Hurricanes: Savea bracketed ahead of final

Ardie Savea. Photo / Getty

Hurricanes openside flanker Ardie Savea has been named to start in Saturday night's Super Rugby final against the Highlanders in Wellington but he has been bracketed alongside Manawatu's Callum Gibbins.

Savea limped from the field during the second half of the Hurricanes' 29-9 semifinal victory over the Brumbies in the capital last weekend and was sent for scans earlier in the week to search for damage on his knee.

Coach Chris Boyd must have faith in Savea's ability to recover in time but they have a handy insurance policy in Gibbins who has been a reliable operator when called upon this year.

Right wing Cory Jane hasn't recovered from his hamstring injury and wasn't named in the squad but there was better news for Nehe Milner-Skudder who will wear the No 14 jersey after overcoming his own hamstring complaint. James Marshall will play at fullback.

One other change to the 23-man squad that beat the Brumbies comes on the bench where reserve rake Motu Matu'u has recovered from a knee injury to win selection ahead of Brayden Mitchell.

This weekend's match will mark the first time the Hurricanes have hosted the Super Rugby final. The Hurricanes beat the Highlanders twice during the regular season and the last contest, which came in round 17 in Napier, featured a 56-20 final score in favour of the Hurricanes.

But it was a game where the Highlanders rested a host of players, including All Blacks Aaron Smith, Ben Smith and Malakai Fekitoa.

"We'll take absolutely no energy from that performance at all," Boyd said earlier this week.
"I think they've got some key players in there that are playing really well for them."

The final will mark the last game in a Hurricanes jersey for a collection of stalwarts and other senior players, including: Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Jeremy Thrush, Chris Smylie, Rey Lee-Lo and Ben Franks.

That group boasts more than 450 Super Rugby caps between them, which will leave a notable hole in the squad next year.

Hurricanes: James Marshall, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Conrad Smith (c), Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Victor Vito, Ardie Savea/Callum Gibbins, Brad Shields, James Broadhurst, Jeremy Thrush, Ben Franks, Dane Coles, Reggie Goodes. Reserves: Motu Matu'u, Chris Eves, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Callum Gibbins/Mark Abbott, Blade Thomson, Chris Smylie, Rey Lee-Lo, Matt Proctor.