Returning to half-way with Hurricane's Loni Uhila, Cory Jane and Brad Shields is Hurricane's Ricky Riccitelli bloody and bruised. Photo / Darren Taumata
Returning to half-way with Hurricane's Loni Uhila, Cory Jane and Brad Shields is Hurricane's Ricky Riccitelli bloody and bruised. Photo / Darren Taumata
The stakes are high for tonight's standalone Super Rugby clash in Wellington.
Two top sides that are not averse to niggle and aggression will meet before their focus turns to their Lions encounters. But victory here will go a long way towards nailing down that all-important second New Zealand conferenceberth.
The Hurricanes last lost in Wellington, to the Chiefs, over a year ago. They also lost to the Chiefs in March, out-thought and beaten up in the Hamilton rain, so thoughts of that reverse may not be far from their minds.
Nor will honouring the 100th match of Julian Savea and celebrating new All Blacks Jordie Barrett and Ngani Laumape.
Seven have made the Maori All Blacks, including Nehe Milner-Skudder, who will have his soon-to-be Maori colleague James Lowe on high alert tonight, and six All Blacks.
"Playing at home gives us some advantage, but it will not [alone] be enough to win the game," warns Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd.
Ardie Savea is back at No 8, with Brad Shields reverting to No 6 and Callum Gibbins to the openside.
"I think we felt we had to play the best, most experienced loose trio we could. So Brad and Ardie have been cornerstones of our loose trio for a couple of years.
"It was a tough call between Reed [Prinsep] and Callum. But Cally had a really strong game against the Force last week. He got through 20 tackles and didn't have a miss. We thought two fetchers would be a benefit."
The Chiefs welcome back former Hurricane Charlie Ngatai, who has made the Maori All Blacks. Damian McKenzie might just be primed for a big performance, having lost his All Blacks berth, in the most unlucky fashion, given his sterling form, to the young comer Jordie Barrett, whom he marks tonight.
