Hurricanes captain Shields set for major milestone

Captain Brad Shields will become just the 14th player to bring up 100 appearances for the Hurricanes when he leads the team south to meet the Highlanders at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium on Friday night.

The match will be the 99th Investec Super Rugby appearance for Shields who also started for the Hurricanes against the British and Irish Lions in 2017.

Shields will join Tana Umaga, Rodney So’oialo, Andrew Hore, Cory Jane, Victor Vito, Jeremy Thrush, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Neemia Tialata, Julian Savea, Dane Coles, Beauden Barrett and TJ Perenara to reach the milestone in the club’s 23-year history.

Hurricanes head coach Chris Boyd congratulated Shields on reaching the mark and believed the squad would be determined to celebrate the milestone in the appropriate way.

“There is no other player who is more respected in this squad and our club than Brad are determined to put together a performance that recognises that on Friday,” Boyd said.

“Brad is certainly a guy who leads and sets standards by example and that is reflected in everything he does, not only on the field but at training and interacting with our fans and members. We all congratulate him on reaching a century for the Hurricanes.”

Boyd has made just one change to the starting XV which lost to the defending champion Crusaders in Christchurch last week with No 8 Gareth Evans replacing Blade Thomson.

Evans has missed the last two Hurricanes matches after suffering from an ankle problem but Boyd said he had now fully recovered and has taken a full part in training this week.

All Blacks squad member Vaea Fifita has been bracketed on the bench with Murray Douglas as assessments continue to be made as to the state of his fitness after he suffered a bone bruise in his shoulder against the Reds.

A decision on whether or not Fifita takes his place on the bench would likely be made on Thursday.

There is a confirmed change in the reserves where utility back Wes Goosen returns after a lengthy lay-off after he fractured his jaw against the Chiefs on April 13.

Boyd said Goosen had impressed everyone by how hard he had worked to regain fitness following the injury, his second significant setback this season after damaging his ankle in the opening match against the Bulls in Pretoria.

Kick-off at Forsyth Barr Stadium is 7.35pm.

The Hurricanes squad to face the Highlanders is:

15 Nehe Milner-Skudder (Nee-hee Milner-Skud-der)
14 Julian Savea (Julian Sar-vea)
13 Jordie Barrett (Jaw-dee Bar-rett)
12 Ngani Laumape (Nah-nee Lau-ma-pey)
11 Ben Lam (Ben Lam)
10 Beauden Barrett (Beau-den Bar-rett)
9 TJ Perenara (TJ Pair-e-nar-ra)
8 Gareth Evans (Gareth Evans)
7 Ardie Savea (Ar-dee Sar-vea)
6 Brad Shields (c) (Brad Shields)
5 Sam Lousi (Sam Low-cee)
4 Michael Fatialofa (Michael Fat-ee-a-lo-fa)
3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen (Jeff Too-ma-ga Allen)
2 Ricky Riccitelli (Ricky Rick-e-telli
1 Toby Smith (Toby Smith)