All Blacks Barrett, Coles to start Super Rugby season on bench
ByReuters
Published 23/02/2017 at 00:56 GMT
WELLINGTON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - World Rugby's Player of the Year Beauden Barrett will be on the bench for the Wellington Hurricanes in their Super Rugby opener against the Sunwolves in Tokyo on Saturday.
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All Blacks team mate Dane Coles will also start the game on the bench as coach Chris Boyd manages their return to the side after they joined pre-season training late due to international commitments.
"Beauden and Dane are both following their return to play protocols and part of that is that they were always going to have a graduated entry into the Super Rugby season," Boyd said in a statement.
"They're both key guys for us and there is no benefit in pushing them any faster than we need to, but they'll both have a part to play in Tokyo."
Otere Black will play at flyhalf for last year's champions, with Ricky Ricitelli starting at hooker in place of Coles.
"Otere was calling the shots right through the pre-season and had a good handle on things before our All Blacks joined the group," Boyd added. "We have every confidence in his abilities."
Scrumhalf TJ Perenara will lead the side in Coles' absence.
Barrett's younger brother Jordie will start at fullback in his Super Rugby debut in place of Nehe Milner-Skudder, who remained in New Zealand with a hamstring strain.
Joining the 20-year-old Barrett for their Hurricanes debuts are starting lock James Blackwell and loose forward Reed Prinsep, who is on the bench.
(Writing by Greg Stutchbury; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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