All Blacks hooker Dane Coles has been ruled out of Saturday's Bledisloe Cup rugby test in Sydney, with the 30‑year‑old’s head injury issues making a worrying return.
The setback comes just as Coles looked to have finally shaken off a persistent head problem that had kept him out of Super Rugby for four months since March, and also forced him to miss the drawn series against the British and Irish Lions.
He made it back to the field for the Hurricanes' playoff run at the semifinal stage in Johannesburg, and played in the All Blacks' "game of three halves" hitout against Taranaki and Counties Manukau in Pukekohe.
But it was in that match that Coles picked up another head knock, with All Blacks coach Steve Hansen confirming that had forced him to be withdrawn from Saturday's opening Bledisloe at Sydney's ANZ Stadium.
Coles' Hurricanes team‑mate, Ricky Riccitelli has been summoned to Sydney as a replacement, with Crusaders hooker Cody Taylor set to resume the starting role and Nathan Harris remaining bench cover.
The All Blacks will take on the Wallabies at 10pm this Saturday in Sydney.
Source: Stuff.co
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