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Hurricanes welcome back stars for Brumbies clash

Beauden Barrett and TJ Perenara celebrating for the Hurricanes. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Beauden Barrett has returned to the Hurricanes’ starting lineup for their clash against the Brumbies in Palmerston North this weekend.

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The addition of the mercurial 27-year-old playmaker is one of seven changes made to the side following two shaky outings to open their Super Rugby campaign, which includes the injection of All Blacks TJ Perenara, Ngani Laumape, Ardie Savea and Vaea Fifita into the starting side.

Jordie Barrett is among those to have missed the cut, with the 22-year-old utility back being left out as part of the All Blacks’ Super Rugby resting policy for the World Cup.

Taking his place at fullback is Chase Tiatia, who is yet to experience Super Rugby action despite being part of the Chiefs squad in previous campaigns.

Veteran tighthead prop Ben May is the other change in the side, replacing Northampton-bound Jeff Toomaga-Allen, who has been demoted to the bench.

The array of alterations comes after the Hurricanes pipped the Waratahs 20-19 in a tight affair in their season-opener at Brookvale Oval in Sydney, before being thrashed by 38-22 by the Crusaders a week later in Christchurch.

Head coach John Plumtree said he expected his side to perform much more convincingly in their first home game of the year, with the return of their key players set to steer them back on track.

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“We want to improve a lot of aspects of our play and hopefully we can do that in front of what will be a great crowd in Palmy,” Plumtree said.

“We were really impressed with the performance the Brumbies put out last week so we know the scale of task ahead of us but it’s a great challenge for the squad.”

Hurricanes: 1. Chris Eves, 2. Dane Coles (c), 3. Ben May, 4. James Blackwell, 5. Liam Mitchell, 6. Reed Prinsep, 7. Du’Plessis Kirifi, 8. Ardie Savea, 9. TJ Perenara, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Ben Lam, 12. Ngani Laumape, 13. Matt Proctor, 14. Vince Aso, 15. Chase Tiatia

Reserves: 16. Ricky Riccitelli, 17. Xavier Numia, 18. Jeff To’omaga-Allen, 19. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20. Reed Prinsep, 21. Richard Judd, 22. Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23. Wes Goosen

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Nickers 21 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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