Beauden Barrett may have earned an All Blacks call-up this week but he has been relegated to the bench for the Hurricanes’ Super Rugby match against the Brumbies.
Barrett, 20, was named in a 35-man national squad for two training camps ahead of June’s tour by Ireland but will watch Samoan international Tusi Pisi run out in his place on Friday night.
The Hurricanes say they are trying to manage the playmaker’s workload after he started all of their matches so far this season, including last week’s 26-20 win over the Highlanders.
Pisi, who has been hampered by a calf strain, will make his first start for the side.
In the only other change to the starting line-up All Blacks squad member Brad Shields returns while James Broadhurst and Jayden Hayward come into the replacements.
Hurricanes: Andre Taylor, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith (capt), Tim Bateman, Julian Savea, Tusi Pisi, TJ Perenara, Victor Vito, Karl Lowe, Brad Shields, Jason Eaton, Jeremy Thrush, Ben May, Dane Coles, Reggie Goodes. Reserves: Motu Matu’u, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, James Broadhurst, Jack Lam, Chris Eaton, Beauden Barrett, Jayden Hayward.