High-flying Hurricanes send Dane Coles an SOS but he's not coming

The Hurricanes have contacted former All Black and franchise legend Dane Coles about covering as hooker following Asafo Aumua’s knee injury.

Aumua is out for six to eight weeks after suffering an MCL injury in his team’s victory over the Fijian Drua in Suva at the weekend and coach Clark Laidlaw confirmed today that Coles, now playing in Japan, had been contacted.

"Yeah, we called him but he got injured at the weekend so he’s not available," Laidlaw said of the 37-year-old Coles.

Coles started for Kubota Spears in their 39-29 victory over Kobelco Steelers, featuring Brodie Retallick, in Sapporo.

"I’m not sure if he was surprised or keen or not but I think he picked up a bad hamstring injury on Sunday," Laidlaw said. "I’m not sure he would have said yes or not."

Instead, the Hurricanes have called in Raymond Tuputupu, a former New Zealand under-20 representative, from the wider training squad to cover for James O’Reilly.

For Aumua, the injury is a double blow because of his blockbusting form for an unbeaten side at the top of the Super Rugby Pacific table.

"He was on fire wasn’t he so it’s definitely disappointing, but fingers crossed it will only be for six to eight weeks," Laidlaw said.

"James O’Reilly has been playing really well. He wants more game time so is definitely going to get it."

The high-flying Hurricanes face the Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday.

It will be their 400th Super Rugby match. For Scotsman Laidlaw, a former New Zealand men’s sevens team coach who first admired the Hurricanes from afar, the team’s enterprise was always an attraction.

"It was always their style of play – their ability to use the ball and attack from anywhere was always the thing," he said.

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"They’ve had some players who have changed the game when you think of Christian Cullen and Dane Coles. Their enterprise and attacking flair was the one thing that stands out."

The harder edge that Laidlaw and his coaching team have added in his first season with the Hurricanes means they now loom as favourites to win their first title since 2016.