Northern Edition

Select Edition

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

'Right now, if he stays fit, I'd take him': The All Black chances for the Hurricanes' front row veterans

(Photo by Mark Tantrum/Getty Images)

The Hurricanes were boosted by the long awaited return of two All Black front rowers, Owen Franks and Dane Coles, when they played the Fijian Drua at Sky Stadium on Sunday.

ADVERTISEMENT

34-year-old Franks made his club debut, while Coles returned from a layoff for his first game of the season in the 67-5 victory.

Former Highlanders lock Joey Wheeler said it was great to have them back playing to provide valuable experience to a youthful Hurricanes team on this week’s episode of The Breakdown. 

Video Spacer

The Breakdown | Sky Sport NZ | Episode 12

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Video Spacer

      The Breakdown | Sky Sport NZ | Episode 12

      “Brilliant to see this guy [Franks] back in New Zealand footy,” Wheeler said.

      “Dane Coles has been out for a long time, those calves of his, he’s got some real issues there, but great to see them back to add some experience to what was a really young Hurricanes side.

      “They’ve blooded a lot of young players to give them experience.

      “These guys, getting them back in the mix, after a significant injury to Owen Franks, we can’t understate an Achilles injury at his age, coming back into the front row. He didn’t look out of place at all.”

      Whether the pair of All Blacks would be in contention for the national side was a discussion for The Breakdown panel.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      Ex-All Black wing John Kirwan predicted that Coles was more likely of the two to make it back as he ‘still brings something special’ and offers the combative competitiveness that is needed at the international level.

      “I think it is a little easier for Dane,” Kirwan said.

      “Right now, if he stays fit, I’d take him as an All Black, even if he was number three.

      “Because he still brings something special. He sits out wide, he can step, he brings that little bit of niggle when you need it.

      “Owen I think is going to have to work his way into it.

      “We’ve got a lot of really good young props coming through. We’ve got 18 test matches to go. Would he be good coming in late in a test match? The answer would be yes.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      “But otherwise you’ve actually got to stick with what you’ve got.

      “Those guys that can run on, with 10 or 12 test matches. If you get an injury, then maybe he might come into consideration, but I think Dane is probably the guy that we’d be looking at.”

      ADVERTISEMENT

      O2 Inside Line: All In | Episode 5 | Making Waves

      Confidence knocks and finding your people | Flo Williams | Rugby Rising Locker Room

      Tackling reasons for drop-out in sport | Zainab Alema | Rugby Rising Locker Room

      Krakow | Leg 3 | Day 2 | HSBC Challenger Series | Full Day Replay

      Kubota Spears vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

      Jet Lag: The biggest challenge facing international sports? | The Report

      Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

      Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry? | New Zealand & Australia | Sevens Wonders | Episode 5

      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

      E
      Eliza Galloway 1 hour ago
      Geoff Parling: An Englishman roasting the Lions?

      Email: prowizardgilbertrecovery(@)  engineer.comWhatsApp: +1 (920) 408‑1234Telegram: https://t.me/Pro_Wizard_Gilbert_RecoveryI never imagined I’d become a victim of a scam—especially in the fast-moving world of cryptocurrency. When I was offered a chance to appear on a popular crypto podcast, I was excited. It seemed like a golden opportunity to gain exposure, connect with industry professionals, and build credibility within the crypto community. The podcast appeared legitimate, complete with a sleek website, professional branding, glowing testimonials, and an active social media presence.After a few exchanges with the supposed host, I was asked to pay $9,500 to secure my spot on the show. Trusting the apparent professionalism of the platform, I went ahead with the payment. I envisioned the new doors this would open—partnerships, recognition, and new opportunities. But everything changed once the payment was made.Suddenly, all communication stopped. My emails and messages went unanswered. The podcast’s website vanished, and so did their social media presence. That’s when reality hit—I had been scammed.I was devastated. Angry, embarrassed, and desperate to find a solution, I began searching for help. That’s when I discovered PRO WIZARD GILBERT RECOVERY. At first, I was skeptical, but with nothing left to lose, I decided to reach out.To my surprise, their team responded quickly and took my case seriously. Using advanced investigative tools and digital tracking techniques, they began tracing the scammer’s digital footprint. I watched as they worked tirelessly, putting the pieces together.Amazingly, PRO WIZARD GILBERT RECOVERY was able to recover 95% of my lost funds. The relief I felt was indescribable. Not only did I get back most of what I lost, but I also walked away with a hard-earned lesson about the importance of due diligence and caution in the digital world.While I wish I had never fallen into the trap, I’m incredibly thankful for the support and professionalism of PRO WIZARD GILBERT RECOVERY. They didn’t just recover my money—they helped restore my peace of mind. I’m sharing my story in hopes that it helps others avoid the same mistake and encourages them to stay vigilant in the ever-evolving world of cryptocurrency.

