Hurricanes to unleash Julian Savea against Blues

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Hurricanes centurion Julian Savea has been recalled to the starting XV for Saturday’s Super Rugby Aotearoa match against the Blues at Eden Park.

Savea is one of three changes Hurricanes head coach Jason Holland has made to the run-on side which helped defeat the Highlanders 30-19 in Dunedin in the last round.

Up front, Fraser Armstrong has been named to start at loosehead prop, while James Blackwell returns to the second row in place of Isaia Walker-Leawere, who moves to the bench alongside Wes Goosen and Xavier Numia after the trio started under the roof at Forsyth-Barr Stadium.

Holland said the coaching staff were continuing their plan to rotate some players and give others an opportunity through the tough Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign.

He was more than happy with how the squad had returned to training this week after what was a morale boosting performance against the Highlanders.

"We have felt all the way through we have been doing a lot of positive things, it was just about taking out a few of the things that were costing us picking up points and wins," he said.

"We are excited about the challenge of heading to Eden Park in search of our second win but we also know we’ll have to keep making improvements to our overall game."

With last week’s round of results condensing the competition ladder behind the leading Crusaders, Holland said there remained plenty of incentive for the squad.

"We have plenty to play for and we will go to Auckland with plenty of belief," Holland added.

Hurricanes: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Salesi Rayasi, 10 Orbyn Leger, 9 Luke Campbell, 8 Ardie Savea (captain), 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Reed Prinsep, 5 Scott Scrafton, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Fraser Armstrong.

Replacements: Ricky Riccitelli, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Devan Flanders, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 23 Wes Goosen.

Date: Saturday, April 3

Venue: Eden Park, Auckland

Kick-off: 19.05 (06.05 GMT)

Referee: Brendon Pickerill

Assistant referees: Paul Williams, James Doleman

TMO: Ben O'Keeffe