Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Dane Coles: 'I'm doing everything I can to get back on the field'

Dane Coles. (Photo by Marty Melville/Photosport)

All Blacks hooker Dane Coles has sought to quell fears that the 35-year-old might be facing an ‘early’ retirement after not yet featuring for the Hurricanes in this year’s Super Rugby Pacific competition.

ADVERTISEMENT

Coles has been a key member of the New Zealand national side since 2012, taking over as the first-choice rake ahead of the 2015 World Cup. In his 10 years with the All Blacks, Coles has amassed 80 caps despite spending ample time on the sidelines in the latter stages of his career due to various injury troubles.

After last taking the field against France in the final game of the All Blacks’ 2021 end-of-year tour, Cole has not yet accrued any minutes for the Hurricanes this season, with Asafo Aumua and James O’Reilly sharing the starting hooker duties and the likes of Jacob Devery, Bruce Kauika-Petersen, Kianu Kereru-Symes, Siua Maile and Raymond Tuputupu all getting opportunities off the pine.

Video Spacer

Why rolling maul tries aren’t as bad as they’re made out to be.

Video Spacer

Why rolling maul tries aren’t as bad as they’re made out to be.

On Thursday afternoon, Coles posted on Instagram confirming that while his body has certainly taken a few blows in recent years, he fully intends to get back out on the park for the Hurricanes this season.

“Don’t usually do this, but this is the easiest way to give everyone an update without going through the media. I haven’t retired or signed with [NRL side the] Warriors yet,” Coles joked.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Dane Coles (@dane__coles)

“My body has taken a bit of a hammering the last couple of years, and I’m doing everything I can to get back on the field and enjoy my last couple years of footy. Really miss playing for [the Hurricanes] but will be back soon.”

ADVERTISEMENT

In 2021, Coles signed a new contract with New Zealand Rugby to keep him playing until 2023.

Over the past few years, Coles and Crusaders hooker Codie Taylor have gone head-to-head contesting the No 2 jersey for the All Blacks with few other contenders really pushing the pair. That changed last season, however. With Coles not travelling to Australia for the Rugby Championship, up-and-coming rakes Aumua and Samisoni Taukei’aho proved adept back-ups to Taylor, while Taylor himself struggled with his form throughout the test season.

Provided that Coles can get back on the park for the Hurricanes ahead of the All Blacks’ July test series with Ireland, he’ll likely be competing with Taylor, Aumua and Taukei’aho for a spot in the squad.

In the meantime, Aumua has been named to start at hooker once again for the Hurricanes in their match-up with the Highlanders this weekend with Hawke’s Bay Kereru-Symes covering from the reserves.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ 'There will be no honeymoon period for Borthwick's wedding usher El-Abd' 'There will be no honeymoon period for Borthwick's wedding usher El-Abd'
Search