Injury concerns hit Canes and Chiefs
The Hurricanes are sweating on the fitness of Brad Shields and Wes Goosen ahead of their Super Rugby quarter-final against the Chiefs in Wellington tomorrow night.
The pair were injured when the sides met in Hamilton last Friday, but were tentatively named in this weekend’s side.
“We’ve had a philosophy all year of getting certainty at the start of the week,” Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said. “But Brad and Wes are both bracketed, and we’re keen for them to play a part in the game.”
Goosen won’t be confirmed in the Hurricanes’ 23 until game day, with his concussion protocols not finishing until about four hours before kick off, while Shields is in a race against time to recover from a rib injury.
With Goosen in doubt, Jordie Barrett been named at centre, Julian Savea starts on the wing and Nehe Milner-Skudder moves to fullback.
Goosen has been tentatively named on the bench. Should Shields be unavailable, Reed Prinsep will start in the No 6 jersey.
While the Hurricanes wait to see if Shields and Goosen are fit, the Chiefs will be without locks Tyler Ardron and Luke Jacobson (concussion), while winger Toni Pulu was unavailable after suffering a rib injury last Friday.
Prop Nepo Laulala, who was expected to be available for the match, also missed out on a spot.
“To be fair, all the people we’ve talked about on the injury list haven’t been far away,” Chiefs assistant coach Tabai Matson said. “But one of the things we definitely know in the playoff games is we’re better to select the guys that can train all week, can prepare really well, and can go down to Wellington well-oiled.”
The Chiefs will welcome back All Blacks Sam Cane, Nathan Harris and Damian McKenzie however, with second five-eighth Charlie Ngatai also back in the starting side.
Sean Wainui joins the side on the wing in place of Pulu, while loose forward Mitch Karpik and young back Alex Nankivell, 21, will get their opportunities off the bench.
Hurricanes: Nehe Milner-Skudder, Julian Savea, Jordie Barrett, Ngani Laumape, Ben Lam, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Blade Thomson, Gareth Evans, Brad Shields/Reed Prinsep, Sam Lousi, Michael Fatialofa, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Ricky Riccitelli, Toby Smith. Reserves: James O’Reilly, Chris Eves, Ben May, Vaea Fifita, Reed Prinsep/Sam Henwood, Jamie Booth, Ihaia West, Wes Goosen/ Jonah Lowe.
Chiefs: Solomon Alaimalo, Sean Wainui, Anton Lienert-Brown, Charlie Ngatai, Shaun Stevenson, Damian McKenzie, Brad Weber, Liam Messam, Sam Cane, Lachlan Boshier, Michael Allardice, Brodie Retallick, Angus Ta’avao, Nathan Harris, Karl Tu’inukuafe. Reserves: Liam Polwart, Sam Prattley, Jeff Thwaites, Jesse Parete, Mitch Karpik, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Marty McKenzie, Alex Nankivell.