Super Rugby
Goodes replaces Franks for Hurricanes
April 16, 2014
Hurricanes' Ben Franks carries into contact, Hurricanes v Brumbies, Super Rugby, Westpac Stadium, Wellington, March 7, 2014
Ben Franks remains unavailable for the Hurricanes © Getty Images
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A stable Hurricanes starting line-up will be complemented by an overhauled replacements bench when they face they host the Blues on Friday.

Prop Reggie Goodes replaces injured All Blacks loosehead Ben Franks in the only change to the team who started the 25-20 Super Rugby win over the Bulls in Napier two weeks ago. Having a week off for a bye still didn't give Franks enough time to recover, promoting Goodes for his first start of the season after missing the first five rounds due to a toe injury.

There are six different faces on the reserve bench. Flanker Brad Shields took a knock to his knee and has been replaced by Ardie Savea. Shields missed the first six games of the season with a knee injury before playing the last 15 minutes against the Bulls.

The other changes to the forward reserves have hooker Motu Matu'u replacing Ash Dixon and John Schwalger filling a vacant prop backup spot. Scrum-half Chris Smylie and midfield back Tim Bateman return from injury to replace Billy Guyton and Hadleigh Parkes respectively, while wing Matt Proctor will cover the outside backs instead of Marty Banks.

The 10th-placed Hurricanes have won their past two games to sit one place ahead of the Blues on points differential.

Hurricanes: Andre Taylor; Cory Jane, Conrad Smith (captain), Alapati Leiua, Julian Savea; Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara; Victor Vito, Jack Lam, Faifili Levave; James Broadhurst, Jeremy Thrush; Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Dane Coles, Reggie Goodes. Replacements: Motu Matu'u, Chris Eves, John Schwalger, Blade Thomson, Ardie Savea, Chris Smylie, Tim Bateman, Matt Proctor

© AAP

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