The Hurricanes will be without captain Dane Coles for Friday’s round seven opener after the dynamic hooker strained his calf at training.

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Ricky Riccitelli will start again in an unchanged forward pack from the side that snuck past the Stormers in Wellington last weekend.

Jordie Barrett shifts from inside centre to the right wing to accomodate the return of the bullocking Ngani Laumape, which means Wes Goosen has to make do with a seat on the bench after scoring two tries against the Stormers.

Halfback TJ Perenara will captain the side in Coles’ absence after being rested last weekend.



The Hurricanes were beaten 38-22 by the Crusaders in round two and coach John Plumtree hasn’t forgotten.

“The Crusaders have a very strong pack,” Plumtree said.

“They’ll drive you up the middle, then they’ve got players around the edges of those drives as well.

“You might plan for one thing, and they’ll pull out another.

“That’s the sign of a confident team with many strengths, so we’ve got to prepare for what’s coming, but we can’t totally focus on them, we’ve got to make sure we’re ready to do what we want to do to them.”

Meanwhile, All Blacks captain Kieran Read has been named to start at No 8 for the Crusaders after being rested for the opening six rounds.

“Can’t wait,” Read said.

“I feel like I’m in as good nick as I’ve been in my career.

“It was the aim this year, it’s what the off-season was about.

“I’m very thankful to have had the time.

“Right now, it’s time to get out there and do it on the field.”

Fellow Test stars Scott Barrett and Richie Mo’unga also return after the loss to the Waratahs in Sydney.

Jordan Taufua, Quinten Strange, Brett Cameron drop to the reserves while Whetukamokamo Douglas shifts to the blindside flank.

HURRICANES (15-1): Chase Tiatia, Jordie Barrett, Matt Proctor, Ngani Laumape, Ben Lam, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara (c), Reed Prinsep, Ardie Savea, Vaea Fifita, Liam Mitchell, James Blackwell, Ben May, Ricky Riccitelli, Fraser Armstrong

Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Chris Eves, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Richard Judd, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Wes Goosen

CRUSADERS (15-1): David Havili, Braydon Ennor, Jack Goodhue, Ryan Crotty, George Bridge, Richie Mo’unga, Bryn Hall, Kieran Read (c), Matt Todd, Whetukamokamo Douglas, Sam Whitelock (c), Scott Barrett, Michael Alaalatoa, Codie Taylor, Harry Allan

Reserves: Andrew Makalio, George Bower, Oliver Jager, Quinten Strange, Jordan Taufua, Mitchell Drummond, Brett Cameron, Will Jordan

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZ)