Get Newsletter

Coles close to full recovery

Coles played for 78 minutes after he had to replace Codie Taylor early in the game. The Hurricanes hooker was also a late inclusion in the matchday 23 after Nathan Harris suffered a serious knee injury on the eve of the game.

ADVERTISEMENT

"I'm close to being 100 percent fit, to be honest," Coles told allblacks.com

"I didn't think I'd play but that's footy. These things happen and unfortunately, I had to go on two minutes into the match.

"It's been blown out of proportion. There's been a lot of media stuff about it – I wish there wasn't – but that's just the way it is. A lot of rugby players play with injuries and stuff like that, I'm just doing my job."

Meanwhile, despite the All Blacks impressive showing in Sydney, flank Sam Cane feels the return match in Wellington will be a completely different encounter.

"Any rugby team that is wounded typically bounces back a lot stronger and I wouldn't expect anything less from the Aussies. They'll come here with a real steely determination to prove a point to themselves and to their media who have been a bit rough on them.

"The best thing we can do is prepare well and go out there and try and put in a good one again. They'll be a lot better, we know that," he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cane added: "We're certainly not lacking motivation because if we get this one right we get to have a sip out of the Bledisloe and that's something pretty special. That's driving us pretty strongly."

@allblacks

Join free

Boks Office | Episode 32 | How To Win Europe

Round 12 Highlights | PWR 2024/25

Bristol Bears vs Gloucester-Hartpury | PWR 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo vs Kobelco Kobe Steelers | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match

Edinburgh vs Brython | Celtic Challenge 2024/25 | Match Highlights

Yokohama Canon Eagles vs Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Global Schools Challenge | Day 2 Replay

AUSTRALIA vs USA behind the scenes | HSBC SVNS Embedded | E04

Write A Comment