Thrush to captain Hurricanes

Editor

Hurricanes boss Mark Hammett has made some changes to his starting XV for Saturday's clash with the Crusaders in Wellington.

Hurricanes boss Mark Hammett has been forced into making changes to his starting XV for Saturday's clash with the Crusaders in Wellington.

With regular skipper and outside centre Conrad Smith sidelined with a thumb injury, second row Jeremy Thrush takes over the captaincy while Tim Bateman will wear the number 13 jersey.

In other changes to the run-on side, Blade Thomson also enters the starting line-up, to partner Thrush in the second row while Brad Shields comes into the back row for the injured Faifili Levave.

Ardie Saeva also gets an opportunity in the starting side at openside flanker with Jack Lam starting amongst the replacements.

Hurricanes: 15 Matt Proctor, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Tim Bateman, 12 Alapati Leiua, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Blade Thomson, 4 Jeremy Thursh (c), 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Ben Franks.
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu'u/Reggie Goodes, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Reggie Goodes/Brendon Edmonds, 19 James Broadhurst, 20 Jack Lam, 21 Chris Smylie, 22 Hadleigh Parkes, 23 James Marshall.

Date: Saturday, June 28
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 19.35 local (07.35 GMT, 08.35 BST)
Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand), Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
Television match official: Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)