Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Dane Coles upholds the expectations and obligations of being an All Black

(Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

As a journalist, I try to dislike everyone that I write about equally.

Some I actually will like. Many others I definitely won’t. But the intention is to treat them all the same.

ADVERTISEMENT

But, despite myself, I love Dane Coles.

I love what he says, I love what he does and I especially love what he represents.

If I were the All Blacks’ coach, Coles would be the first player picked in the squad.

Not always to play because, at 36, the Hurricanes hooker isn’t capable of being on the park as often as we’d all like.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

But that doesn’t diminish his value to the team.

It’s not so much that Coles loves to win. It’s more about how much he hates to lose.

I’m not sure how common that is among professional athletes. I suspect many are in sport for the money – and associated trappings – rather than the competition.

Not so Coles.

We don’t really do backseats anymore. Yes, we have senior leadership groups, but they’re more of the caring and sharing variety these days.

Everyone in teams now is – theoretically, at least – equal and special and we have to care for the individual if we want the collective to succeed.

ADVERTISEMENT

There’s merit in all that and a tidy living, particularly for those in the team building or psychology businesses.

Coles, though, is your archetypal member of the backseat.

The guy who presides over team culture, issues fines and punishments, educates youngsters and pulls recalcitrants into line.

He is the type of man who instils in others what it means to be an All Black and the expectations and obligations that come with it.

As an aside, I believe that’s a role New Zealand Rugby should contract him to, once his playing days are done. Whether it’s with provincial or Super Rugby rookies or the All Blacks themselves, Coles would be an ideal cultural ambassador.

ADVERTISEMENT

I don’t see him as a head or assistant coach, but he definitely has a lot to teach about how to keep playing like an amateur long after rugby becomes your job.

Rugby is a bit more nuanced than it was when Coles first started playing it for a living.

But it remains true that if you tackle harder and run harder and – in his individual case – niggle harder than the opposition, then you give yourself a better chance of winning.

That’s why, even at his advanced age and with injuries taking an increasing toll, Coles remains of immense on-field value to the All Blacks as well.

This is a team brimming with skill and talent. If it lacks anything, it’s a hard edge. A refusal to back down and not be cowed or intimidated.

Coles makes the game personal and refuses to yield to anyone. That’s a trait more athletes should have and why he can make an enduring contribution to rugby, long after he’s done playing.

Most All Blacks are incredible physical specimens. Honestly, stand next to someone like Ofa Tu’ungafasi and tell me you’ve seen a bigger human.

Coles could pass for a club player, but he has willed himself to compete against the best.

As long as he can keep willing that old body into battle, the All Blacks still have a puncher’s chance of winning this year’s Rugby World Cup.

ADVERTISEMENT
LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

9 Comments
G
Greg 709 days ago

His lineout accuracy against Argentina gave the AB's the immediate edge. He scrummages well, is multi skilled, still v quick, takes the ball into the tackle superbly. His rugby intelligence is his biggest asset. As for the niggle: he only does that when he's bored. He won't be bored for the next 4 months.

F
Flatcoat 731 days ago

If you aren't going to play him you shouldn't select him.

D
Damien 740 days ago

Great player, such a unique skillset but total dickhead.

O
OJohn 739 days ago

It is sad that kiwis think a player like Coles is a champion. Not concentrating on actual rugby is probably partly why the All Blacks are falling down the rankings.

T
The Late News 740 days ago

Sorry mate not a fan. Too much niggle off the ball for me. Lacks class at times. Decent hooker though.

M
MitchO 739 days ago

Coles was fast. Good athlete. Not his fault the niggle works. Being niggled is more about the nigglee than the nigglor. Ignore his stuff and have a team rule that everyone has to hurt him a little. That’s not cheap or late shots. If possible though I’d drop him in the scrum and have everybody walk over the top.

R
Ruby 741 days ago

I'm sure that I'd hate him if I didn't support the Hurricanes and All Blacks but as it is I love that man to death.

J
Jacque 742 days ago

Absolute shithouse.

A
Andrew 742 days ago

Chiefs fan but love Coles. He and guys like Naitoa Ah Kuoi are vital to the game. Distinctive individuals - good for a laugh but dedicated fierce competitors on it.

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

R
RedWarrior 57 minutes ago
A glut of Lions balances the less than rosy state of the Irish rugby garden

I don’t see how Fanning can accuse Leinster of complacency when they won every match this season bar three. Glasgow hammered Premiership finalists Leicester and then Leinster beat Glasgow 52-0 while not starting Jordie Barrett. Accusations like ‘Arrogance’ sell copy and fuel online engagement but there is little evidence of it with Leinster. Nobody who knows the team makes that claim.

I think a lack of real tests for Leinster either in the URC or in the Champions Cup left vulnerabilities. I think Cullen’s approach to over-resting players before these big matches particularly pivotal decision making positions like full back had a detrimental effect. This has been brought up in previous years. We saw the difference in Leinster playing 3 big matches week on week in the URC final compared to the NH performance.

Massive credit must go to Northampton for analyzing and finding weaknesses, by rolling the dice and playing the full team the week before, and by maximally cashing in when they got their chances. Northampton scored 3 unanswered tries, two of which were against 14 men, and ended up winning by 3. Massive credit must be bestowed on their side of the balance sheet.

I thought Munster finished the season strongly, Ulster are looking better. I agree Connacht underperformed but Lancaster is an exciting prospect. The coaching tickets across all4 provinces are looking good. 13 of Leinsters team against Bulls were originally academy players. I am not really seeing these potholes That Fanning references?

Very important that Leinster beat Bulls and convincingly as a bonus.

Questions that detractors had about Irish front rowers and pace in the backs are starting to be answered.

Ireland need to just maintain a top 4 position before the end of year RWC draw. But a sense that they might be building.


NB* Ireland have lost just 4 matches since the 2023 RWC. Only SA can match that.

6 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ ‘Joe’s generally a step ahead’: How Schmidt’s coaching tree branched into Lions brains trust ‘Joe’s generally a step ahead’: How Schmidt’s coaching tree branched into Lions brains trust
Search