All Blacks stars return as Hurricanes face Crusaders in Super Rugby
By Reuters
Last Updated: 13/07/17 11:47am
Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd has rushed all six of the players who appeared for the All Blacks in the third Test against the British and Irish Lions into his side for their crucial Super Rugby clash with the Crusaders.
Jordie Barrett, Julian Savea, Ngani Laumape, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara and Ardie Savea will all start for the Hurricanes in their regular season finale on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 8.30am.
Four of the six - the Barrett brothers, Julian Savea and Laumape - all started against the Lions at Eden Park, while Ardie Savea and Perenara came off the bench in the 15-15 stalemate that left the series drawn at 1-1.
Blindside flanker Vaea Fifita, who made his All Blacks debut as a replacement against Samoa last month, and World Cup-winning winger Nehe Milner-Skudder will also start in a strong line-up at Westpac Stadium.
Hooker Dane Coles, who has been out since March 18 with a succession of injuries, remains on the sidelines as he continues his rehabilitation back to full fitness.
Both sides have already qualified for the playoffs but there is still plenty at stake.
The Hurricanes are currently fifth in the standings on 54 points and if they win, will travel to Canberra next week for a quarter-final against the Brumbies.
One place and one point below the Hurricanes are the Chiefs, who take on the Brumbies in Hamilton earlier on Saturday.
The team that finishes sixth faces a journey to Cape Town to meet the Stormers.
The Crusaders are unbeaten so far this season with 14 wins and top the overall standings on 63 points but could still be overtaken by South Africa's Lions, who have 61 points and face the Sharks in the final game of the regular season.
The top qualifier is guaranteed home advantage throughout the playoffs.
Crusaders head coach Scott Robertson welcomes back his international stars, with New Zealand skipper Kieran Read at No 8 and Israel Dagg at full-back, while Sam Whitelock is named on the bench.
Hurricanes: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara (c); 1 Ben May, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 3 Jeff To'omaga-Allen, 4 Mark Abbott, 5 Sam Lousi, 6 Vaea Fifita, 7 Ardie Savea, 8 Brad Shields.
Replacements: 16 James O'Reilly, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Loni Uhila, 19 Reed Prinsep, 20 Callum Gibbins, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Wes Goosen, 23 Cory Jane.
Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Seta Tamanivalu, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 David Havili, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo'unga, 9 Bryn Hall; 1 Wyatt Crockett, 2 Ben Funnell, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 4 Luke Romano, 5 Scott Barrett, 6 Jordan Taufua, 7 Matt Todd (c), 8 Kieran Read.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Makalio, 17 Tim Perry, 18 Oliver Jager, 19 Sam Whitelock, 20 Jed Brown, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 Sean Wainui.