      44 Go to comments
      J
      JW 1 hour ago
      James O'Connor, the Lions and the great club v country conundrum

      Lol you need to shoot your editor for that headline, even I near skipped the article.


      France simply need to go to a league format for the Brennus, that will shave two weekends of pointless knockout rugby from their season and raise the competitions standards and mystique no end.


      The under age loophole is also a easy door to shut, just remove the lower age limit. WR simply never envisioned a day were teams would target people under the age of 17 or whatever it is now, but much like with Rassie and his use of subs bench, that day was obviously always going to come. I can’t remember how football does it, I think it’s the other way around with them, you can’t sign anyone younger than that but unions can’t stop 17 or 18 yo’s from leaving for a pro club if they want to. There is a transaction that takes place of a few hundred thousand for a normal average player. I’d prefer rugby to be stricter and just keep the union bodies signoff being required.


      What really was their problem with Kite and co leaving though? Do we really need a game dominated by Internationals? I even think WR’s proposed calendar might be a bit too much, with at minimum 12 top tier games being played in the World Championship. I think 10 to 12, maybe any one player playing 10 of those 12 is the best way to think of it, for every international team is max, so that they can allow their domestic comps to shine if they want, and other nations like Japan and Fiji can, even some of the home nations maybe, and fill out their calendar with extra tours if they like them as a way to make money. As it is RA don’t have as good a pathway system, so they could simply buy back those players if they turn good. Are they worried they’ll be less likely to? We wait for baited breath for the new season to be laid out in front of us by WR.

      It could impose sanctions on the Fédération Française de Rugby, but the body which runs the Top 14 and the ProD2, the Ligue Nationale de Rugby, is entirely independent.

      It’s not independent at all. The LNR is a body under, and commissioned by, the FFR (and Government control) to mediate the clubs. FFR can simply install a new club competition if they don’t listen, then you’d see whether the players want to stay at any club who doesn’t tow the line and move to the new competition, as they obviously wouldn’t fall under the auspice of world rugby. They would be rebels, which is fine in and upon itself, but they would isolate themselves from the rest of the game and would need to be OK with that. I have no doubt whatsoever that clubs would have to and want to fall in line to remain part of the EPCR and French rugby. Probably even the last thing they would want is to compete with another French domestic competition that has all the advantages they don’t.


      All those players would do good for a few seasons in France, especially the fringe ones, with thankfully zero risk of them being poached if they turn good. New Zealand had a turn at keeping all of it’s talent, and while it upticked the competitiveness of the Super Rugby teams into a total dominance of Australian and South African counterparts (who were suffering more heavily than most the other way at that stage), it didn’t have as positive an effect on the next step up as ensuring young talents development is not hindered does. Essentially NZR flooded the locate market with players but inevitably it didn’t think the local economy could sustain any more pro teams itself, so now we are seeing a normal amount of exodus for the availability of places again. Are Australia in exactly the same footing? I think so, finances where dicey for a while perhaps but I doubt they are putting money constraints on their contracting now. It’s purely about who leaves to open up opportunity.

      62 Go to comments
      TRENDING
      TRENDING 'Are there 3 better fly-halves in Britain and Ireland... I don’t think so' 'Are there 3 better fly-halves in Britain and Ireland?'
      Search