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Fifita starts against Lions

Cape Town - Lock Vaea Fifita's elevation to the starting team represents the only change to the Hurricanes starting XV named to play the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.

Fifita switches places with Blade Thomson, who takes his place on a reserve bench which features two further changes to the squad that lost by a solitary point to the Chiefs in Wellington.

Experienced sccrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park comes into the squad for Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, who has remained in New Zealand, while James Marshall edges out Otere Black as the bench cover for flyhalf and fullback.

Fifita, who will make his fourth start of 2016, resumes his locking partnership with Michael Fatialofa after the pair started together against the Rebels in Melbourne a fortnight ago.

Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said he was lucky to have two players in Fifita and Thomson both equally as capable of starting or providing impact off the bench with their athleticism.

Gibson-Park's experience made him a valuable asset behind vice-captain TJ Perenara.

Saturday’s clash is scheduled for 17:05.

Teams:

Lions

15 Jaco van der Walt, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Pieter Scholtz, 2 Armand van der Merwe, 1 Dylan Smith

Substitutes: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Jacques van Rooyen, 19 Ruan Ackermann, 20 Cyle Brink, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 JW Bell, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg

Hurricanes

15 Jason Woodward, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Vince Aso, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Michael Fatialofa, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dane Coles (captain), 1 Reg Goodes

Substitutes: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Loni Uhila, 19 Blade Thomson, 20 Callum Gibbins, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 James Marshall, 23 Willis Halaholo

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