All Blacks star an injury concern for Hurricanes ahead of Super Rugby Pacific play-offs

The Hurricanes are sweating over the fitness of All Blacks hooker Asafo Aumua after he limped off the field during a training session on Tuesday.

The men from Wellington were busy with preparations at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport for Saturday’s play-off clash with the Brumbies in Canberra.

Left the field on a cart

However, there were concerns in the Hurricanes camp when Aumua was taken away on a cart after he suffered a blow to his knee and he appeared to be in visible discomfort.

The 28-year-old has had several injuries over the past year and he missed the Hurricanes’ 64-12 demolition of Moana Pasifika in Wellington last weekend due to concussion but was expected to return to action against the Brumbies along with Caleb Delany (lock) and Ngane Punivai (wing).

Earlier this year, Aumua missed four of the Hurricanes’ Super Rugby Pacific matches after sustaining a foot injury and he also spent several weeks on the sideline due to an MCL tear in his left knee.

An explosive ball carrier and solid in defence, Aumua delivered some impressive performances during the All Blacks’ 2024 end-of-year tour but the latest incident – which occurred towards the end of Tuesday’s training session – is a setback for the hooker.

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“I think he did a couple of runs over there and got tired and wanted a ride back,” assistant coach Cory Jane jokingly told Stuff.

Hoping for the best

“Hopefully it’s not too bad.”

Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw is set to name his matchday squad to take on the Hurricanes on Wednesday afternoon (New Zealand time) before his squad heads over to Canberra from Wellington on Thursday.

If Aumua is ruled out of the play-off, then Jacob Devery, who scored one of the Hurricanes’ 10 tries against Moana last weekend, is expected to retain his spot in the starting line-up.

Earlier this year, during the league phase of Super Rugby Pacific, Raymond Tuputupu wore the number two jersey and Devery played off the bench when the Hurricanes claimed a 35-29 triumph over the Brumbies in Canberra.

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