Coles returns for Hurricanes

Editor

Hooker Dane Coles will make an earlier than expected return for the Hurricaneswhen they host the Crusaders in Wellington on Saturday.

Coles was pencilled in to return against the Sharks next week, but the positive progress of his elbow injury will see him come off the bench this weekend.

He will be joined by Blade Thomson, who has also been side-lined for the past five weeks with concussion.

Nehe Milner-Skudder returns to the starting line-up, as does Cory Jane on the right wing, with Matt Proctor dropping down onto the bench.

Hurricanes: 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (c), 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Brad Shields, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Callum Gibbins, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Motu Matu’u, 1 Reggie Goodes.
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Chris Eves, 19 Mark Abbott, 20 Blade Thomson, 21 Chris Smylie, 22 Matt Proctor, 23 James Marshall.

Date: Saturday, May 2
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 19:35 local (07:35 GMT, 17:35 AEST, 09:35 SAST)
Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Shane McDermott (New Zealand), Jamie Nutbrown (New Zealand)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)