Coles hopeful of playing
RUGBY: It was a tale of two stars, at Hurricanes training on Thursday.
One participated, but appears unlikely to play, while the other was tucked up in bed but is certain to front for Saturday’s Super Rugby semifinal against the Chiefs.
Dane Coles was the trainer, doing some ‘‘high-intensity’’ running to test out his injured ribs. The Hurricanes captain will be given until ‘‘7.34[pm] and a half,’’ on Saturday to prove his fitness, but must be at massive odds to lead the team out at Westpac Stadium.
Coles is yet to do a contact session, or pack a scrum, and both would put massive strain on his rib-cartilage problem.
Meanwhile, star first fiveeighth Beauden Barrett didn’t even make it to training, as he tried to shake off a cold.
Boyd was sure Barrett would be fine for Friday’s Captain’s Run, though, then the following night’s game.
Having any doubt surrounding the fitness of key performers is hardly ideal preparation for a playoff match. But, from Coles on down, the Hurricanes have adopted a very matter-of-fact approach the situation.
If he can cope with the pain, he’ll play. If he can’t, he has every confidence that Ricky Riccitelli and Leni Apisai will be adequate replacements.
Coles’ ribs appeared tender on Thursday, as he made heavy weather picking up some boots on his way back to the dressing room. But he’s feeling a darn sight better than he did after suffering the injury just after halftime in the team’s 41-0 quarterfinal win over the Sharks.
‘‘I’ve never had pain like that in my life. I thought I was having a heart attack, to be honest,’’ Coles said.
‘‘’I just couldn’t breathe - that was the hardest thing - and it just hurt to walk.’’
Unable to sleep, Coles eventually sat up all night watching the Chiefs and Crusaders play their quarterfinals over in South Africa.
But it’s one thing to be able to run around and quite another to play in his usual robust fashion. Coles is desperate to to be out there on Saturday, but not if it means being a liability.
‘‘Like there’s no point me being 50 per cent. I’m no good to anyone if I’m that. I want to be 90 or 100,’’ he said.
He hadn’t sought, nor tried on, any protective equipment and said he wouldn’t ‘‘wear anything.’’ ‘‘If I take a hit, I take a hit.’’ Provided he can negotiate some contact work on Friday, the last hurdle will be the team’s warm-up on Saturday night.
‘‘I’m not doctor so I don’t know it it’s 50-50 or 60-40 or 40-60, but he’s improved every day and he’s coming along nicely,’’ Boyd said.
It really is hard to imagine Coles playing, so you assume Riccitelli and Apisai are totally prepared and that the uncertainty is more for the Chiefs’ benefit than anything else.
As for Barrett, Boyd said there was no reason to panic.
‘‘Beauden’s got a cold or a virus or something, I’m not 100 per cent sure, but the doc said it was best for him not to train today.’’
Rain had been forecast for the session, which contributed to the decision that Barrett was better off at home. As it stands, the bracketing of Coles and Riccitelli at hooker represents the only potential change to the Hurricanes side that beat the Sharks.
That means Jason Woodward again starting ahead of Julian Savea on the left wing.