Julian Savea

Coles back, Savea out for Hurricanes

All Blacks hooker Coles will make his first start in more than four months in what will be his 100th game for the Hurricanes when he leads them on to Ellis Park to face the Lions on Sunday morning.

Having finally shaken off the concussion symptoms that ruled him out of the Test series against the British and Irish Lions, Coles returned off the bench against the Brumbies in Canberra last week.

He impressed in the 35-16 quarter-final win and pushes Ricky Riccitelli to the bench, while reclaiming the captain's armband from TJ Perenara.

Savea shuffle nudges CJ out

These are serious players. World Cup winners and veterans of more than 100 games each for the Hurricanes.

That Boyd felt compelled to drop Savea to the bench and exclude Jane from the 23 to play at Ellis Park on Saturday (Sunday morning NZ Time), speaks volumes for how much he must rate Goosen. 

"Wes is fast, he's probably the quickest guy we've got over short-ish periods. He's strong, he's got a massive workrate and he's just been accurate, so everything we've asked him to do he's done for us," Boyd said from Johannesburg.

Savea to start for Canes

Savea, along with Jordie Barrett, Ngani Laumape and Vaea Fifita will start for the Hurricanes in the final midweek fixture of the tour.

Loose forward Brad Shields will captain the Hurricanes.

Savea has been named on the left wing where he has started 12 of the Hurricanes 14 matches in 2017, while Barrett will wear the No.15 jersey for the 12th time in his first season of Investec Super Rugby.

Laumape will take his place at second five where he has scored 14 tries and combine centre Vince Aso, who has also scored 14 tries - a single season Hurricanes record.

Julian Savea to play 100th game for Hurricanes

Savea returns to the left wing in place of Ben Lam as one of six changes to the team that beat the Western Force 34-12 in Perth last weekend.

He will become the 10th player to reach 100 matches for the Hurricanes, joining Tana Umaga, Rodney So'oialo, Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata, Jeremy Thrush, Ma'a Nonu, Victor Vito, Conrad Smith and Cory Jane.

26 year old Savea made his Hurricanes debut against the Highlanders in 2009 and has been a fixture on the wing ever since.