PARIS - New Zealand and Hurricanes hooker Dane Coles has been ruled out for up to six months due to a serious knee injury suffered in the All Blacks' 38-18 win over France last Saturday.
The 30-year-old, who has 56 caps for the All Blacks, scored his team's first try at the Stade de France but was replaced by Codie Taylor shortly after and the world champions said that Coles had ruptured his knee ligament.
"Dane Coles is to return home after rupturing his ACL... head coach Steve Hansen says he will require an operation with likely four to six month recovery," the All Blacks said on their official Twitter account.
Coles previously missed the All Blacks' tests against the British and Irish Lions earlier this year due to concussion symptoms.
The All Blacks face Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday, in the third match of their European tour, after opening with a 31-22 victory over the Barbarians a week before Saturday win over France.