Hurricanes star Ardie Savea on course for early return from knee injury

The Hurricanes could have star loose forward Ardie Savea back from his significant knee injury earlier than expected.

Savea was initially expected to miss the majority of the 2020 Super Rugby season after sustaining an injured knee in the All Blacks' World Cup semi-final defeat to England in Japan last year.

The 26-year-old underwent surgery at the end of 2019, which was thought to have ruled him out of action for five-to-six months.

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However, speaking ahead of his side's 40-19 hammering at the hands of the Crusaders in their pre-season bout in Ashburton on Saturday, new Hurricanes head coach Jason Holland suggested that Savea could be back much earlier than first anticipated.

"He's doing everything right at the moment and he's coming along nicely," Holland said to media.

An early return for Savea would undoubtedly boost the Hurricanes' Super Rugby hopes this year after a tumultuous off-season threatened to derail their 2020 campaign.

Adding to Savea's injury woes was the defection of two-time World Rugby player of the year Beauden Barrett to the Blues, while John Plumtree's promotion to an All Blacks assistant post has left little time for Holland to acclimatise to the Hurricanes' head coach role.