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VIDEO: The very, very best of Dane Coles

(Photo by Getty Images)

Just to add a bit more emphasis of the importance of the Hurricanes’ semi final this weekend, the occasion also marks Dane Coles’ 100th Super Rugby game.

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Coles has proven himself to be more than just a front rower, in fact even more than an extra loose forward. He’d fit into any backline, most of the time you can find him hanging out near the sidelines anyway.

Out for much of the season with injury, Coles’ presence was sorely missed in the All Blacks series draw with the British & Irish Lions. He’s also sitting on 49 test caps, so hopefully in a few weeks he can celebrate another milestone against the Wallabies – a team he seems to have enjoyed causing a great deal of anguish to over the years.

Here’s a brief selection of highlights from a career that includes a World Cup and Super Rugby title win:

Clapping on the pace against the Wallabies. Coles took advantage of a resurgent Dan Carter’s sweet sidestep on this play, but still had 40 metres to go and a fair few Australians to beat for this stunning effort.  

He can take down the big men. Getting Eben Etzebeth horizontal is a fair effort, but Coles managed this feat at Ellis Park.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_3XGdcix-s

And the little ones. OK, so he’s a bit of a bully here and poor Fumiaki Tanaka does very well to hold onto the ball. But it’s still a perfectly timed hit.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEhj2YrfOKg

The Titan of Trash Talk. Michael Hooper found out the hard way that putting a late shot on Coles isn’t the best idea, especially when the All Blacks are in the process of scoring a try. That look on Hooper’s face, priceless.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Uqhre7fc7U

Skills that any midfielder would be proud of. Again the Wallabies were the victims of an outrageous dummy and turn of speed, then a nonchalant placement of the pill over the line like it was nothing special at all.  

The Doctor of Distribution. This match in Christchurch last year more than ever showed Coles’ ability to pass, with two perfect try assists. The second to Sam Whitelock really was a thing of beauty.

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The play that made the All Blacks perfect. 2013 was a special year for the All Blacks, they won every single test they played. However it was looking like they’d blown it in the last match in Dublin, where Ireland were seemingly assured of victory. It all came down to Coles soaking in the cover defense and popping a perfect pass to Ryan Crotty.

This fake ad. OK, so maybe acting is the one thing he’s not that great at.

 

 

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Nickers 38 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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