All Blacks fullback Jordie Barrett has been named at centre for the Hurricanes' top-of-the-table Super Rugby clash against the Crusaders on Friday.
The regular No.15 shuffles forward to cover a midfield crisis that has seen Vince Aso sidelined with a wrist injury for the rest of the season and Matt Proctor still suffering from a sternum blow.
Last week, rookie Peter Umaga-Jensen debuted at centre against the Reds, but coach Chris Boyd has opted for Barret's experience against the defending Super Rugby champions.
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"[He'll have] less time and space, obviously," says Boyd. "I don't think there's too much adjustment.
"You might find he shifts around a little bit, depending on what the situation of the game is. He'll have 13 on his back, but there'll be different situations where people find themselves in different positions."
Barrett's shift enables Boyd to retain a high-powered back three of Nehe Milner-Skudder, Ben Lam and Julian Savea.
The Hurricanes will also be without international forward Vaea Fifita, who went off with a shoulder injury last week, but regular skipper Brad Shields returns to the starting line-up, after coming off the bench against the Reds.
"All teams, at this time of the year, are well short of their best 15 and 23 from the start of the year," says Boyd.
"It's been tough for [the Crusaders], but we've got half a dozen guys missing as well."
Hurricanes: 1-Toby Smith, 2-Ricky Riccitelli, 3-Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 4-Michael Fatialofa, 5-Sam Lousi, 6-Brad Shields, 7-Ardie Savea, 8-Blade Thomson, 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Ben Lam, 12-Ngani Laumape, 13-Jordie Barrett, 14-Julian Savea, 15-Nehe Milner-Skudder
Reserves: 16-James O'Reilly, 17-Chris Eves, 18-Ben May, 19-Murray Douglas, 20-Reed Prinsep, 21-Finlay Christie, 22-Ihaia West, 23-Jonah Lowe
Newshu.
Join us at 7:30pm Friday for live updates of the Hurricanes vs Crusaders Super Rugby showdown.
