Hurricanes pick four new starters

Editor

Four players are set to make their debuts for the Hurricanes in Durban against the Sharks this weekend in their season opener.

Four players are set to make their debuts for the Hurricanes in Durban against the Sharks this weekend, while two more will be hunting for their first Super Rugby caps off the bench.

New recruits Mark Abbott, Hadleigh Parkes and Marty Banks have been named in the Hurricanes' starting XV, while Blade Thomson, who already has one Super Rugby cap, will be given his first start.

Forwards Chris Eves and Adam Hill will also gain Super Rugby caps, if they are given time off the bench this weekend.

Captained by an experienced Conrad Smith, Mark Hammett's starting line-up features nine All Blacks and two Samoan internationals.

Hurricanes: 15 Marty Banks, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (c), 12 Hadleigh Parks, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 Mark Abbott, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Jeffrey Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ben Franks
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Chris Eves, 18 John Schwalger, 19 Mark Reddish, 20 Adam Hill, 21 Chris Smylie, 22 Alapati Leiua, 23 James Marshall

Date: Saturday, February 22
Kick off: 17:05 (local, 15:05 GMT)
Venue: Kings Park Stadium, Durban
Referee: Andrew Lees (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Marius Jonker (South Africa), Stefan Breytenbach (South Africa)
TMO: Deon van Blommestein (South Africa)