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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.
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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.
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.
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“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.
Comments on RugbyPass
Results probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
1 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
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61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
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11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
56 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to comments