Three newcomers take the field for the Hurricanes in their opening Super Rugby match against the Stormers in Capetown on Sunday.

Former Crusaders midfielder Tim Bateman makes his Hurricanes debut at second five-eighth, playing inside All Blacks centre and Hurricanes captain Conrad Smith, while former Chiefs props Ben May and Tristan Moran combine with Dane Coles in a new-look front row.

A further four team members could make their Hurricanes and Super Rugby debuts from the bench – Motu Matu’u, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Brad Shields and TJ Perenara.

The game is the first of three matches on the Hurricanes’ tour of South Africa and Australia. Next up will be the Lions in Johannesburg on March 3, followed a week later by the Western Force in Perth.

Hurricanes: Andre Taylor, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith (captain), Tim Bateman, Alapati Leiua, Beauden Barrett, Chris Eaton, Victor Vito, Jack Lam, Faifili Levave, Jason Eaton, Jeremy Thrush, Ben May, Dane Coles, Tristan Moran. Reserves: Motu Matu’u, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, James Broadhurst, Brad Shields, TJ Perenara, Daniel Kirkpatrick, Charlie Ngatai.