Some potentially devastating news for Hurricanes and New Zealand rugby fans emerged today - Cory Jane suffered significant damage to his right Anterior Cruciate Ligament during training for the new Super Rugby season. It appears that the damage is significant enough to possibly rule him out for the entire Hurricanes campaign and a good part of the All Blacks' international campaign.
Cory Jane has taken naturally to twitter to express his disappointment - later comforting himself with an impersonation of Zorro while watching the Sevens.
However, all jokes aside, the Hurricanes and All Blacks coaches are set to face their biggest dilemma so far for 2013 - and hopefully their last, given the calibre of player that they could potentially lose for a significant part of the year.
Mark Hammett now possibly has to figure out how to replace the Hurricanes' best winger for a season which Jane was set to play a massive role in. While the Hurricanes don't lack quality wingers, they don't necessarily have one who is at least as competent in defusing the high bombs and setting off counter attacks like Jane.
Hawkes Bay's utility outside back, Richard Buckman, could be the man to fill that role but is very much a wider training squad member so don't expect too much from him in the early stages.
Andre Taylor at fullback will probably become the Hurricanes' most important player in defence now for sure and Taylor has shown signs of being on the cusp of All Black selection with some assured displays at the back and electrifying displays with ball in hand. He has shown to be pretty effective on the counterattack like Jane and 2013 might finally be Taylor's year to get into the black jersey.
Jane's loss might be Alapati Leiua's gain - Jane's fellow Wellington teammate will certainly feature more prominently alongside Julian Savea now that Jane is out for the season. It means the Hurricanes will have some pace out wide if not quite as strong under the high ball.
This is all of course still speculation with Jane's final prognosis only due in a couple of days. Even if the prognosis is bad, Jane could still feature in the ITM Cup for Wellington later in the year and make his return for the All Blacks later in the Rugby Championship or for the end of year NH tour. So the year is certainly not a right off.
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