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'He'll be pretty pumped up to take a few of our heads off'
Hooker Dane Coles has shut down any chatter concerning the relative strength of the Tongan side named to take on the All Blacks on Saturday evening.
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Tonga have named thirteen debutants for the game, including nine in the starting side, with many of their players only part-time professionals.
While the All Blacks themselves have named a handful of new players for the game, they’re all men who’ve spent the season toughing it out in Super Rugby – and they also have the likes of proven performers Coles, captain Samuel Whitelock and benchwarmer Beauden Barrett to call upon on the evening.
Coles, however, has said the All Blacks won’t be taking their opposition lightly.
“It’s a test match,” he stated. “I know a couple of those boys. I’m good mates with Mateaki [Kafatolu], the blindside flanker, from Petone. And I know his mindset; he’ll be pretty pumped up to take a few of our heads off.
“As players, we don’t think about if they’re a club player, a professional player or a guy coming from work. They’re going to represent their country and we’re going to represent our country. I know the Tonga boys will be out to go hard and get into us – and we’ll be doing the same.”
The All Blacks’ clash with Tonga is the second game of a doubleheader at Mount Smart on Saturday night, with the Maori All Blacks also hosting Samoa. As such, there’ll likely be plenty of red and blue flags in the crowd, as well as the customary black.
That, along with the fact that the All Blacks are blooding four debutants in the form of midfielder Quinn Tupaea and reserves George Bower, Ethan Blackadder and Finlay Christie, will add to the exciting atmosphere of the night.
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“It’s the first test there so there’s been that real excitement, I suppose, about us,” Coles said. “Especially, there’s a different team – a lot of new guys getting an opportunity so it’s created a real bit of excitement.
“I suppose we’re just worrying about our team and I suppose there’s a few little connections with the Maori All Black, a few of us know the Samoan boys as well, a few boys know the Tongans so it’ll be quite cool after the game is finished to catch up with some old mates and have a few beers.”
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Mount Smart is home to New Zealand’s sole NRL team, the Warriors, and Coles – a self-described rugby league nut – couldn’t be happier to be running out on the stadium’s hallowed turf.
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“[I’m] bloody pumped, to be fair,” he said. “Didn’t make it as a Warrior but I get to go there as an All Black so yeah it’s pretty cool.
“We actually had the day off yesterday, a few of us went out to the stadium with the Mad Butcher and he showed us all the jerseys he’s collected over a few years, so it was good. It was good to have a yarn. We went to the changing rooms and their gym and stuff like that. Seen big Jerry Seuseu, that was quite cool. So yeah, pumped to be there as an All Black.”
Saturday’s doubleheader kicks off at 4:30pm NZT, with the All Blacks taking the field at 7:05pm.
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to comments