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All Blacks star Coles moves step closer to international return after horror injury
By Ben Spratt
New Zealand international Dane Coles made his long-awaited return from injury for Wellington in the Mitre 10 Cup on Friday.
The All Blacks hooker ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in an international against France in Paris last November, with a tricky rehabilitation keeping the 31-year-old out for almost a year.
But Coles, whose 2017 season was disrupted by concussion, was finally back on the field with Wellington at Yarrow Stadium.
The Hurricanes captain had an instant impact, too, emerging from the bench with 16 minutes remaining and playing a part in a late try as his side ran out 34-10 winners over Taranaki.
Wellington booked their place in the Mitre 10 Cup semi-finals, while Taranaki's relegation was sealed in defeat.
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Latest Comments
Reiko should be the dual winger guy as he should be used to playing either side given he's had to do both at 13 (pass and step left/right).
Maybe he has such a bad preference that that's why he's not a good center?
Go to commentsAgreed. And I don't have much more to say on it, but I had been having one thought that sprang to mind at the tail of this discussion, and that is that it's not all about Razor.
It's not about any coach being "right". I think a lot of selections can become defense and while it doesn't really apply here I really enjoyed that Andy Farrell just gave into the public demands and changed out his team for the change that had been asked for. Like why not? This is the countries team, keep them engaged. The whole reason i've only just finished watching the game was because I wasn't interested in watching any of the selected players against a team like Italy (still actually enjoyed the first half with the contest Italy made of it).
Faz leap frogs a younger half back into start. He hands the golden child the game over July's golden child. He gives an old winger a go, a new flanker and hooker. None of them really did any good, certainly not enough to suggest they should have been promoted above others, but who cares? You won, and you gave the country what they wanted, that's all that matters after all. It's for the country, not the one in charge who thinks they have to have their own pied piper tune playing.
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