Ardie Savea named to start against the Brumbies

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Having made a successful and prominent return to the Hurricanes line-up in their win over the Force last round, Savea will lead his side out onto GIO Stadium.

Hurricanes head coach Jason Holland said Savea’s return was another boost for a squad that continues to make progress.

“We’ve taken a lot of confidence out of the three wins we’ve had so far but we are very focused on what we need to do to reach our collective goals,” he said.

“While we’re in a really good position on the table we know there are massive challenges ahead and the Brumbies at home is right up there.”

Holland has made a number of changes to the starting XV, with Dane Coles returning to add to the experience in the pack.

Impressive loose forward Devan Flanders makes a switch to the side of the scrum after he was afforded a week off while James Blackwell returns to the second row.

Exciting young playmaker Ruben Love has fully recovered from his injury to wear the No 10 jersey.

Billy Proctor also returns to partner Ngani Laumape in the midfield while Julian Savea and Salesi Rayasi combine as a formidable duo on the wings.

“We are really excited with the line-up we are able to put out and that’s a reflection of the work the whole squad has put in and the competition we have for places at the moment,” Holland added.

Kick-off in Canberra is at 9.45pm (NZ Time) on Saturday.

The Hurricanes squad to face the Brumbies is:

1: XAVIER NUMIA 2: DANE COLES 3:TYREL LOMAX 4: JAMES BLACKWELL 5: SCOTT SCRAFTON 6:DEVAN FLANDERS 7: DU’PLESSIS KIRIFI 8: ARDIE SAVEA © 9: LUKE CAMPBELL 10: RUBEN LOVE 11: SALESI RAYASI 12: NGANI LAUMAPE 13: BILLY PROCTOR 14: JULIAN SAVEA 15: JORDIE BARRETT

RESERVES: RICKY RICCITELLI, POURI RAKETE-STONES, ALEX FIDOW, ISAIA WALKER-LEAWERE, BRAYDEN lOSE, GARETH EVANS, CAM ROIGARD, WES GOOSEN