Chris Boyd has recalled three All Blacks, including injury-plagued wing Cory Jane who continues to work his way back to full fitness. The other two international players are scrumhalf TJ Perenara and lock Jeremy Thrush.
After the game, Boyd will name a 27-man squad that will travel to South Africa to play the Lions and Vodacom Bulls in the two opening rounds of the Vodacom Super Rugby tournament. Centre Ma'a Nonu, however, will remain in New Zealand for the birth of his third child. He will join the squad on 12 February, but is unlikely to feature in the first match against the Lions.
Meanwhile, Tony Woodcock, Steven Luatua, Jimmy Cowan and Ihaia West will all start for the Blues, with the likes of Frank Halai and Francis Saili on the bench.
Hurricanes – 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Rey Lee-Lo, 11 Jason Woodward, 10 James Marshall, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Brayden Mitchell, 1 Reggie Goodes.
Subs: 16 Leni Apisai, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Ben May, 19 Geoff Cridge, 20 Vaea Fifita, 21 Mark Abbott, 22 Callum Gibbins, 23 Frae Wilson, 24 Otere Black, 25 Vince Aso.
Blues – 15 Lolagi Visinia, 14 Ben Lam, 13 Hamish Northcott, 12 George Moala, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Steven Luatua, 7 Brendon O'Connor, 6 Akira Ione, 5 Culum Retallick, 4 Hayden Triggs, 3 Angus Ta'avao, 2 James Parsons, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Subs: Greg Pleasants-Tate, Matt Moulds, Sam Prattley, Nic Mayhew, Will Lloyd, Joe Edwards, Blake Gibson, Kara Pryor, Simon Hickey, Pita Ahki, Matt Vaega, Frank Halai, Bryn Hall, Jamison Gibson-Park, Josh Bekhuis.
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
