Rugby: Vito, Coles to make milestones

Victor Vito. Photo / Getty Images

Victor Vito and Dane Coles will make their 50th appearances for the Hurricanes after being named in the starting lineup to face the Crusaders on Friday in Wellington.

Both began their Super Rugby careers in 2009. Coles was the starting hooker for the Hurricanes in their first game of the '09 season. He scored a try that evening, despite the side going down 22-26 to the Waratahs at home.

Vito made his debut a match later, starting at number eight against the Highlanders in Wellington, grabbing 22-17 win over the Southerners.

Both are now senior Canes players, with Vito is a 20 test cap All Black and Coles the most recent addition from the franchise to the black jersey.

Hurricanes Head Coach Mark Hammett congratulated the two.

"These guys are proud Hurricanes and should enjoy the occasion as reaching your 50th cap is no small feat. Both Colesy and Vic have worked extremely hard to get there and that's why they have also achieved higher honours with the All Blacks. They know there is a job at hand, and being the kind of guys they are, that will be their only focus on Friday night," said Hammett.

There is only one change to the Hurricanes starting XV for the clash. Vito moves to the back of the scrum and Brad Shields will start at six. On the bench, Ben May comes in to the number 17 jersey and Motu Matu'u has been bracketed with Ash Dixon for the match.

The Hurricanes team
1. Ben Franks, 2. Dane Coles, 3. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 4. Jeremy Thrush, 5. Jason Eaton, 6. Brad Shields, 7. Karl Lowe, 8. Victor Vito, 9. TJ Perenara, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Julian Savea, 12. Tim Bateman, 13. Conrad Smith (c), 14. Alapati Leiua, 15. Andre Taylor

RESERVES
16. Motu Matu'u / Ash Dixon, 17. Ben May, 18. James Broadhurst, 19. Faifili Levave, 20. Chris Smylie, 21. James Marshall, 22. Reynold Lee-Lo