Northern Edition

Select Edition

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

Straight-talking Dane Coles says there's 'no blame game' in All Blacks camp

HAMILTON, NEW ZEALAND - SEPTEMBER 01: Dane Coles of the All Blacks runs through drills during a New Zealand All Blacks Training Session at FMG Stadium on September 01, 2022 in Hamilton, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

The All Blacks have remained somewhat of a closed book in terms of what’s going on behind the scenes during what’s a historic period for the team.

ADVERTISEMENT

We’ve heard a lot of “this team is hurting” and “it’s tough” but nothing on what that looks like or how it’s being channelled into better on-field performances.

The coaches have named an unchanged starting XV for their second test against Argentina, but some adjustments on the bench have boosted the veteran presence to close the game out.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

Dane Coles is one player that Ian Foster has added to that closing unit and thankfully, he’s a straight talker. Speaking to media following the match day squad announcement, Coles provided some insight into how the camp is responding to the losses:

“I think there’s a process, after the game you always feel like the world’s ended,” he said. “And then I think the review and the accountability, it gives you solutions that you can actually get better in and fix up things that you’re not getting right.”

Accountability was a hot talking point, and Coles was adamant the All Blacks had a healthy and direct attitude amongst players when it came to pushing each other.

“I’ve been in a couple of teams where we’ve lost, and I think the thing at the moment is that there’s been no blame game or pointing the finger or people going rogue on their own.

ADVERTISEMENT

“It’s been a real collective buy-in to try and get the result and be consistent in our performance and that’s, I think, a real positive.”

The team remains optimistic and insist that they are on the right track, despite being in unfamiliar territory in terms of their losing record.

“You’ve just got to be clear and free, there’s a lot of stuff that’s happening but, in the end, just go out there, enjoy the occasion, just do your job, simple as that.

Related

“Unfortunately, it’s a place that this team hasn’t been in, so everyone’s just got to stand up, get accountability.

ADVERTISEMENT

“If someone comes at you for not doing the job right, you’ve just got to get on with it and take the feedback on board.”

Coles recognised his role off the bench was a crucial one, after a disappointing final 20 minutes in last weekend’s test.

“I think the number one thing is getting solutions on how to close out games, win the game and get better in that.”

Saturday’s rematch between the All Blacks and Pumas will kick off at 7:05pm from FMG Stadium Waikato.

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

T
Tom 5 hours ago
Will Bristol's daredevil 'Bears-ball' deliver the trophy they crave?

Also a Bristol fan and echo your sentiments.


I love watching Bristol but their approach will only get them so far I think. Exeter played like this when they first got promoted to the prem and had intermittent success, it wasn't until they wised up and played a more balanced game that they became a consistently top side.


I really want Bristol to continue playing this brand of rugby and I don't mind them running it from under their posts but I don't think they need to do it every single time. They need to be just a little bit more selective about when and where on the pitch they play. Every game they put themselves under so much needless pressure by turning the ball over under their posts trying to do kamikaze moves when it's not required. By all means run it from your goal line if there is a chance for a counter attack, we all want to see Bristol running in 100m tries from under their posts but I think until they learn when to do it and when to be pragmatic, they are unlikely to win the premiership.


Defense has been a real positive from Bristol, they've shown a lot of improvement there... And I will say that I think this kamikaze strategy they employ is a very good one for a struggling side and could be employed by Newcastle. It's seems to have turned around Gloucester's fortunes. The big advantage is even if you don't have the biggest and best players, what you have is cohesion. This is why Scotland keep battering England. England have better individuals but they look muddled as a team, trying to play a mixed strategy under coaches who lack charisma, the team has no identity. Scotland come out and give it full throttle from 1-15 even if they struggle against the top sides, sides like England and Wales who lack that identity drown under the relentless will and synergy of the Scots. If Newcastle did the same they could really surprise some people, I know the weather is bad up there but it hasn't bothered the Scots. Bristol can learn from Scotland too, Pat is on to something when he says the following but Scotland don't play test matches like headless chickens. They still play with the same level of clarity and ambition Bristol do but they are much better at picking their moments. They needed to go back to this mad game to get their cohesion back after a couple of seasons struggling but I hope they get a bit wiser from matches like Leinster and La Rochelle.


“If there’s clarity on what you’re trying to do as a team you can win anything.”

2 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Standout women's rugby moments of 2024 Standout women's rugby moments of 2024
Search