Rugby: Perenara out, Vito returns for Hurricanes

Victor Vito will start at number 8. Photo / File

Livewire Hurricanes halfback TJ Perenara has been ruled out of Saturday night's Super Rugby showdown with the Crusaders in Wellington due to an ankle sprain.

The 19-year-old tweaked his ankle during a training session on Monday and hasn't recovered in time and will be replaced by Hawkes Bay halfback Chris Eaton, while Wellington's Frae Wilson will wear the No 20 jumper on the bench as cover.

Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett said taking in to consideration the length of the season it was best to rest Perenara rather than put pressure on him to play when he wasn't at 100 per cent.

Perenara's combination with first-five Beauden Barrett has blossomed during the past five games, after Perenara was installed in the No 9 jersey for the week-three clash with the Western Force and he marked his starting debut for the franchise with a hat-trick of tries.

Wilson is yet to make his debut for the Hurricanes and was pulled in from the wider training group at the start of the season when Chris Smylie suffered a serious shoulder injury.

Wing Cory Jane left today's training session at the Hutt Recreation Ground in Lower Hutt with a moon boot on his right ankle but it was largely precautionary although more would be known about the ailment at the captain's run tomorrow.

Victor Vito has been named to start at No 8 after recovering from the calf injury that kept him out of the last two matches but promising loose forward Brad Shields is absent against because of his shoulder injury.