All Blacks fear hooker Coles could miss Test series

The All Blacks hooker Dane Coles remains a serious doubt for the Lions series after his Super Rugby coach said he was highly unlikely to play next week in the Wellington Hurricanes’ final game before the international break.

Coles has suffered a series of injuries this season, including concussion symptoms, and was not named by coach Chris Boyd to face the Western Force in Perth tomorrow.

All Blacks fly-half Beauden Barrett and utility back Nehe Milner-skudder, who has barely played for 15 months, were named in the squad to face the Force.

Coles, who has suffered headaches brought on by exercise, remains a major concern for Boyd, who had targeted the Waikato Chiefs game next Friday as his likely return, and for All Blacks coach Steve Hansen.

“I think it would be unlikely he’s going to get through enough [work] before next week for him to come into contention,” Boyd said.

Hansen, who names his squad for the three-test series on Thursday, received better news with the return of Barrett and Milner-skudder, while openside flanker Ardie Savea has also been cleared to play after suffering concussion in a 34-20 victory over the Bulls last week.

Barrett, the World Player of the Year, missed the Bulls game after arriving in South Africa suffering from headaches. The 26-year-old returns at No 10 against the Force, while Milner-skudder will come off the bench.

The World Cup winner missed virtually all of last year with a shoulder injury that required surgery, then in his second game back, against the Chiefs on March 10, he broke two bones in a foot.