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'I've probably got to do the most work in the team': Dane Coles and All Blacks' discipline set for another harsh examination on Saturday

Dane Coles. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

Were it not for a few soft penalties, the All Blacks may well have escaped from their previous match against Argentina with a win. Instead, Los Pumas secured a historic victory, prevailing 25-15.

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18 of Argentina’s points came from penalty kicks at goal, with sharpshooter Nicolas Sanchez nailing six of his seven attempts on the post.

Indirectly, the All Blacks probably also found themselves on the wrong side of Australian referee Angus Gardner due to a few early incidents which got the men in black off to a poor start.

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The two All Black front-rowers spoke to media after they were named to start against Los Pumas in Newcastle in their final test of 2020.

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The two All Black front-rowers spoke to media after they were named to start against Los Pumas in Newcastle in their final test of 2020.

First, NZ had a penalty reversed due to some misbehaviour from hooker Dane Coles. Flanker Shannon Frizell was spoken too soon after and then Los Pumas’ second penalty came due to a late tackle from Jordie Barrett after an Argentinian clearing kick.

In the All Blacks’ defence, Los Pumas gave as good as they got and were probably lucky to escape with only 16 penalties conceded (three more than New Zealand). The Barrett charge was especially harsh on NZ – but that’s sometimes what happens when you’ve already found yourself on the back foot due to some poor decision-making earlier in the game.

Coles, speaking after the team naming for the upcoming rematch, admitted the All Blacks needed to hold their discipline better.

“They do bring a lot of heat in that department but we can’t let them dictate that kind of stuff,” Coles said.

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“We know it’s going to come this week as well so we’ve just gotta make sure we [impose ourselves] the right way – in tackles, in carries and cleanouts. If they bring a little bit of niggly stuff, just have a bit of a word, smile and get back to the next task.

“As hard as it is sometimes to take, you’ve just got to walk away with a big smile on your face and get on with your next task and you can’t retaliate because discipline was a massive factor and they just kept ticking those threes over, putting us under pressure.”

Having been present for two historic losses in recent years, against Ireland in 2016 and Argentina two weeks ago, Coles is also aware that he can struggle more with keeping a cool head than some of his teammates. The 33-year-old was voted ‘biggest grub’ in a poll of New Zealand Super Rugby players earlier this year, after all.

“I suppose for myself, being a competitive person, I probably let myself down, gave one of the old boys a slap around the head and stuff like that,” Coles said.

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“I suppose [with] my personality, it probably is a little bit harder. I’ve probably got to do the most work in the team to make sure [I’m not responding to niggle]. Especially being a leader and a senior player, I’ve got to make sure I lead by example and I didn’t do that in the Pumas game.

“It doesn’t mean you can’t play hard and have some intent, it’s just doing the stupid stuff that costs penalties and keeps them in the game. Individually, I’ve probably had to do more than most people in the team to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

 

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On-field off-the-ball incidents have been a topic of hot debate this year in the Southern Hemisphere. Dave Rennie’s Wallabies brought plenty of aggression in the four-match Bledisloe Cup series, while Saturday’s clash between Australia and Argentina also got heated at times. Coles is unsure whether that’s due to frustration or some other factor.

“I don’t have the answer, to be fair,” he said. “I suppose it probably has been highlighted a lot more. There’s been a lot more questions from the media about it. Even the Aussie-Argie game, we watched it and there was a bit in there.

“I’m not too sure why it is but if it happens, like we said, we’ve just got to do the right thing and walk away.

“Letting their frustrations out and maybe roomed with the wrong fella during the week? I’m not sure.”

Coles will again wear the No. 2 jersey on Saturday night in the All Blacks’ final match of the year.

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H
Hellhound 1 hour ago
South Africa will beat England at a canter

You forget that this was the 3rd Test between the AB's and the English this year. They were prepared and they knew how to keep NZ quiet. The Boks is not NZ.


The Boks is a whole other level. You overestimate England and underestimate the Boks. Clearly you haven't really looked at the teams. Besides the Irish games earlier this year, the Boks have mainly used experimental sides, even against the AB's.


Now they have chosen their best team available. They have targeted this game. The Boks mean business. Man for man, this Bok team is better. In strategy and player abilities there is no comparison and they are outmatched.


There isn't just monster strength, but unreal speed. In broken play there is currently no better team as well as defensively, not to even talk about the attacking threat, both from front and the back.


I'd say read between the lines, see what everyone is seeing, but clearly you are wearing blinders and is also putting too much emphasis on an AB's team the Boks beat twice this year, the same AB's that beaten England 3 times this year.


When Rassie gets serious, the players become machines. There is no stopping them. That bench is loaded with players that is fast, strong and have exceptional skills. This is a team not many teams will face before the 2027 WC, because the Boks doesn't use their best between WC's in one game. All experimental.


You will be proven wrong on Saturday and then you will wonder how you could have been so wrong. This Bok team means serious business. They came to conquer and not just by a close score. They want to demolish and they will. This England team at most is a 60 min team. Against the Boks that just won't cut it

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H
Hellhound 1 hour ago
South Africa will beat England at a canter

Not bizarre, but needed. Everyone usually lifts their game against the Boks. Now instead of facing reality, they prefer to live in the past and look hopefully toward the score of the WC semi, hoping they can recreate that result and by some miracle snatch a victory.


It's better than the alternative knowing what is going to happen. Especially looking at the experimental squads the Boks put up against the Wallabies in the RC, not using their best team. That same Wallabies beat them last week.


Now the Boks isn't using an experimental squad. They put out as close to the strongest team the Boks have available at the moment. That must scare the pants off of them. If an experimental squad can destroy the Wallabies, what would the strongest team be able to do to the English?


Instead of sinking into dispear, they prefer to hope that their players can match the Boks. Even though they know what is coming. The English are scared and they won't show it.


Now imagine how Wales must feel knowing they are up next weekend? They don't even have the dubious record of at least close losses like the English. It's a complete nightmare for these 2 countries and rightly so.


The Boks usually take the pedal of the medal post WC's, but not this Bok team. They are better than the WC winning Boks of both '19 and '23. They are stronger up front. They are faster at the back. They can hit front and back. In broken play they are the most dangerous team. They have the best defence and attack also scoring the most tries.


In a way I feel sorry for both the English and Wales. Only those with blinders on expects a close game. Looking at both teams man to man, strategy to strategy, play to play, they are so outmatched it would be a joke if it wasn't so serious. We need the NH to be strong and we need the gap to become closer in rugby so the game stay exciting because runaway scores sometimes is fun, but it doesn't bring as much joy as a close game won.

14 Go to comments
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LONG READ Wales 'in one of their deepest holes for a long time' Wales 'in one of their deepest holes for a long time'
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