'I've probably got to do the most work in the team': Dane Coles and All Blacks' discipline set for another harsh examination on Saturday
Were it not for a few soft penalties, the All Blacks may well have escaped from their previous match against Argentina with a win. Instead, Los Pumas secured a historic victory, prevailing 25-15.
18 of Argentina’s points came from penalty kicks at goal, with sharpshooter Nicolas Sanchez nailing six of his seven attempts on the post.
Indirectly, the All Blacks probably also found themselves on the wrong side of Australian referee Angus Gardner due to a few early incidents which got the men in black off to a poor start.
First, NZ had a penalty reversed due to some misbehaviour from hooker Dane Coles. Flanker Shannon Frizell was spoken too soon after and then Los Pumas’ second penalty came due to a late tackle from Jordie Barrett after an Argentinian clearing kick.
In the All Blacks’ defence, Los Pumas gave as good as they got and were probably lucky to escape with only 16 penalties conceded (three more than New Zealand). The Barrett charge was especially harsh on NZ – but that’s sometimes what happens when you’ve already found yourself on the back foot due to some poor decision-making earlier in the game.
Coles, speaking after the team naming for the upcoming rematch, admitted the All Blacks needed to hold their discipline better.
“They do bring a lot of heat in that department but we can’t let them dictate that kind of stuff,” Coles said.
“We know it’s going to come this week as well so we’ve just gotta make sure we [impose ourselves] the right way – in tackles, in carries and cleanouts. If they bring a little bit of niggly stuff, just have a bit of a word, smile and get back to the next task.
“As hard as it is sometimes to take, you’ve just got to walk away with a big smile on your face and get on with your next task and you can’t retaliate because discipline was a massive factor and they just kept ticking those threes over, putting us under pressure.”
Having been present for two historic losses in recent years, against Ireland in 2016 and Argentina two weeks ago, Coles is also aware that he can struggle more with keeping a cool head than some of his teammates. The 33-year-old was voted ‘biggest grub’ in a poll of New Zealand Super Rugby players earlier this year, after all.
“I suppose for myself, being a competitive person, I probably let myself down, gave one of the old boys a slap around the head and stuff like that,” Coles said.
“I suppose [with] my personality, it probably is a little bit harder. I’ve probably got to do the most work in the team to make sure [I’m not responding to niggle]. Especially being a leader and a senior player, I’ve got to make sure I lead by example and I didn’t do that in the Pumas game.
“It doesn’t mean you can’t play hard and have some intent, it’s just doing the stupid stuff that costs penalties and keeps them in the game. Individually, I’ve probably had to do more than most people in the team to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
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On-field off-the-ball incidents have been a topic of hot debate this year in the Southern Hemisphere. Dave Rennie’s Wallabies brought plenty of aggression in the four-match Bledisloe Cup series, while Saturday’s clash between Australia and Argentina also got heated at times. Coles is unsure whether that’s due to frustration or some other factor.
“I don’t have the answer, to be fair,” he said. “I suppose it probably has been highlighted a lot more. There’s been a lot more questions from the media about it. Even the Aussie-Argie game, we watched it and there was a bit in there.
“I’m not too sure why it is but if it happens, like we said, we’ve just got to do the right thing and walk away.
“Letting their frustrations out and maybe roomed with the wrong fella during the week? I’m not sure.”
Coles will again wear the No. 2 jersey on Saturday night in the All Blacks’ final match of the year.
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets 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?
10 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.
10 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 commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments