Thursday 2 July 2015 13:06, UK
Ardie Savea has been named in the Hurricanes line-up for the Super Rugby final on Saturday despite continuing doubts over his fitness.
The flanker aggravated a knee ligament injury during the Wellington-based side's semi-final win over the ACT Brumbies last weekend and Callum Gibbins is on standby to replace him if he is eventually ruled out.
Savea scored one of their tries in the 29-9 win before limping off, but he will be given until the last minute to prove his fitness ahead of the clash with the Otago Highlanders at their Westpac Stadium home.
"He has made really, really good progress since Saturday," Boyd said after a Hurricanes training session on Thursday, where Savea had undergone tests.
"I think there is a good likelihood he will play.
"If necessary we will give him until right before kick-off but I think we'll get a pretty clear indication that we'll get a positive result."
Boyd has made only one change to the 23 players on duty for that match, with hooker Motu Matu'u fully recovered from a knee injury - he replaces Brayden Mitchell on the bench.
That means no place for veteran New Zealand winger Cory Jane, who told Boyd he was not ready to play because of a hamstring injury, but Nehe Milner-Skudder looks likely to overcome a minor hamstring complaint and was named in their starting line-up.
"Cory came into my office and said, 'It's an easy conversation, I'm ruling myself out', and I thought that was a really mature decision from a guy who has been with the club a long time," said Boyd.
"(He was) desperate to play the final but he knew in his heart that his hamstring was not quite ready so he withdrew himself from selection."
Hurricanes: James Marshall, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Conrad Smith (captain), Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara; Reggie Goodes, Dane Coles, Ben Franks, Jeremy Thrush, James Broadhurst, Brad Shields, Ardie Savea or Callum Gibbins, Victor Vito.
Reserves: Motu Matu'u, Chris Eves, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Callum Gibbins/Mark Abbott, Blade Thomson, Chris Smylie, Rey Lee-Lo, Matt Proctor.
Watch the Super Rugby final live on Sky Sports 1 from 8.00am on Saturday.
