Fifita starts for Hurricanes

Fifita switches places with Blade Thomson, who takes his place on a reserve bench that features two further changes to the squad that lost by a solitary point to the Chiefs in Wellington.

Experienced scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park comes into the squad for Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, who has remained in New Zealand, while James Marshall edges out Otere Black as the bench cover for flyhalf and fullback.

Fifita, who will make his fourth start of 2016, resumes his locking partnership with Michael Fatialofa after the pair started together against the Rebels in Melbourne a fortnight ago.

Gibson-Park's experience made him a valuable asset behind vice-captain TJ Perenara, while Marshall had been named in the reserves against the Chiefs, but had been withdrawn to give him more time to recover from the concussion that had also kept him out of the previous two matches.

Hurricanes: 15 Jason Woodward, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Vince Aso, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Michael Fatialofa, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles (captain), 1 Reg Goodes. 

Replacements: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Loni Uhila, 19 Blade Thomson, 20 Callum Gibbins, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 James Marshall, 23 Willis Halaholo.

Date: Saturday, April 30

Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT; 03.05, Sunday, April 31, NZ time)

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper, Ben Crouse

TMO: Johan Greeff