Coles blow for Canes
The Hurricanes were dealt a blow ahead of their Super Rugby showdown with the Highlanders, in Dunedin on Friday, with the withdrawal of All Black hooker Dane Coles.
Coles was originally named in the Hurricanes team – released early on Wednesday.
However, after training later in the day he was withdrawn, as a precaution, after to give him additional time to recover from the hyper-extended elbow injury he suffered in the 30-23 win over the Blues last Friday.
Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd decided to combine the recover period with the directive that he has to give his All Blacks two weeks off in mid-season. This break will now count as one of those weeks.
"We were keen to obviously put, pretty much, our best side that was available against the Highlanders," Boyd told the NZME website.
"There was no way we were going to take the Highlanders lightly."
Motu Matu'u, who was to have played off the bench, no comes into the starting XV and Brayden Mitchell will provide cover at hooker off the bench.
* Meanwhile Jeremy Thrush comes back into the starting line-up and will pair with Blade Thomson in what will be his first start at lock for 2015.
In the backline All Black Cory Jane replaces Matt Proctor on the right wing.
Ben May occupies a spot on the bench after returning from a leg injury, while Callum Gibbins also returns to the match day 23.
With both teams celebrating successful wins over the past couple of weeks, and having one of the closest derby rivalries in New Zealand, this match is shaping up to be an exciting contest.
Hurricanes: 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (captain), 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Blade Thomson, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Motu Matu'u, 1 Reggie Goodes.
Replacements: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Ben May, 18 Chris Eves, 19 Mark Abbott, 20 Callum Gibbins, 21 Chris Smylie, 22 Rey Lee-Lo, 23 James Marshall.
Date: Friday, March 20
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick-off: 19.35 (08.35 GMT)
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Paul Williams (New Zealand)
TMO: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Sources: NZME & Hurricanes media unit
