Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

'A different beast at home': Dane Coles wary of Irish threat

By Ben Smith
(Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Dane Coles has been an integral part of the All Blacks-Ireland rivalry that has developed over the last decade, with the ledger at 3-2 in New Zealand’s favour from their last five clashes.

ADVERTISEMENT

The veteran hooker played in each of those contests, with his first career outing against Ireland coming in the famous Kiwi comeback in 2013, a match of which he came off the bench to help the All Blacks break Irish hearts in Dublin.

He was the man he delivered the final pass, an offload to fellow reserve Ryan Crotty, which led to the injury time try to prevent Ireland from securing their first-ever win over the All Blacks.

Video Spacer

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie on the ill discipline that cost his side a 13-15 loss to Scotland

Video Spacer

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie on the ill discipline that cost his side a 13-15 loss to Scotland

“It’s funny, you always think about the ones you’ve lost,” Coles said after being reminded of his offload for Crotty that won the test eight years ago.

“I was thinking about it, how close each game has been [with Ireland] in that last five years. They’ve always been down to the wire and could’ve gone either way.”

In Coles’ next game against the men in green, the All Blacks couldn’t escape history as Ireland romped home to an emphatic 40-29 win, their first against the Kiwis in 111 years, in Chicago.

That victory was followed up by a return clash at Aviva Stadium a couple of weeks later, where the All Blacks enacted revenge with a hard-fought 21-9 victory.

ADVERTISEMENT

“They’ve been really tight battles, apart from the World Cup one,” Coles recalled, referencing his side’s 46-14 thumping of Ireland in the 2019 World Cup quarter-final. “I suppose we were hurting a little bit from the previous results.”

The motivations for the victory in Tokyo two years ago stemmed from another stunning loss to Ireland the previous November.

In 2018, Coles returned from injury to join the All Blacks on their end-of-year tour and again came off the bench in Dublin, only to be met by a relentless Irish side that held New Zealand to just nine points, two penalties and a drop goal to Beauden Barrett.

It was Ireland’s defence that Coles remembers most about that day, as their outside-in defence took away any space for the All Blacks to attack from. He pointed to their defence as the aspect of their game that is most challenging to deal with.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I remember last time, they just keep turning up. It seemed like there was no space for us to attack in that last game over here that we lost,” the 34-year-old said.

“That was the one thing that stood out for me, they just keep turning up. Their defence was awesome, they put some big shots on and put us under pressure.”

If Coles plays his sixth career match against Ireland, who he described as “a different beast” in front of their home fans, the 78-test rake expects a much closer game than their most recent World Cup clash.

“They had a great win on the weekend [a 60-5 victory over Japan], so I expect another tight tussle. They are a different beast at home I reckon. They will be feeding off the crowd and full stadium, it’s a great challenge for us.”

The All Blacks understand that the business end of their tour has arrived with two tests against Ireland and France coming up to close out their season over the next two weeks.

Coles said the the side has worked hard and the opportunity is there to turn the year into a “great season” in Dublin and Paris, but noted the team is “under no illusions” with the task ahead.

“We’ve worked so hard all year to turn things around from last year. It’s still one week at a time, but two massive games against two quality opposition. Hopefully people will look back and say it was a great season.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

j
john 11 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

13 Go to comments
A
Adrian 2 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

13 Go to comments
T
Trevor 4 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 8 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
FEATURE
FEATURE Juan Ignacio Brex: 'Italy made history, but it's not enough' Juan Ignacio Brex: 'Italy made history, but it's not enough'
Search