From near-retirement to starting a Super Rugby semi-final – the Dane Coles recovery story takes another notable step in Johannesburg this weekend.<\/p>\n
Coles is set to captain the Hurricanes in a starting role against the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday night (AEST), having seemingly put four months on the sideline behind him.<\/p>\n
Adding to the narrative, it will be Coles’ 100th game for the defending champions.<\/p>\n
The All Blacks hooker admitted this month he had considered the prospect of retirement while suffering from concussion symptoms.<\/p>\n
He shone off the bench in last week’s 35-16 quarter-final defeat of the Brumbies, creating a try in typically dynamic style.It was enough to convince Hurricanes assistant coach John Plumtree the 30-year-old is ready to start in the repeat of last year’s final.<\/span><\/p>\n “There’s a good chance you’ll see him start. He’s got that old spark back – he’s pretty motivated obviously,” Plumtree said.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Plumtree indicated speedy centre Vince Aso is poised to return after missing two games with a groin injury.<\/p>\n It will reunite Aso with rookie All Blacks second five-eighth Ngani Laumape, with the pair having tallied a competition-leading 14 tries each.<\/p>\n Plumtree praised the impact of Jordie Barrett for two accomplished games at centre but suggested the versatile 20-year-old will return to fullback.<\/p>\n That will probably push Nehe Milner-Skudder onto the right wing in place of the in-form Wes Goosen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “We’ll be looking after Vince this week, to make sure he gets through the week well and he’s good to go,” Plumtree said.<\/p>\n “Jordie did a great job filling in at 13. But obviously he’s played a Test match at fullback and that’s probably his favourite position.<\/p>\n “His long-kicking game in Johannesburg’s going to be useful to us and his ability to diffuse that high-kicking game that we’d expect from (Elton) Jantjies and Ross Cronje.<\/p>\n “Plumtree said his players had settled well as they adjust to altitude and the challenge posed by the competition’s top-qualifiers.<\/p>\n