Beauden Barrett

The defending champions overcame a red card to the All Blacks first-five to beat the Waratahs 38-28 in their Super Rugby clash in Wellington.

The World Rugby player of the year scored a try, but was also judged to have deliberately knocked the ball down twice in the match.

He was sent off in the 60th minute after receiving his second yellow card for the same offence.

The Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd hopes the red card is all that Barrett will cop.

Fresh off their 83-17 demolition of the Sunwolves in Tokyo, the Hurricanes host the Rebels in Wellington on Saturday.
 
The star trio are among four changes to the starting XV. The other sees Reed Prinsep come in at No 8 to for the injured Blade Thomson.
 
Hurricanes hooker and captain Coles and first-five Barrett swap places with Ricky Riccitelli and Otere Black respectively after coming off the bench in Tokyo.

RNZ reports the 25-year-old was pivotal in winning the Hurricanes first Super Rugby title this season, as well as the three-Test series triumph against Wales and the recent Bledisloe Cup win over Australia.

Both All Blacks coach Steve Hansen and Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd have lauded Barrett's decision, both describing him as one of the best players in the world right now.

RNZ reports Barrett played a leading role in guiding the Hurricanes to their maiden Super Rugby title and that form has been rewarded with the playmaker usurping Cruden, who was the All Blacks first-choice first-five in the June test series against Wales.

Chiefs hooker Nathan Harris will start in the number 2 jersey as Dane Coles continues to recover from the rib injury that he played through in the Super Rugby final.

Sam Cane has retained his place at openside, with the in-form Ardie Savea to be used off the bench.