The All Blacks winger Julian Savea is set to return for the Hurricanes in their Super Rugby match against the Argentinian side the Jaguars this weekend after missing the last match against South Africa's Kings.
Savea hasn't been at his best in the early part of the season but Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd refused to call his demotion a dropping, preferring to say it was a chance for other players to prove their credentials.
Boyd, however, has confirmed Savea's back in contention for selection after completing the work he had been assigned while his team mates played the Kings in late March and during the subsequent bye week for the Hurricanes.
Hurricanes and All Black winger Julian Savea. Photo: Photosport
"He had a set of work to do over the last 10 days and I think by and large he's done really well in that space and he's looking good," Boyd said.
"He's done everything we've asked of him.
"When you give other people the opportunity to play, unless they have an absolute scorcher, we tend to go back to the incumbent guy to give him another crack, so I think there's a reasonably strong chance that Julian will play in the weekend."
The Hurricanes lost their first two games of the season but have won their last three, scoring more than 40 points against the Kings and the Western Force the previous week.
Boyd added that Savea's fellow New Zealand international winger Cory Jane would be given the chance to reach a personal milestone in Saturday's home encounter.
"It's Cory Jane's 100th game so I'll give you the tip, Cory will play this weekend," Boyd said.
Jane, who has battled fitness issues in the last two seasons, will join Tana Umaga, Neemia Tialata, Rodney So'oialo, Andrew Hore, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith and Jeremy Thrush as Hurricanes centurions.
-Reuters
