Gordon D'Arcy blasts 'patronising' All Blacks following Coles on-field snipe

Former Ireland centre Gordon D’Arcy has blasted the All Blacks, who he described as ‘patronising’ following their defeat to Ireland last weekend.

Ireland dominated from start to finish to beat New Zealand 29-20 at the Aviva Stadium to make it three wins from the sides’ last five meetings with another superb performance against the All Blacks.

However, one comment made by an All Black during the game about Johnny Sexton has left a sour taste in the mouth for some, not least former Ireland and Leinster midfielder D’Arcy.

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The 41-year-old’s comments are in response to ref mic audio of New Zealand’s Dane Coles, whose colourful language about Sexton has been doing the rounds on social media.

Coles can be heard referring to Sexton, saying ‘**** he’s a mouthy ****’, to match day referee Luke Pearce, who tells him ‘careful now’.

D’Arcy wrote that the comment from Coles – who won his 80th All Blacks cap against France in Paris this weekend – was not a surprise.

He wrote: “Having played NZ a lot in my career, I gotta say Dane Coles comments about Johnny are unsurprising.

“In my experience NZ players are for the most part patronising on the pitch when they win and good to see they’re continuing to reflect that when they lose,” before adding “Allez le bleus.”

Having played NZ a lot in my career, I gotta say Dane Coles comments about Johnny are unsurprising. In my experience NZ players are for the most part patronising on the pitch when they win and good to see they’re continuing to reflect that when they lose

— Gordon D'Arcy (@Gordonwdarcy) November 20, 2021

D’Arcy came close but never succeeded in beating the All Blacks in his 16-year-long career, retiring a season before Ireland’s inaugural victory over the men in black which came in Chicago in 2016. The Wexford born back – who has kept half a foot in rugby through his punditry work – is Irish rugby’s longest-serving international of all time and won 82 caps for Ireland and 261 for Leinster in a decorated career.

An hour and half after his comments New Zealand fell to their second successive loss of the Autumn Nations Series, against France at Stade de France. An electric performance from the French was enough to hold back the All Blacks, sewing up the match 40 – 25.