Coles’ frustration set to end
A trip to Japan and Europe beckons for Dane Coles.
The oft-injured hooker is about a fortnight away from a return to provincial rugby which, fingers crossed, will mean the immediate resumption of active duty for the All Blacks. A knee injury has sidelined the 31-yearold all season, but the months of frustration are almost at an end.
It’s understood he’ll make three provincial appearances, starting in mid-September, which would put him on track for New Zealand’s matches in Yokohama and Tokyo, ahead of tests in London, Dublin and Rome.
‘‘He’s doing a lot of intense running and weights and lifting and throwing, and becoming more involved in our trainings. But we’ve tried to put real intensity and high-level work into him, to get his body back to taking the running,’’ All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said yesterday.
Coles has a long history of calf problems, which hampered him in each of the last two seasons. That, and a rib injury, saw him miss significant game time in 2016, before calf, knee and concussion symptoms sidelined the Hurricanes captain for much of last year.
He eventually toured Europe with the All Blacks, only to rupture ligaments in his left knee in November’s test against France Underfire Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has the full support of the Rugby Australia board and will see out his contract, says CEO Raelene Castle.
But at the same time, Castle said the governing body ‘‘can’t just ignore’’ the team’s below-par performances across the first two Bledisloe Cup tests.
But Castle said there was no prospect Cheika would be sacked before the end of his in Paris. The initial operation wasn’t a success, leading to a further cleanup in May.
A passionate, whole-hearted bloke, Coles has been through the full gamut of emotions.
‘‘This is the exciting part because he can start to see it coming together,’’ said Hansen.
‘‘He’s worked really hard and I said to him the other day ‘you’re back, son. You’ve got a twinkle in current deal, which runs out after the 2019 World Cup.
‘‘He’s contracted through to World Cup. He’s got a plan, we’re across that plan, we’re comfortable with it,’’ Castle said.
‘‘But clearly, you can’t just ignore the performances, they’re not acceptable.
‘‘So it’s about what can we do to support him to make sure he’s got what he needs to make sure the Wallabies are successful as we lead into that World Cup.’’
‘‘You’re back, son. You’ve got a twinkle in your eye, you’re excited.’’ What All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said to Dane Coles
your eye, you’re excited’ and he’s like a kid with a brand new toy, which is great. Mentally he’s in the right place and now we’ve just go to get him physically finished and he’s into it.’’
While Coles is still a couple of weeks away from running out for Wellington, another All Black will play for the Lions against Southland on Friday.
Halfback TJ Perenara has been belatedly released, presumably with an eye to him then starting New Zealand’s next Rugby Championship match, against Argentina in Nelson on September 8.
Flanker Ardie Savea will also be in the Lions’ lineup and should come into contention to run on against the Pumas, given the head knock Sam Cane took in Saturday’s win over Australia.