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Hurricanes welcome All Blacks star Dane Coles back into starting lineup for Chiefs derby

(Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Dane Coles has been named in the Hurricanes’ starting line-up for the first time this year, as the team gets set to take on the Chiefs in Hamilton.

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It means Friday’s game will also be the first time the co-captaincy between Coles and TJ Perenara will formally come into effect.

The Wellington-based Super Rugby squad is looking to bounce back, after a tough loss at home against the Blues last Saturday.

Continue reading below…

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With Tyrel Lomax suspended for three weeks, Ben May, comes into the fold as tighthead prop.

There are a few other changes up front with Fraser Armstrong replacing Xavier Numia, who’s recovering from a head knock. James Blackwell makes his way back into the starting XV whilst Devan Flanders is promoted to the number 6 jersey.

Meanwhile, Coles’ return will mean Asafo Aumua will start the game on the bench.

Head coach, Jason Holland, says there’s plenty of competition for the No. 2 jersey.

“Colesy wants to put his hand up and grab that role. We’ve got three awesome boys fighting for a chance to start, so they’re all aware they need to take the chance when its given and play well.”

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There’s been no changes made to the backline this week, with Fletcher Smith, Ben Lam, Ngani Laumape, Vince Aso, Kobus Van Wyk and Jordie Barrett all included.

Holland says the team’s been focussing on its accuracy ahead of what will be another tough derby.

“We weren’t accurate enough to take opportunities and territory we were gaining in first 30-minutes against the Blues. We’re working hard at fixing that that this week, especially as this Chiefs side will be looking to capitalise on that.”

The Hurricanes haven’t played the Chiefs since their 47 – 19 win in Wellington last April.

Hurricanes team to play the Chiefs

15) Jordie Barrett
14) Kobus Van Wyk
13) Vince Aso
12) Ngani Laumape
11) Ben Lam
10) Fletcher Smith
9) TJ Perenara [CC]
8) Gareth Evans
7) Du’Plessis Kirifi
6) Devan Flanders
5) Isaia Walker-Leawere
4) James Blackwell
3) Ben May
2) Dane Coles [CC]
1)  Fraser Armstrong

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Reserves
16) Asafo Aumua
17) Pouri Rakete-Stones
18) Alex Fidow
19) Scott Scrafton
20) Vaea Fifita
21) Jamie Booth
22) Billy Proctor
23) Wes Goosen

– Hurricanes Rugby

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F
Flankly 1 hour ago
'Absolute madness': Clive Woodward rips into Borthwick in wake of NZ loss

Borthwick is supposed to be the archetypical conservative coach, the guy that might not deliver a sparkling, high-risk attacking style, but whose teams execute the basics flawlessly. And that's OK, because it can be really hard to beat teams that are rock solid and consistent in the rugby equivalent of "blocking and tackling".


But this is why the performance against NZ is hard to defend. You can forgive a conservative, back-to-basics team for failing to score tons of tries, because teams like that make up for it with reliability in the simple things. They can defend well, apply territorial pressure, win the set piece battles, and take their scoring chances with metronomic goal kicking, maul tries and pick-and-go goal line attacks.


The reason why the English rugby administrators should be on high alert is not that the English team looked unable to score tries, but that they were repeatedly unable to close out a game by executing basic, coachable skills. Regardless of how they got to the point of being in control of their destiny, they did get to that point. All that was needed was to be world class at things that require more training than talent. But that training was apparently missing, and the finger has to point at the coach.


Borthwick has been in the job for nearly two years, a period that includes two 6N programs and an RWC campaign. So where are the solid foundations that he has been building?

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