Nonu to play Super Rugby game No.150

Hurricanes centre Ma’a Nonu will join an exclusive club of players to notch 150 Super Rugby games when he faces the Stormers in Wellington on Friday.

All Blacks veteran Nonu is named at inside centre for the strengthened competition leaders, who have made four starting changes from the team which beat Melbourne 36-12 last weekend.

Nonu will join two New Zealand hookers – Keven Mealamu and Corey Flynn – and Australian lock Nathan Sharpe in reaching 150 games.

It will be the 32-year-old’s 114th appearance for the Hurricanes, having also represented the Blues and Highlanders in recent seasons.

He will be part of a powerhouse backline this week, with All Blacks Julian Savea and Beauden Barrett restored on the wing and at five-eighth respectively in place of Matt Proctor and James Marshall.

All Blacks prop Ben Franks also from returns one-week’s rest, replacing Ben May, while Nehe Milner-Skudder is back at fullback ahead of Jason Woodward.

Test hooker Dane Coles will miss a third successive match because of his elbow injury while loose forward Blade Thomson remains sidelined following a head knock.

The Hurricanes are the only unbeaten team in the competition and are three points clear of the second-placed Chiefs, who have played an extra game. Every other team has lost at least twice.

The Stormers are eighth, the South Africans boasting four wins from six and coming off a 39-21 loss to the Highlanders in Dunedin last weekend.

Hurricanes: Nehe Milner-Skudder, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith (capt), Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Victor Vito, Callum Gibbins, Brad Shields, James Broadhurst, Jeremy Thrush, Ben Franks, Moto Matu’u, Reggie Goodes. Reserves: Brayden Mitchell, Ben May, Chris Eves, Mark Abbott, Adam Hill, Chris Smylie, Rey Lee-Lo, James Marshall.

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!