Hurricanes sweat over Savea
WELLINGTON Hurricanes openside flanker Ardie Savea will be given every opportunity to prove his fitness ahead of the Super Rugby final but veteran winger Cory Jane has ruled himself out of the game, coach Chris Boyd said yesterday.
Callum Gibbins would play in Savea’s place if he is unable to start tomorrow’s match against the Otago Highlanders at Wellington Regional Stadium.
Savea, considered unlucky not to have made the extended All Blacks squad this season, injured his knee in the team’s 29-9 semifinal victory over the ACT Brumbies last Saturday.
“He has made really, really good progress since Saturday,” Boyd told reporters after a Hurricanes training session yest where Savea had undergone some tests.
“I think there is a good likelihood he will play.
“If necessary we will give him until right before kick-off but I think we’ll get a pretty clear indication that we’ll get a positive result.”
Jane, who is battling a hamstring injury, had told Boyd he was not ready to play, despite it being the first time the Hurricanes had made the final in his eight years with the team.
“He came into my office and said, ‘It’s an easy conversation, I’m ruling myself out’, and I thought that was a really mature decision from a guy who has been with the club a long time,” said Boyd.
Winger Nehe Milner-Skudder, who had a slight hamstring injury that forced him off at halftime against the Brumbies, was named in the side.
“Nehe has been fine all week,” Boyd added. “It was probably precautionary that we withdrew him at halftime last week. He’s in good shape,” Boyd explained. — Reuters