Sunday 25 June 2017 11:50, UK
Four players have been released by the All Blacks to play for the Hurricanes against the British and Irish Lions on Tuesday, the last midweek match of the Lions' New Zealand tour.
Winger Julian Savea, centre Ngani Leaumape, lock Vaea Fifita and utility back Jordie Barrett were not members of the All Blacks match 23 which beat the Lions 30-15 in Saturday's first test at Eden Park.
They now get their chance to play against the tourists for the defending Super Rugby champion Hurricanes, whose line-up also includes capped All Blacks Nehe Milner-Skudder, Jeff To'omaga-Allen and winger Cory Jane, who has been named on the bench.
Meanwhile, Damian McKenzie has been called into the squad as cover for full-back Ben Smith who failed a concussion test during the first Test and for the third time this season.
The release of Savea and Leaumape, the top try-scorer in Super Rugby, means the Wellington-based Hurricanes will field a near full-strength backline, missing only scrum-half TJ Perenara and fly-half Beauden Barrett.
Hurricanes: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Otere Black, 9 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi; 1 Ben May, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 3 Jeff To'omaga-Allen, 4 Mark Abbott, 5 Sam Lousi, 6 Vaea Fifita, 7 Callum Gibbins, 8 Brad Shields (c).
Replacements: 16 Leni Apisai, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Mike Kainga, 19 James Blackwell, 20 Reed Prinsep, 21 Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, 22 Wes Goosen, 23 Cory Jane.
