Coles hot on Pacific snub
Dane Coles wants to see any World League-type competition include the Pacific Island nations.
The Hurricanes captain took aim at World Rugby yesterday over its controversial proposal for the international rugby calender.
That ‘World League’ proposal initially excluded Fiji, Samoa and Tonga in favour of the United States and Japan, but an updated ‘Nations Championship’ proposal was released yesterday which would include Fiji in the tier-one competition alongside Japan, and the Rugby Championship and Six Nations teams.
Coles said he was unhappy with the original proposal and the lack of consultation with players.
‘‘The thing that got me was excluding the Pacific nation teams because, especially in the Hurricanes. We’ve had a lot of guys play for Manu Samoa and Tonga and those countries do a lot for world rugby, so them not being included in any plans was what p...ed me off.
‘‘Those Pacific nations deserve something, they deserve games.
‘‘It’s a long way to go and a lot more planning. The players are trying to put their voice out there and get something going because you can’t just have these guys at World Rugby making these decisions and not having the players’ input.’’
Coles made his thoughts known at the Huricanes’ captain’s run ahead of their clash against the Highlanders at Westpac Stadium tonight.
The training had to be moved from the stadium to the team’s training base at Rugby League Park to ease the load on the turf at the stadium after last Saturday’s Eminem concert.
Coles said he didn’t mind where they held the captain’s run, but hoped he and the 46,474 other fans who attended hadn’t left the turf in too bad shape.
‘‘I was at the Eminem concert, so hopefully I didn’t cause any divots on the ground. It will be a big job looking after that field after 45,000 people have been on it.
‘‘It was bloody good, mate,’’ Coles said of the concert.
‘‘It’s a bit different when you go sober. There were a few creatures out there at the concert, but I bloody enjoyed it. It was good for Wellington to get that concert – I was a bit of a fan growing up.’’
As for the rugby side of things, the Hurricanes have been a bit of a beguiling side this season.
They wooed many fans with an impressive performance against the Brumbies last weekend, but that could be deceiving when you consider the Brumbies’ only win this year was over the hapless Chiefs, while the Hurricanes were thumped by the Crusaders the week before last.
Coles said it made tonight’s match a good test of where they are at this season.
‘‘We improved heaps [against the Brumbies], but it’s always easy to improve when you get a hiding from the Crusaders.
‘‘We’ve got to keep our feet firmly on the ground and work hard. If we go in five per cent off against the Highlanders we’re going to lose.’’
‘‘You can’t just have these guys at World Rugby making these decisions and not having the players’ input.’’ Dane Coles
What: Where and when:
Super Rugby, round four Westpac Stadium, Wellington, 7.35pm tonight
Referee:
Damon Murphy (Australia)
Hurricanes:
Chase Tiatia, Jordie Barrett, Matt Proctor, Ngani Laumape, Ben Lam, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Ardie Savea, Du’plessis Kirifi, Vaea Fifita, Liam Mitchell, James Blackwell, Jeffery Toomaga-allen, Dane Coles (c), Chris Eves. Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Fraser Armstrong, Ben May, Isaia Walker-leawere, Reed Prinsep, Richard Judd, Jackson Garden-bachop, Vince Aso.
Ben Smith (cc), Richard Buckman, Sio Tomkinson, Thomas Umaga-jensen, Tevita Li, Josh Ioane, Aaron Smith, Luke Whitelock (cc), James Lentjes, Jackson Hemopo, Pari Pari Parkinson, Josh Dickson, Tyrel Lomax, Liam Coltman, Ayden Johnstone. Reserves: Ash Dixon, Daniel Lienert-brown, Josh Iosefascott, Tom Franklin, Elliot Dixon, Kayne Hammington, Marty Banks, Waisake Naholo.
Highlanders: