Sky Live: Hurricanes v Brumbies
Last Updated: 27/06/15 11:13am
Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd has named a strong team to face the Brumbies in the Super Rugby semi-final in Wellington.
With Cory Jane the only injury concern, Boyd has the luxury of selecting a backline that poses numerous attacking threats to the visiting Brumbies. James Marshall has been given the full-back duties which leaves new sensation Nehe Milner-Skudder on the wing.
Julian Savea fills the No 11 jersey while Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu once again partner in a heavily experienced midfield. Smith will captain the side.
One of the most expansive fly-halves in the game, Beauden Barrett, will marshal the game at pivot, while he is joined in the half-backs by Super Rugby’s top try scorer TJ Perenara.
In the forwards there are more All Blacks in the form of Dane Coles and Ben Franks in the front row, with Jeremy Thrush offering size and power in the engine room. Savea's younger brother Ardie joins Brad Shields and Victor Vito in the loose trio.
The Hurricanes have been the form team of the season, with only two losses recorded in the regular season. One of those losses came against the Waratahs of Australia, who feature in the other semi-final.
The Brumbies on the other hand will make the trip to Wellington without influential winger Henry Speight. The Wallaby was found guilty of a dangerous act of play in his side's play-off against the Stormers last week, and will serve a five-week ban for the indiscretion.
Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham has called up Lausii Taliauli to replace Speight, though the former international has said they will appeal the ban.
Taliauli is the only change to the side that took victory in Cape Town last week, with Joe Tomane retained on the other wing thanks to his three tries against the South African conference winners.
Christian Lealiifano and Nic White will be running proceedings as the half-back pairing while 92-Test veteran Stephen Moore captains the side at hooker.
Scott Fardy and David Pocock are the flankers, and the two will need to make an impact if they are to starve the Hurricanes of quick ball intended for their lethal backs.
The form book in Super Rugby history favours the Brumbies, who have won six out of the eight semi-final appearances over the years, while the Hurricanes have lost five of the six in which they've featured.
Hurricanes: 15 James Marshall, 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13 Conrad Smith (c), 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 1 Reggie Goodes, 2 Dane Coles, 3 Ben Franks, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 5 James Broadhurst, 6 Brad Shields, 7 Ardie Savea, 8 Victor Vito.
Replacements: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Mark Abbott, 20 Blade Thomson , 21 Chris Smylie, 22 Rey Lee-Lo, 23 Matt Proctor.
Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Lausii Taliauli, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Nic White, 1 Scott Sio, 2 Stephen Moore (c), 3 Ben Alexander, 4 Rory Arnold, 5 Blake Enever, 6 Scott Fardy, 7 David Pocock, 8 Ita Vaea.
Replacements: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Allan Alaalatoa, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Jordan Smiler, 20 Jarrad Butler, 21 Michael Dowsett, 22 Nigel Ah Wong, 23 Robbie Coleman.
