VIDEO: The very, very best of Dane Coles

Just to add a bit more emphasis of the importance of the Hurricanes’ semi final this weekend, the occasion also marks Dane Coles’ 100th Super Rugby game.

Coles has proven himself to be more than just a front rower, in fact even more than an extra loose forward. He’d fit into any backline, most of the time you can find him hanging out near the sidelines anyway.

Out for much of the season with injury, Coles’ presence was sorely missed in the All Blacks series draw with the British & Irish Lions. He’s also sitting on 49 test caps, so hopefully in a few weeks he can celebrate another milestone against the Wallabies – a team he seems to have enjoyed causing a great deal of anguish to over the years.

Here’s a brief selection of highlights from a career that includes a World Cup and Super Rugby title win:

Clapping on the pace against the Wallabies. Coles took advantage of a resurgent Dan Carter’s sweet sidestep on this play, but still had 40 metres to go and a fair few Australians to beat for this stunning effort.  

He can take down the big men. Getting Eben Etzebeth horizontal is a fair effort, but Coles managed this feat at Ellis Park.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_3XGdcix-s

And the little ones. OK, so he’s a bit of a bully here and poor Fumiaki Tanaka does very well to hold onto the ball. But it’s still a perfectly timed hit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEhj2YrfOKg

The Titan of Trash Talk. Michael Hooper found out the hard way that putting a late shot on Coles isn’t the best idea, especially when the All Blacks are in the process of scoring a try. That look on Hooper’s face, priceless.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Uqhre7fc7U

Skills that any midfielder would be proud of. Again the Wallabies were the victims of an outrageous dummy and turn of speed, then a nonchalant placement of the pill over the line like it was nothing special at all.  

The Doctor of Distribution. This match in Christchurch last year more than ever showed Coles’ ability to pass, with two perfect try assists. The second to Sam Whitelock really was a thing of beauty.

The play that made the All Blacks perfect. 2013 was a special year for the All Blacks, they won every single test they played. However it was looking like they’d blown it in the last match in Dublin, where Ireland were seemingly assured of victory. It all came down to Coles soaking in the cover defense and popping a perfect pass to Ryan Crotty.

This fake ad. OK, so maybe acting is the one thing he’s not that great at.