Hurricanes skipper Dane Coles will be given until moments before the Super Rugby grand final against the Lions to prove his fitness.
Coles suffered a rib injury during his side’s 41-0 quarter-final mauling of the Sharks and was unable to recover in time for Saturday’s 25-9 semi-final win over the Chiefs.
Ricky Riccitelli started in his place at hooker with Leni Apisai coming off the bench in the 59th minute.
Head coach Chris Boyd was keeping his fingers crossed for Coles.
“I’m not a medical man but they say that with these things, when you’re ready, you play,” Boyd said.
“We’ll give him until kick-off on Saturday.”
Boyd said he was satisfied by Riccitelli’s performance in the No.2 jersey.
The 21-year-old, who played seven matches off the bench for the Hurricanes in 2016, was testament to the Wellington-based side’s squad depth.
“When people have dropped out this year, others have stood up and that’s been really pleasing,” Boyd said.
Loosehead prop Reggie Goodes may also make a grand final return as he recovers from concussion.
atlas
Guest
In Taranaki news today: Charlie Ngatai has been named in Taranaki's national provincial championship squad despite being sidelined with concussion since early May. Ngatai who captained Taranaki after James Marshall was ruled out for the season last year, has resumed light training and coach Colin Cooper was hopeful he could play some part in the NPC. "He is progressing well and he will be joining us," he said.
Jerry
Guest
I did think it was a bit ironic using an Aus specific term when trying to get the thread back on track. I would be very surprised if Coles gets on the pitch. Rib injuries are really slow to heal generally, I missed most of a season with one. Would wake me up in the night if I rolled over wrong.
tsuru
Guest
OK Jerry. Touche. You want to start another thread about what we call something. Still no love for Dane. Personally I think he isn't going to make it. The way he was grimacing as he came off the field when it happened was painful even from here, 10,000 miles away. And he took forever to walk the 50 yards or so. Rib injuries usually take a long time to heal.
AndyS
Guest
So the whole second last round doesn't knock anyone out, and the last round is the final and, well, the other final...
Jerry
Guest
We don't call them guernsey's in NZ.
tsuru
Guest
All these posts and not a mention of Dane Coles' fitness. But Charlie Ngatai gets a guernsey. Sorry Dane - nobody loves you.
CUW
Guest
Hillarios how a post about the fitness of Coles , turned into a discussion on terminology :P
ClarkeG
Guest
If I had been invited to watch Waikato on Saturday I would have been watching them defend the Ranfurly Shield against King Country at Matamata but if I had been invited to watch the Chiefs I would have been watching the game against the Hurricanes from Wellington - just saying.
Die hard
Roar Rookie
Both the AFL and the NFL refer to the ladder winner as the preliminary final winner then refer to the main game as the grand final. Super rugby has no preliminary finalist so therefore the expression confuse many.
Brett McKay
Expert
Good point, Jerry. I'll alert the 1950s of their clear and obvious mistake.........
Jerry
Guest
So basically, it was a Grand Final to differentiate it from a Preliminary Final which wasn't a final in a sense that anyone ever uses the term. It was a semi-final and should have been named as such (Major Dad Semi-Final or whatever) and the final could be called...the Final.
Brett McKay
Expert
No, the RWC is (obviously) straight knockout, it just includes a 3rd-4th playoff..
Brett McKay
Expert
Exactly, the old NSWRL (and probably the QRL too) used top 5 systems for decades. The Shute Shield in Sydney, and Brisbane Premier rugby still use variations of it now. And yeah, the NRL and VFL have maintained the Grand Final in their current 8-team format..
AndyS
Guest
So the RWC should culminate in a Grand Final, seeing as the semis aren't the end and 3rd plays 4th....? ;)
taylorman
Guest
Yes Brett most Leaguies will be familiar with it, the NRL follows something similar.
Brett McKay
Expert
It's lazy usage now, Darwin, but there is an actual difference..
Brett McKay
Expert
Finals decide knockout competitions; so Quarters (if played), into Semis, and the winners meeting in a Final. Grand Finals are played in finals formats that aren't straight knockout. The most common used to be the old 'top five', which often used elimination and qualifying finals, then minor and major semi-finals, then a preliminary final, and then the Grand Final. This kind of format was prevalent in Australia from maybe the 1950s right through until the expansion of the national competitions. Country comps still use it now, of course. It generally meant that the minor premier could lose a game and still be in the finals (unlike the knockout formats).. This link explains it a bit better, and with an example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_five_play-offs
Bakkies
Guest
When have the AAP not cut and paste overseas articles rather than have one of their journalists type it up themselves?
Bakkies
Guest
A.O Tear Rower if you are just on this particular website just to have a pick at Australian's opinions on selections and what not whether you think the comments are outlandish or not; please go over or back to the Silverfern forum. It's always been the Super 12/14/Rugby Final none of this Grand Final pap.
Ken Cathpole's Other Leg
Guest
Moa, is it a 'chance for a dance'? Or 'chahnce for a dahnce'? South Ausrtalians by the way have some very similar pronunciations to NZ English. Darwin's assertion is correct. lThis is an Aussie site. Can we not have our own vernacular? Even if it's 'wrong'?