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All Black recovers for long-awaited return for Hurricanes
By Online Editors
The Hurricanes have been boosted by the long-awaited return of an All Black.
Nehe Milner-Skudder will come via the bench on Friday night to face the Sunwolves after more than seven months on the sideline following a serious shoulder injury.
Halfback Finlay Christie will make his debut for the Hurricanes and will have plenty of experience outside him with Beauden Barrett starting inside an exciting midfield pairing of Vince Aso and Matt Proctor.
Boyd has opted to make some changes in the pack from the squad who beat the Chiefs a fortnight earlier with Ben May coming in for Jeff Toomaga-Allen while Reed Prinsep comes into the loose forward mix with captain Brad Shields moving to No 8 as Gareth Evans, who has started every match, moves to the bench.
Ardie Savea, who was injured against the Highlanders in March, has been bracketed with Sam Henwood who has recovered from a head knock he suffered early against the Chiefs.
Experienced wing Julian Savea also returns to the starting XV after he missed the Chiefs match and will be joined at the back by the competition's leading try scorer Ben Lam and in-form Jordie Barrett.
There is plenty of quality on the bench which will feature the return of Milner-Skudder from a long-term shoulder injury while Jackson Garden-Bachop replaces Ihaia West.
Second five-eighth Ngani Laumape and lock Vaea Fifita have been given the week off.
Kick-off at Westpac Stadium is 7.35pm.
The Hurricanes squad to face the Sunwolves is:
15 Jordie Barrett
14 Julian Savea
13 Matt Proctor
12 Vince Aso
11 Ben Lam
10 Beauden Barrett
9 Finlay Christie
8 Brad Shields (c)
7 Ardie Savea or Sam Henwood
6 Reed Prinsep
5 Murray Douglas
4 Michael Fatialofa
3 Ben May
2 Ricky Riccitelli
1 Toby Smith
Reserves
16 James O'Reilly
17 Chris Eves
18 Jeff Toomaga-Allen
19 Sam Lousi
20 Gareth Evans
21 Jamie Booth
22 Jackson Garden-Bachop
23 Nehe Milner-Skudder
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Latest Comments
Ireland have every right to back themselves for a win. But the key variable has little to do with recent record etc.
The reality is that Ireland are a settled team with tons of continuity, an established style, and a good depth chart, whereas NZ are fundamentally rebuilding. The questions are all about what Razor is doing and how far along he is in that program.
NZ are very close to really clicking. Against England all of the chatter is about how England could have closed out a win, but failed to do so. This has obscured the observation that NZ were by far the more creative and effective in attack, beyond the 3-1 try differential and disallowed tries. They gave away a lot of unnecessary penalties, and made many simple errors (including knock-ons and loose kicks). Those things are very fixable, and when they do so we are once again going to be staring at a formidable NZ team.
Last week we heard the England fans talking confidently about their chances against NZ, but England did not end up looking like the better team on the field or the scoreboard. The England defense was impressive enough, but still could not stop the tries.
Ireland certainly has a better chance, of course, but NZ is improving fast, and I would not be surprised at a convincing All Black win this week. It may turn on whether NZ can cut out the simple mistakes.
Go to commentsFair to say that NZ have come to respect Ireland, as have all teams. But it's a bit click-baitey to say that the game is the premier show-down for NZ.
SA has beaten NZ four times in a row, including in the RWC final.
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