JULIAN SAVEA WILL have to be content with watching from the bench as the Hurricanes begin their bid to reach the 2017 Super Rugby final this weekend.
Savea has been left out of the team for Saturday’s semi-final clash with the Lions in Johannesburg, after coach Chris Boyd made two changes to the side that scored a 35-16 win over the Brumbies in the quarter-finals last weekend.
With a reshuffle in the backline, Vince Aso returns at centre and Nehe Milner-Skudder and Wes Goosen — who chipped in with two tries against the Brumbies — start on the wings. With Savea on the bench, Cory Jane is left out of the matchday squad.
Earlier this month, 26-year-old Savea won his 54th New Zealand cap when he started for the All Blacks in the draw with the British & Irish Lions in the third test at Eden Park.
The other change to the Hurricanes team sees Dane Coles return from his concussion issues to start a game for the first time since March. The hooker, who will captain the team in his 100th Super Rugby appearance, made a 30-minute cameo last weekend.
Hurricanes: Jordie Barrett, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Vince Aso, Ngani Laumape, Wes Goosen, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Brad Shields, Ardie Savea, Vaea Fifita, Sam Lousi, Mark Abbott, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Dane Coles (c), Ben May. Subs: Ricky Riccitelli, Chris Eves, Loni Uhila, Reed Prinsep, Callum Gibbins, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Otere Black, Julian Savea.
Connacht to tear up the rulebook with a two score win!
A great season but this will be one step too far.
Leinster’s frontrow and front row subs will just be too strong. Added to sexton’s current form and Connacht’s biggest strengths ( their centres mainly bundee Aki coming up against Teo and Ringrose ) this will be a fairly even battle and nullify each other.
Leinster by 7
Hopefully so. Nervous about this one…
Red thumbers are out in force.
Chris, Spot on! Sexton to steady the ship and see us though. If we win, some recognition that Leinster are the top province is more than jusitified.
It might me cool if the 42 did a straw poll to see who would make a combined starting fifteenth of Connacht and Leinster
from the two teams that will be announced, Would be interested to see what the majority think.
Also would be cool to do a league version too, that would be some team, people underestimate this league.
If the majority took the poll it wouldn’t have any Leinster players. Not on merit, but just because.
Tom my side would be
1. McGrath 2. Cronin 3. Ross
4. Toner 5. Muldoon
6. Ruddock ,7 Murphy 8. Heaslip
9. Marmion 10. Sexton
11 Healy 12 Aki 13 Teo 14 Isa
15 henshaw
Sorry change that Ultan D in secondrow. Excuse the brain fart
Cronin over Tom McCartney? Jordi Murphy over Jake Heenan? Rhys Ruddock over Muldoon? Ahhhhh heeeeyyyooorrrr… I like your backline though!
Beat me to it Liam. Swap those three and it looks alright. I’d take Heenan or McKeon over Murphy any day.
Great analysis piece