6 days ago
Hurricanes lose All Blacks hooker Asafo Aumua for Super Rugby playoff
Asafo Aumua won't play the Brumbies this weekend.
Photo:
Photosport
The Hurricanes will be without All Blacks hooker Asafo Aumua for Saturday night's Super Rugby qualifying final against the Brumbies in Canberra.
Aumua was named to start on Wednesday but on Thursday he was ruled out with the Hurricanes confirming he has a hamstring injury and won't travel to Australia.
Ruben Love and Asafo Aumua of the Hurricanes celebrate, 2024
Photo:
PHOTOSPORT
He has now been replaced by Jacob Devery, with Raymond Tuputupu remaining on the bench.
Aumua, the Hurricanes co-captain, copped a blow to the knee at the team's training on Tuesday at the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport in Upper Hutt.
He had to be transported away from training on a cart.
The All Blacks front rower didn't play in last Saturday night's 64-12 win over Moana Pasifika in Wellington due to concussion.
The latest injury puts him in doubt for the rest of the finals should the Hurricanes progress.
Despite the blow, the Hurricanes are only thinking about winning as they prepare for this weekend's first round of finals.
The fourth placed Hurricanes travel to Canberra, while top qualifier the Chiefs host the Blues and second seeds the Crusaders play the Reds.
The schedule has the Brumbies-Hurricanes game last.
If results go to seedings in the earlier games and the Chiefs beat the Blues and the Crusaders beat the Reds, then the Brumbies and Hurricanes will play each other knowing that no matter what the result they will both qualify for the semi-finals.
Under a new format this season, the highest ranking loser from the three games will qualify for the semi-finals.
Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw said earlier this week that the 'lucky loser' situation is not something he is thinking about.
"If the Crusaders lose and we win, we got a home semi so there's another scenario we might have to think about," Laidlaw said.
"I've never gone into a game of rugby thinking we might want to lose, so it will be all guns blazing and we'll get ready for it.
