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It's bad news for the All Blacks - Plumtree doubtful over Coles fitness

All Blacks hooker Dane Coles

Hurricanes assistant coach John Plumtree provided a pessimistic update regarding Dane Coles’ fitness on Tuesday, acknowledging the New Zealand hooker could miss the entire series with the British and Irish Lions.

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Coles has not played since March, with his return from knee and calf injuries delayed by concussion symptoms.

The 30-year-old – rated by many as the best hooker in world rugby – will remain on the sidelines when the Hurricanes face the Chiefs in Wellington on Friday.

Plumtree told 1 News Now: “With Colesy there’s still no change, so it’s still just week to week at the moment. We won’t be seeing him this weekend.”

Asked if he thought the forward would be available for the first Test against the Lions, which takes place on June 24, Plumtree replied: “It’s hard to say, because the whole concussion thing is so grey.

“He hasn’t been able to train hard enough at this stage. It’s hard to say whether he’ll be available for any of the Tests or the first Test.

“It’s bad news for the All Blacks, it’s bad news for all of New Zealand.”

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Another All Black, Chiefs lock Brodie Retallick, will also miss this week’s Super Rugby match in Wellington due to concussion, but is anticipated to be fit for the Lions Tests.

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Nickers 35 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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