EVES TO MAKE FIRST HURRICANES START

May 7 • General News, Super Rugby • 1493 Views • Comments Off on EVES TO MAKE FIRST HURRICANES START

Manawatu prop Chris Eves will start his first Super Rugby match this weekend when the Hurricanes take on the Sharks at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.

The 27-year-old has played 21 matches for the Hurricanes, but this will be his first time running onto the park in the starting XV, with coach Chris Boyd giving Reggie Goodes a break from starting duties.

Eves is one of a number of changes to this week’s Hurricanes side which includes a returning Victor Vito, who has been out with a calf injury. Boyd has also opted to rest wing Julian Savea and scrumhalf TJ Perenara, with Matt Proctor and Chris Smylie coming into the line-up.

New Zealand U20 vice captain, Otere Black, has returned from the Oceania Rugby Junior Championship to take a spot on the bench.

Hooker Dane Coles was unavailable for selection this week after suffering a calf strain in the team’s match against the Crusaders last week.

Hurricanes XV

1. Chris Eves
2. Motu Matu’u
3. Ben Franks
4. Jeremy Thrush
5. James Broadhurst
6. Blade Thomson
7. Ardie Savea
8. Victor Vito
9. Chris Smylie
10. James Marshall
11. Matt Proctor
12. Ma’a Nonu
13. Conrad Smith (c)
14. Cory Jane
15. Nehe Milner-Skudder

Replacements

16. Brayden Mitchell
17. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen
18. Reggie Goodes
19. Callum Gibbins
20. Brad Shields
21. Frae Wilson
22. Otere Black
23. Rey Lee-Lo

Courtesy of SANZAR