Coles to start, Savea on bench
WELLINGTON: Dane Coles is starting but Julian Savea is on the bench as the two bigname All Blacks received contrasting news when the Hurricanes team was unveiled for its Super Rugby semifinal.
All Black hooker Coles will make his first start in more than four months in what will be his 100th game for the Hurricanes when he leads them on to Ellis Park to face the Lions tomorrow morning.
Having finally shaken off the concussion symptoms that ruled him out of the test series against the British and Irish Lions, Coles returned off the bench against the Brumbies in Canberra last week.
He impressed in the 3516 quarterfinal win and pushes Ricky Riccitelli to the bench, while reclaiming the captain’s armband from TJ Perenara.
In the other starting change, fit again Vince
Aso is back at centre, prompting a cascade of positional switches out wide. Jordie Barrett drops to fullback, Nehe MilnerSkudder to the right wing and Wes
Goosen to the left wing.
Goosen’s retention means powerhouse test No 11 Savea drops from the starting side, a decision which coach Chris Boyd said was based purely on form.
‘‘We’ve talked through the year that at the back end of the season reputation counts for nothing and form will dictate selection,’’ he said.
‘‘We were keen to get Vince back in the midfield in conjunction with Ngani, where they’ve performed pretty well.
‘‘It left three guys competing for two [wing] positions and we thought Wes and Nehe had the better form currently.’’
It is a fall from grace not only for Savea but another accomplished All Blacks winger in Cory Jane, who is dropped from the bench.
Savea’s undulating form has come back to haunt him again.
He was often employed a reserve last year, coming off the bench to replace Jason Woodward late in the 203 triumph in the final against the Lions.
The scorer of 46 tries in 54 Tests, Savea was not wanted in the first two tests against the touring Lions but was selected for the third.
Boyd rated Goosen the quickest player in his squad over a short distance.
It means the Hurricanes field a supremely fast back division tomorrow, most notably through brothers Beauden and Jordie Barrett and Aso, who has shaken off the groin problem that sidelined him from two matches.
Boyd said Coles’ return to the starting side was a boost for what would be a special occasion.
‘‘Colesy is a leader and a great competitor and I know this group feeds off his presence, so it’s good timing too have him fit and firing in time for what we expect to be a tough semifinal.
‘‘He probably won’t want anyone to make a fuss. I’m sure his milestone will provide some motivation for his teammates.’’ — NZN