Five World Cup All Blacks in Hurricanes for Eketahuna clash

Above: TJ Perenara will captain the Hurricanes for the first time, this weekend against the Blues in Eketahuna.

From London to Eketahuna – five 2015 RWC winning All Blacks will come out to play on Saturday for the first time since their World Cup final win over the Wallabies last year.

Fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder (Varsity), wing Julian Savea (Oriental-Rongotai), first five-eighth Beauden Barrett (Coastal), TJ Perenara (Northern United) and No. 8 Victor Vito (Marist St Pat’s) will all take the field for the Hurricanes against the Blues at Eketahuna. 

Perenara will also captain the Hurricanes for the first time for the annual fixture at Eketahuna Rugby Club.

Hurricanes 2016 vice-captain Perenara takes the leadership role in the absence of season skipper Dane Coles (Poneke), who is attending a wedding, with Samoan World Cup hooker Motu Matu'u (Oriental-Rongotai) starting in the number 2 jersey.

The match will also feature the Hurricanes debut of former Warriors rugby league players and NRL rookie of the year Ngani Laumape, who will combine with centre Matt Proctor (Oriental-Rongotai) in the midfield.

Laumape, along with wing Cory Jane (Upper Hutt Rams) were among a sizable group of Hurricanes players who missed the team’s opening preseason match against the Force in Sydney last week.

This is the Hurricanes’ second pre-season fixture, losing 0-28 to the Force in Gosford last week.

Coach Chris Boyd said the match was an important starting point for the season with his full squad available for the first time.

“We had a good hit out against the Western Force last weekend, but our time in Gisborne has given us an opportunity to add some real clarity to what we’re doing and I’m pretty pleased with how we’ve come together as a group.

“This is our first match as a full squad, which is exciting, but we know the Blues will bring a lot of intensity up front and they have some very dangerous backs, so we know we’ll need to turn up ready for a battle.”

Boyd said it was important to give his All Blacks some meaningful game time two weeks out from the start of the season proper.

“It’s been really pleasing to see our All Blacks come back excited about the season ahead and keen to pull the Hurricanes jersey on again.

“We are still looking at combinations and there are still places up for grabs. Our guys know that and they know there is a real opportunity to put their hands up for selection over the next couple of weeks.”

Boyd has not settled on his reserves bench with several players being assessed for minor injuries before the final squad of 28 can be confirmed.

The Hurricanes will one more preseason match, against the Crusaders in Blenheim next Friday, before their Investec Super Rugby season kicks off against the Brumbies in Canberra on February 26.

Timeline for Saturday

12.30pm: Gates Open
1.00pm: Curtain raiser kick-off: Mangatainoka Barbarians RFC Invitational XV vs PGG Wrightson Invitational XV.
3.00pm: Hurricanes Vs Blues
5.00pm: Close For GA
5.45pm: After-Match Speeches (Sir Brian Lochore is MC).Band playing in Tui Brewery Tent Village.

The Hurricanes squad to play the Blues at Eketahuna Rugby Club on Saturday, February 13 is:

15. Nehe Milner-Skudder
14. Cory Jane
13. Matt Proctor
12. Ngani Laumape
11. Julian Savea
10. Beauden Barrett
9. TJ Perenara (c)
8. Victor Vito
7. Callum Gibbins
6. Brad Shields
5 Mark Abbott
4 Blade Thomson
3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen
2. Motu Matu'u
1. Reggie Goodes

Reserves from: Leni Apisai, Chris Eves, Ben May, Hisa Sasagi, Loni Uhila, James Blackwell, Vaea Fifita, Tony Lamborn, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Otere Black, James Marshall, Pita Ahki, Willis Halaholo, Jason Woodward, Wes Goosen, Malo Tuitama.