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'It's a scar that will stay with you': Historic results 'gut-wrenching' for All Blacks hooker
While everyone outside of New Zealand raised their hands in celebration following Los Pumas’ first-ever victory over the All Blacks earlier this month, the beaten side were left lamenting the second time in just four years that they’d broken terrifying new ground.
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History isn’t made just by winners, of course, and it wasn’t just a historic win for Argentina – it was a historic loss for New Zealand.
In 2016, Ireland finally broke their duck in their 29th test match against the All Blacks and achieved their first win over the side after over 110 years of head-to-heads.
Argentina’s history with New Zealand isn’t quite as long, with their first match coming in 1985, but the result was one worth celebrating regardless.
Unless, of course, you were supporting the beaten team – or even worse – on the beaten team.
When Ireland earned their first victory over the All Blacks in Chicago, Dane Coles was the starting hooker for the losers. It was a similar story two weeks ago, with Coles again wearing the No. 2 jersey in the loss.
“If I’m honest, it probably is [one of the more gut-wrenching losses],” Coles told media following the All Blacks team announcement on Thursday. “I’ve been in this team twice when we’ve been the first team to lose to a country and I don’t think you’ll ever lose sight of that feeling. It’s a scar that will stay with you probably for the rest of your rugby career.
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“It’s something that hurts but the fortunate thing with rugby, you get another week to play them again. We get to heal that scar a little bit and get on with life.”
Coles has again been named to start at hooker when New Zealand and Argentina clash in Sydney this Saturday, and the 33-year-old is more than ready to right the wrongs of the last match after having the past weekend off.
“[The post-match review] was pretty brutal,” Coles said. “Especially coming off a loss, it’s an emotional, gut-wrenching kind of review.
“It’s been a long couple of weeks, to be fair. Obviously we had the bye so we couldn’t really wait to get into a working week. We took a few things out of it and just got to make sure we walk the walk this week and put those learnings into action on Saturday.”
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Coles revealed some of the key areas that the All Blacks have focussed on improving at training, including reining in their discipline while also playing a more instinctual game.
“I think a big thing out of the game was probably just some of our option-taking as a unit. Pulling the trigger on stuff that we can see but we were probably a bit structured and missed opportunities and that was a big thing that probably came out [in the review].
“I thought our passion was there but obviously our discipline was a massive factor in keeping that scoreboard pressure. So those two things, we’ve had to work hard on this week.”
The 73-cap hooker will start alongside Joe Moody – who also played against Argentina – and Nepo Laulala in the All Blacks front row.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Jacobsen will definitely be in the 23
2 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
2 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
5 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
5 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
4 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
3 Go to comments