No Coles as Lions head to Canterbury
Wellington’s coach Leo Crowley says he hasn’t heard from the All Blacks coaches, so will go without Dane Coles against Canterbury and hope to cling onto Peter Umaga-jensen and Du’plessis Kirifi as long as possible.
Despite missing his All Blacks quartet Coles, Ardie Savea, Asafo Aumua and TJ Perenara as they prepare for Bledisloe Cup, Crowley bolstered his side with four current or former Hurricanes for tomorrow’s Mitre 10 Cup match as Wellington chase a third straight win.
Star signing Julian Savea returns from a groin injury on the left wing while a new and more experienced front row dons the smallest numbers – Alex Fidow (concussion), James O’reilly (suspension) and Xavier Numia (injury rehab).
It means the breakout star of last Friday’s 32-10 win over Bay of Plenty, 20-year-old hooker Tyrone Thompson, will be unleashed around the 50-minute mark in Christchurch.
O’reilly will play his first match since June 20 when he suffered an injury in club rugby, then copped a five-week ban for referee abuse when running the water on August 22.
Coles, too, hasn’t played in a while since the Hurricanes’ final match against the Highlanders on August 15. He’d mentioned Canterbury as a potential return from calf and back injuries.
‘‘I haven’t had any contact all week so he won’t be in our 23. With James O’reilly and Tyrone I’ve got two fit guys. Even Bruce [Kauika-petersen] last week played well in his debut. I’ve always said I’m happy with my group if the All Blacks aren’t there, so it’s a bonus if Dane turns up,’’ Crowley said.
Then there’s 11 names All Blacks coach Ian Foster will summon to boost their squad to 46 for the Rugby Championship, assuming the tournament goes ahead and they cross the Tasman later this month.
Umaga-jensen was excellent again and looks a likely callup while captain Kirifi was the standout individual against BOP but is vying with Lachlan Boshier and other quality No 7s.
Of potential losses to the All Blacks, Crowley said: ‘‘I haven’t heard a thing, actually. And I’m sure Peter wouldn’t be the only person in our group that they’re looking at for the 11.’’
O’reilly, a former NZ under-20 hooker and Hurricanes regular in 2018, adds speed in attack and defence and is rated a strong scrummager. Julian Savea was 95 per cent fit last weekend but wasn’t risked, the coach said, as he eyes just a third full game since his return from France.
Savea made a memorable return with a try against Waikato with his first touch, but missed the next two against Auckland and BOP.
It’s still too early to assess Savea’s form as he tries to impress for a Super Rugby contract, but Crowley was confident the former All Blacks tryscoring machine would show some of his old magic.
Wellington sit second in the Premiership, the same position they finished last year, while Canterbury are fifth after narrow back-to=back defeats to Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay.