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Dane Coles is relishing the chance to return to All Blacks duty this weekend as New Zealand look to repeat their opening-round victory over Australia in the Rugby Championship.
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Coles’ long-awaited comeback from concussion was confirmed on Wednesday, the hooker set for his 50th international cap in Dunedin on Saturday.
He comes into a side brimming with confidence after a sensational opening 40 minutes last weekend in Sydney, the world champions running in an astonishing six tries.
Steve Hansen’s side moved 54-6 ahead before the Wallabies finally rallied, but an All Blacks victory was never in doubt.
“It’s like my first test all over again,” said Coles. “There’s a lot of emotion after all that I’ve been through but I’m not getting too far ahead of myself.
“I just want to go out and perform and do some of the work Codie [Taylor] has done, and keep chipping away and hopefully earn another week in the jersey.”
"We want to bring the hunger" – #AllBlacks skipper Kieran Read talks after the Captain's Run in Dunedin.#NZLvAUS pic.twitter.com/S49a1kKkai
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) August 25, 2017
A wounded Wallabies have made three changes to their starting XV, but have since been forced into a fourth after Adam Coleman picked up an injury during the captain’s run.
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Rory Arnold will replace Coleman in the second row, while Dane Haylett-Petty, Tevita Kuridrani and Rob Simmons are the other new faces as Michael Cheika’s men look to restore some pride after suffering a sixth successive defeat to their near neighbours.
HEAD TO HEAD
New Zealand: 128
Australia: 48
Draw: 7
KEY PLAYERS
All Blacks – Ben Smith
Danger lurks all over the pitch when you face the All Blacks, but in Ben Smith they have one of the best finishers in the world, something he showed in Sydney with his 17th Rugby Championship try. Only Bryan Habana (21) has more scores in the competition, a target Smith will cut down even further if the Wallabies’ defence struggles like it did last time out.
Wallabies – Michael Hooper
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After the humbling on home soil Australia need their captain to lead from the front this weekend as they look to restore some pride. Granted it will not be easy, but the Wallabies skipper must inspire if they are to claim their first win in New Zealand since 2001.
The stage is set for tomorrow's second #BledisloeCup clash. #NZLvAUS pic.twitter.com/jkQMgHXnt4
— Wallabies (@wallabies) August 25, 2017
THE LINE-UPS
All Blacks: Damian McKenzie, Ben Smith, Ryan Crotty, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; Joe Moody, Dane Coles, Owen Franks, Brodie Retallick, Samuel Whitelock, Liam Squire, Sam Kane, Kieran Read.
Wallabies: Israel Folau, Dane Haylett-Petty, Tevita Kuridrani, Kurtley Beale, Henry Speight, Bernard Foley, Will Genia; Scott Sio, Stephen Moore, Allan Alaalatoa, Rob Simmons, Adam Coleman, Ned Hanigan, Michael Hooper, Sean McMahon.
PRE-MATCH TALK
Kieran Reid: “We weren’t happy, obviously, with the last 30 minutes last week, so that was a great kick in the guts for us to start this week on the right note. No two weeks are the same, it could be a completely different game out here tomorrow night. We’ve got to adapt to that.”
Michael Cheika: “The physically of the game and all of the contact part of the game has to come down to every player in the team. I think no-one does (expect us to win), to be honest. People would be justified to think that. It’s up to us to write our own chapters if we want to change that attitude around.”
KEY STATS
– The All Blacks have now won six games on the bounce against the Wallabies, averaging 40 points per game in that run.
– The last time the Wallabies travelled to New Zealand and defeated the All Blacks was in August 2001; they’ve since lost 20 such fixtures.
– The All Blacks posted 40 first-half points against the Wallabies last week, setting the record for the most first-half points in a Rugby Championship game, and the most ever conceded in a Test match by Australia.
– Kieran Read is set to make his 95th start for the All Blacks (102nd cap), which would equal Mils Muliaina for the fourth most ever by a New Zealand player (behind McCaw, Carter and Woodcock).
Comments on RugbyPass
I still see nothing in Sotutus play that hes changed his upright running style that failed so many times against decent international defences like the french. Other than that… Iose? Well you have covered his limitations well. If Sititi had been playing the the season… Jacobson? Grace?…Neither shout pick me. So Ardie it is.
1 Go to commentsThere isn’t one element you mentioned there that every top class or successful team gets up to. The great All blacks sides used to play on the ‘fringes or edge’ but it was essentially saying they were doing something illegal or borderline to gain dominance. The fine margins at the top are minute between the top sides. La Rochelle, the crusaders, Saracens, Toulon etc etc…..have all been accused. Get over it, the comment comes across as salty and naive. Northampton as well as they played to get back into the match were thoroughly beaten and controlled for 60 minutes and Leinster have only themselves to blame for kicking it away and hence losing control of the match and being nearly the architects of their own downfall.
2 Go to commentsThere is some talent coming thru thats for sure. The 10 looks special to me. Rico Simpson is a name to look for in the future.
1 Go to commentsI think this quiet honestly is just an innocent misunderstanding by someone who is pig sh*t stupid. Eben is a fine player but by christ, if he can’t understand or get what the Irish players were trying to say to him after the match…..well i hope he has someone looking after his finances, career and is reading the fine print for him, cause life after rugby may be quite difficult for the vacuous echo chamber.
27 Go to commentsIt could be Doris' day!
3 Go to commentsThe whole thing has blown up because Eben’s words have clearly struck a nerve in Ireland. Otherwise they would just laugh it off. I think some former Irish players, commentators and some Irish fans know deep down this Ireland team started to believe its own press and that a certain amount of arrogance had started to creep in during the World Cup. The topic was actually brought up by Irish pundits on Off the Ball recently. It’s fine to be arrogant if you can back it up. Ireland didn’t.
27 Go to comments‘The Irish are good people'. Why is Goode praising a people who hate his own? Wet wipe.
27 Go to commentsLa mejor final que se puede ver en el emisferio norte.
1 Go to commentsA lot of cope from south africans in the comments. Etzebeth is a liar and a hypocrite; you don’t have to defend him!
27 Go to commentsHe got big and really slow for a flyhalf…not sure he’s relevant in a bok conversation anymore
4 Go to commentsBest tourney team vs best team in the regular season for 3 games in RSA - talk is cheap, let’s see what’s what on the tour
27 Go to commentsOne overlooked statistic from their 2016 winning season is the Huricanes are still the only team in Super rugby history not to concede a try during the playoff rounds.
4 Go to commentsThanks for the article, Nick. The Nienaber blitz D does ask a lot of its scrumhalf. I have been watching JGP on D and he often looks like he has mastered what Nienaber asks for better than Faf de Klerk and Cobus Reinach! 🤣 Impressive season by JGP if I must make an understatement.
22 Go to commentsOkay last one. I promise. I think it’s despicable for Andy Goode to suggest that Eben can’t count to 12. To be fair he only had to count to 8 - the number of Irishmen who DIDN’T say that. Less the 3 kiwis of course. 23 - 12 - 3 = 8. See Joe. I can do maffs.
27 Go to commentsCheers, Nick! How do you see the Reds’ Jock Campbell’s play this year? Not as strong a carrier as Andrew Kellaway or Tom Wright, but does avoid errors. Do you see Joe Schmidt as wanting safety first at 15 or a try-assisting counterattacker?
91 Go to commentsI’m sure this was all just a big misunderstanding. Irishmen and Afrikaaners conversing in a noisey stadium. Not easy to get the right messages across. A minefield.
27 Go to commentsSay what you will about Andy Goode. But he is right about one thing… I’m not sure what that one thing is exactly… but I’m willing to hear him out.
27 Go to commentsAnother article to bait and trigger Irish fans. This must stop.
27 Go to commentsHi Nick. Thanks for your +++ ongoing analysis. Re Vunivalu, He’s been benched recently and it will be interesting to see what Kiss does with him as we enter the backend of SRP. I’m still not sold.
91 Go to commentsIn the fine tradition of Irish rugby, Leinster cheat well and for some reason only known to whoever referees them, they are allowed to get away with it every single game. If teams have not got the physicality up front to stop them getting the ball, they will win every single game. They take out players beyond the ruck and often hold them on the ground. Those that are beyond the ruck and therefore offside, hover there to cause distraction but also to join the next ruck from the side thereby stopping the jackal. The lineout prior to the second try on Saturday. 3 Leinster players left the lineout before the ball was thrown and were driving the maul as soon as the player hit the ground and thereby getting that valuable momentum. They scrummage illegally, with the looshead turning in to stop the opposing tighthead from pushing straight and making it uncomfortable for the hooker. The tighthead takes a step and tries to get his opposite loosehead to drop the bind. Flankers often ‘move up’ and actually bind on the prop and not remain bound to the second row. It does cause chaos and is done quickly and efficiently so that referees are blinded by the illegal tactics. I am surprised opposition coaches when they meet referees before games don’t mention it. I am also surprised that they do not go to the referees group and ask them to look at the tactics used and referee them properly. If they are the better team and win, fair play but a lot of their momentum is gained illegally and therefore it is not a level playing field.
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