Coles preparing for another big year in 2013

Above: Dane Coles in action for the Hurricanes against the Chiefs last year in their last match of the season. His injury time try gave the Hurricanes a 28-25 win over the eventual competition winners and ended their season on a high.

After the year Dane Coles had in 2012 he was entitled to a decent break. Back home from touring with the All Blacks in Europe he was given the whole of January off. A stickler for hard work, he instead reported for duty with the rest of the squad on the first Monday after the Christmas break.

This week the happy hooker appeared as fresh as a daisy when chatting with Club Rugby moments after a seemingly torrid Hurricanes forwards training session, involving a live scrum session followed by lineout work.

“I just wanted to get back into it. I felt I’d had a good break over Christmas and I just wanted to start training again,” he explained.

“It was good to get back and start training with the Hurricanes again. I was regretting it a bit that first week though - my lungs were a bit gone!” ?

Making the All Blacks for last year’s end of season tour, in which he made his Test debut against Scotland and played three Tests, was a culmination of a big year for the Kapiti Coast hooker who is now in his fifth season playing Super Rugby.

“Everything I’ve ever done in my rugby career has been geared to trying to get to that moment of making the All Blacks,” he said. “So just to pull that jersey on was a moment I will never forget.”

He came off the bench to make his Test debut in New Zealand’s 51-22 in Edinburgh against Scotland. He went on to play in other Test wins against Italy and Wales.

Part of a new breed of Hurricanes stars, he was a key cog in the Hurricanes team that silenced their critics in last year’s Super Rugby competition, winning 10 games and scoring 58 tries and 489 points along the way.

Beauden Barrett’s fulltime 80-metre stunner against the Blues at Eden Park aside, Coles arguably scored the try of the year with the last play of the season against the eventual 2012 Super Rugby champions, the Chiefs. The Hurricanes missed out the playoffs, eventually finishing eighth, but his 84th minute match winner to see them beat the Chiefs 28-25 sent their fans away from Westpac Stadium in full voice.

Coles started in every match for the Hurricanes last season.

He then helped Poneke win the Hardham Cup, scoring a try in their 20-17 win in the final over Old Boys University at the Petone Recreation Ground in early August, before playing in 10 of 11 ITM Cup games for the Wellington Lions as they reached the semi-finals.

His compelling form couldn’t be ignored and he was picked up for the All Blacks for their end of year tour.

As at the start of 2013, Coles has played 47 games for the Hurricanes since his Super Rugby debut and 66 matches for the Wellington Lions after memorably scoring two tries off the bench against Otago in his ITM Cup debut in 2007.

Asked about his role as a senior player in the Hurricanes, Coles said he’s aware of the extra responsibility but that the culture in the team now is very welcoming and it’s about everyone being equal.“

"When I came into the environment the culture was a bit different. Everyone was welcoming but you had to earn the respect of the senior guys. I just go out of my way to make everyone feel welcome and everyone is equal in the environment.”

Coles is looking forward to playing with some new players this year, such as Ben Franks. “With Ben Franks coming in it just makes our front row stronger. He’s got a lot of experience, and our young guys like Reggie Goodes and Eric Sione can learn lots off him.”

With four former Hurricanes hookers playing in other teams this year - Ged Robinson (Rebels), Andrew Hore (Otago), Mahonri Schwalger (Chiefs) and Hika Elliot (Chiefs) - and an array of outstanding hookers in the other teams - Coles agreed there were a lot of top-class rakes in Super Rugby this year.

Coles also said coach Mark Hammett has been a big influence. Hammett, a former hooker, played 81 times for the Crusaders and 29 for the All Blacks.

“Mark Hammett has helped out my game massively. Just a lot of technical stuff that most coaches that haven’t played that position wouldn’t be able to tell you. [For instance] he helps myself, Motu Matu’u and Ash Dixon with our scrummaging and our throwing, which is beneficial for us.”

Asked to single out his most challenging Super Rugby opponents he unsurprisingly nominated the Crusaders and the South African teams.

“The Crusaders are very strong, and with three All Black front rowers they’re a tough side to play. Most of the African sides are big and you’ve got to take the fight to them. But every team is strong at scrum time so you can’t let off in the scrums in any game otherwise you’ll be on the back foot.”

Not afraid of the hard work, Coles has also built his reputation on being dynamic with ball in hand. Watching some of the tries he’s scored, fans would be forgiven for thinking he’s one of the backs. Nevertheless, he says it’s a thrill being a forward and watching the players with high numbers cut loose like they did on many occasions for the Hurricanes and for the Lions last year.

“When you do the work up front and you get out of that scrum seeing guys like Beauden Barrett,? Julian Savea and Andre Taylor cutting through, that’s what you want as a front rower!

“And those guys are young. They are only going to get better as well. So it’s a good sign for the Hurricanes.”

Coles has always been well grounded and connected to the grassroots game. Now he’s an All Black he sees his role as supporting grassroots rugby as being important as ever.

“I think it’s very important to help out the game at all levels. I always try and get out to Poneke as much as I can and run the water or try and play if possible. I also go home to Paraparaumu and help out age-grade teams.

“I come from a small town and have been brought up to be humble, so I think it’s very important to go out and help the future players coming through.”

The Hurricanes are playing the Rebels in Geelong this Saturday in the second of three pre-season games before the competition starts against the Blues at Westpac Stadium at Westpac Stadium on Saturday 23 February.

Last week they beat the Crusaders 27-26 at Timaru in conditions Coles described as “very hot” and then they play the Chiefs at Mangatainoka in an annual match that the players enjoy playing in. “The boys are looking forward to that match. It’s a great day and it gets right down to the grassroots of rugby. It’s also our last game before we play the Blues in our first competition match so we’re all looking forward to it.”

Upcoming Hurricanes games:

• Saturday 9 February v Rebels in Geelong (pre-season)
• Saturday 16 February v Chiefs in Mangatainoka (pre-season)
• Saturday 23 February v Blues at Westpac Stadium
• Friday 1 March v Reds in Brisbane

?