Rugby: Slight forward pack shuffle for Hurricanes

Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett has tweaked his forward pack for Friday night's Super Rugby outing against the Rebels in Melbourne. Photo / Getty Images.

Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett has tweaked his forward pack for Friday night's Super Rugby outing against the Rebels in Melbourne.

After their disappointing 39-30 loss to the Waratahs in Sydney last Saturday, Hammett has dropped tighthead prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen to the bench and installed Ben Franks in the No 3 jersey with Reggie Goodes set to start on the other side of the scrum.

Exciting openside flanker Ardie Savea will also start with Jack Lam moving to the bench.

Lock Jeremy Thrush has been named to play providing his sore neck doesn't flare up again in the coming days but if he was to be scratched, Blade Thomson would come in to the starting line-up with Brad Shields joining the bench.

Hammett has kept the same backline who looked impressive on attack against the Waratahs.

The Hurricanes are in seventh place on the Super Rugby ladder and remain firmly in the playoff hunt, while the Rebels are 11th.

Hurricanes: Andre Taylor, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith (captain), Alapati Leiua, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Victor Vito, Ardie Savea, Faifili Levave, James Broadhurst, Jeremy Thrush/Blade Thomson, Ben Franks, Dane Coles, Reggie Goodes. Reserves: Motu Matu'u, Chris Eves, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Blade Thomson/Brad Shields, Jack Lam, Billy Guyton, Tim Bateman, Matt Proctor