Coles and Taylor start for Hurricanes

Editor

Dane Coles and Andre Taylor return to the Hurricanes starting XV to face the Kings but there could be more changes before Saturday.

Hooker Dane Coles and full-back Andre Taylor return to the Hurricanes starting line-up to face the Kings on Saturday but there could be more changes before kick-off in Wellington.

Captain Conrad Smith and scrum-half TJ Perenara are both injury doubts for the Hurricanes' first clash with South African opposition this season.

Centre Smith has a bruised heel and Perenara a calf strain, with both needing to prove their fitness on Thursday.

Smith has been bracketed with Alapati Leiua while Matt Proctor is on standby to start on the right wing if the All Black centre is not passed fit.

Chris Smylie will start if Perenara is ruled out, which would give Samisoni Fisilau a chance to make his debut off the bench.

Coles will return to the starting line-up after a two week lay-off with a lower ankle strain and Taylor returns to full-back jersey ahead of James Marshall after making an impact off the bench in the win over the Highlanders.

Ash Dixon will wear the back-up hooker jersey again allowing Motu Matu'u to recover from his shoulder injury. Changes on the bench include Mark Reddish, who is back in the mix after a hamstring injury early on in the competition, and Reynold Lee-Lo takes jersey number 22 to round off the bench.

Jeffery Toomaga-Allen will remain on the sideline this week with an injured sternum. Blade Thomson is still unavailable due to his high ankle sprain for another 3-4 weeks.

Ardie Savea is available after serving his suspension for a dangerous tackle but Hammett has retained Karl Lowe on the openside flank.

Hurricanes: 15 Andre Taylor, 14 Alapati Leiua / Matt Proctor, 13 Conrad Smith (c)/Alapati Leiua, 12 Tim Bateman, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara / Chris Smylie, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Ben May, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ben Franks.
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Reggie Goodes, 18 Mark Reddish, 19 Faifili Levave, 20 Chris Smylie/Samisoni Fisilau 21 Tusi Pisi, 22 Reynold Lee-Lo.

Date: Saturday, March 30
Kick-off: 16:35 (03:35 GMT)
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Television match official: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)