Super Rugby round nine
Hurricanes name Tusi Pisi at fl-half
ESPN Staff
April 11, 2013
Samoa's Tusi Pisi kicks for goal, Wales v Samoa, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, November 16, 2012
Tusi Pisi starts in the No. 10 jumper, with Beauden Barrett moved to fullback © PA Photos
Enlarge
Related Links

Samoa fly-half Tusi Pisi will make his first start for the Hurricanes this season, against the Blues at Eden Park on Saturday.

"Tusi offers another style of attack with his versatility as a 10, 12 and 15 for us this weekend," assistant coach Alama Ieremia said in explaining the change to the backline.

"Beauden [Barrett] is experienced at fullback and having him in this position gives us another option. He has moved between first five and fullback this season when the bench has been introduced, so it is an opportunity to give those combinations more game time."

Ben Franks has been bracketed with Reg Goodes at loose-head prop after missing last week's game due to a lower back strain.

On the bench, Dane Coles has been bracketed with Ash Dixon for the reserve hooker jersey.

Victor Vito (calf), Jeremy Thrush (ankle) and Blade Thomson (ankle) were unavailable as the Hurricanes seek to maintain their four-match undefeated run and avenge their latest 34-20 mauling by the Blues at Westpac Stadium in round two.

Hurricanes: Beauden Barrett; Alapati Leiua, Conrad Smith (captain), Tim Bateman, Julian Savea; Tusi Pisi, TJ Perenara; Faifili Levave, Ardie Savea, Brad Shields; Jason Eaton, Mark Reddish; Ben May, Motu Matu'u, Ben Franks/Reggie Goodes. Replacements: Dane Coles/Ash Dixon, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, James Broadhurst, Jack Lam, Chris Smylie, Reynold Lee-Lo, Andre Taylor.

© ESPN Australia / New Zealand

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices