July 11, 2025 • 16 mins
The All Blacks are in the capitol for their second France clash.
They’ll be aiming to claim a series win, maintaining their winning momentum from last’s week’s game in Dunedin.
All Blacks great Dane Coles joined Piney ahead of the test to discuss his career, confronting playing style, and what he's up to now he's hung up the boots.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks ed B Test.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Match Saturday one twenty five coming to your live from
Shared twenty two on Wellington's waterfront. It is amazing who
you bump into on Test Match Saturday in downtown Wellington.
Ninety tests for the All Blacks between twenty twelve and
twenty twenty three. World Cup win of twenty fifteen twenty
three tries the most buy a front runner in All
Blacks history. Only Ardie Savier, Kieren Reid and Richie McCay
(00:34):
have more as an All Black forward. Hurricane's third most
cap player, captain the Canes to their first and so.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Far only Super Rugby title twenty sixteen.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Same year nominee for the New Zealand and World Rugby
Player of the Year Awards for a long time, the
best hooker in the world, Dame corles Val.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
You mate, cheers. Why are you making me blessed after
that today?
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Not good to be here, mate, It's good to see
if I had to drag you away from the throng
of fans who still want to get photos with you, mate, Tim,
Miss Jim.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
Miss rug Beyond the day of a test today.
Speaker 5 (01:05):
I actually do like coming home to Williington and I
live up in Carpety, so the building and just walking
around and see all the fans.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
You know, it's been It's a different buzz.
Speaker 5 (01:12):
But yeah, at least I get to go to the
game and kind of watch it from the seats, and
I don't miss the contact, pinty. But yeah, I suppose
that big build up with your kids and your family
is always special.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
But no regrets made.
Speaker 5 (01:22):
I'm happy to be on the other side now and
just sit and have a beer and watch the game.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Good stuff.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
But they always I think every every player in any
sport I've spoken to about retiring and they say, what
what do you miss and what don't you miss? No
one misses the training, right, no one misses that stuff,
And I'm sure you don't. But what about the And
a lot of people say it's the friendships they miss
the most.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Yeah, yeah, you do.
Speaker 5 (01:42):
Like that's that's always an important part of your your
team sport, as your as your mates. But I think
you just got to try and stay connected. I always
try to text the boys when around town. I caught
up a few of the All Black Boys last night.
You know, Sonny and that still give me a bit
of band down that So it was cool in that
space you kind of remember, you know that what you
went through and the guys you play with, But you know,
like life carries on, you know.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
That's just it was a big part of my life.
Speaker 5 (02:05):
But yeah, I'm very grateful for what I've done, but
I'm still I'm enjoying the kind of the bed on
the other side as well, and making some new friendships
and living a simpler life as well.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Good to hear, Good to hear. I mean, you were
always a good play growing up. What tuned you into
an all Black in late twenty twelve? What was there
a turning point for you?
Speaker 5 (02:24):
I remember, well, the big thing with obviously Horry was
there for a long time, so I had to bide
my time, which was the way it was back in
the day. And obviously him moving on in a bit
of time in the saddle with the canes and that
definitely helped. And I think I just made up my mind,
if I need a bit, I'm going to be an orbit.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
I was twenty five, it needs to be this year.
Speaker 5 (02:42):
So I just kind of put my head down, went
to work, and I probably wasn't to a camp. They
invited me to an all black camp and Steve Hanson
and Mike Kron came along and said, like, you go,
good son, but you're throwing his crap. I was like, yeah,
your car, that's I can't really be okay. And they
just gave me some real basic feedback about my throw
(03:02):
and I just I remember just during the NPC season,
I just worked my butt off. I was throwing on
days off and it became really consistent and that in
that role and next thing, I'm on to India to
all and hadn't.
Speaker 4 (03:13):
Really looked back.
Speaker 5 (03:14):
So yeah, a bit of a bit of guidance and
a bit of determination and a bit of life experience.
I was twenty five, you know, and I was at
a good age that I needed to put my head
down and go to work and work it out.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Because you were always that kind of player, though, weren't you. Yes, you,
I mean you you're a hooky. You're throwing to the
line out and you're trying to get the ball back
on the right side in the scrum. But you weren't
just a ruck had ray. You'd always run on the
loose with the ball growing up, right.
Speaker 5 (03:38):
Yeah, I think it was timing Piney like in that
two twelve of you. I think they all acts had
a game plan with a kind of the hockey was
on the edge, so he was kind of a back lucy.
So I think I was pretty lucky because it definitely
suited my skill set. Like, even if it wasn't the
game plan and the Hurricanes, I probably just hang on
the edge, and I think the coaches went too fond
of it, but just have a crack, and like I said, honestly,
(04:00):
I reckon it was a bit of luck that that
shag and that came up a game plan that suited
my skill set. And yeah, I just kind of always
backed my ability to have a crack and have a
run and try, you know, step the back or put
a kicking or saying like that. So yeah, that was
kind of kind of it.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Well, they might have come up with the game plan,
but you still have to implement it.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
And you know, you are regarded as somebody who redefined
that looking role a fourth loose forward, the guy on
the wing, the guy runs, you know, but.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Now a lot of hookers do that, right.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
Yeah, So.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
When you look back, now, do you do you feel
as though you played a part in the development of
the number two jersey.
Speaker 5 (04:34):
I don't know about that, Piney, Like, I feel like
I just expressed myself if I've been completely honest, like
that's what that was, what my skill set was, and
I wasn't trying to redefine or change the way. I
just like, this is what I'm This is Dane Cole's
this is what I'm about. If you don't like it,
that's all good. But this is this is what I'm
going to kind of do. But I look back, I
(04:54):
think a guy that I probably Keith would from the
Irish I reckon he was the guy and Fitzy to
us at certain extent, you know that Keith Wood was
the guy that kind of used to watch like man
like kicking the ball side steps. He was a big inspiration. Yeah,
I just tried to mold myself, take little bits and
players and then put them into myself and express how
the way I did.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
It that twenty twelve side you came in. So we're
still pretty stacked. Aay, not too many.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Not too many retired after twenty eleven, quite a few
that after twenty fifteen. But what was that environment like
coming into.
Speaker 5 (05:24):
Yeah, it was pretty intimidating, to be fair, because me
and so we had a Curbbarlow.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
We didn't make.
Speaker 5 (05:28):
The initial squads of trainations and the bleedders though, so
we went straight into India tour and there wasn't much
time to be like, you know, get around you.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
It was like, all right, we see how you go.
Speaker 5 (05:38):
You know, like remember my first line out says side
and you know, cause I was overthrowing it.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
Like but that in their era.
Speaker 5 (05:45):
You just kind of knew you shut your mouth, you
just got on with it, and your teamates respect and
as you kind of in your two much respect you
guys like Kevan Horry and we'll get you and like, yeah,
do this, And I lend a lot of that time.
Speaker 4 (05:56):
Mate was definitely shaped me. I'm the all black.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
I probably was because I've seen the commitment what it
talked to be to at a top eleven and I
didn't want to be like a one test all black,
you know. I wanted to be there for a long time.
And I definitely leand a line off of those senior
guys in there in there on that.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
So yeah, giving me alarm of everybody who talks about him,
talks about his manner in the team.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
And what an influential play he was.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
But you know during that time and heading into the
twenty fifteen Rugby World Cup, you end up starting games overhead.
But was he still a supportive teammate.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
One hundred percent. And I got that kind of fear
when Hory and.
Speaker 5 (06:30):
TV like probably two opposites, once from Southwark and one
from you know, me and Toto. But the relationship they had,
like it was like you got to earn your jersey,
but they'll do everything he can to help, you know,
get the best out of each other. And it was
never like if there was like a thing they needed
to share, that'd share with it. So yeah, and Kevy
was the same rid into fifteen, a great relationship. You know,
(06:51):
when it was time to work and compete, you go
hard for each other, but at the same time, you know,
would always sit down and always I would always bounce
off ideas or you know, things I could make my
game better off Kevy.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
So you know, I okivy a lot.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Twenty fifteen Rugby World Cup winner obviously, Then the next
year the Canes are Super Rugby champions, You're leading that team,
nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year, what was
that your sweet spot that twenty sixteen.
Speaker 5 (07:14):
Yeah, I think it was, you know, like I had
a few injuries after that, but that's footy. But yeah,
like I obviously the Canes is a big part of
my life, mate, Like I used to go to the stadium,
I'm on the train effort at Park so and to
be keptain of a team that I love, you know
a lot, a lot. Yeah, to bring a championship home
was a great, great experience, and then it kind of
(07:35):
flowed into my all black footy as well. You know,
Like I think the turning point was probably Boydy giving
me the captaincy. Like I was at an age and
I was kind of cruising, not cruising a little bit,
but I need a bit of a challenge, and I
think him giving me the captaincy kind of just lifted
my game to another level.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
So yeah, I've got to I thank Wordy for that.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
One thing that people who played at the same time
you did will say is they love playing with you,
but didn't particularly enjoy playing against you, because I mean,
off the field, you're I mean, ever, I could tell
you a nice guy on the field, you just liked
did whatever it took.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
For your yeah, it's probably that sums it up on me.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
I was deliberately to people.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
There's sometimes that like back then, you could see, you know,
back in the paper days, you could get you know,
quotes from like you know, from other teams that would
say stuff about your pack or your personal players. So
you use it as a bit of a motivation. But
when I was out there, I want me to make friends, mate,
I'm there to win and do what I can for
my team. And and like since i've been retired, I've
done a few talks and sometimes I crossed the line
and I'll admit that, you know, and I've cost my team.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
I've been simporn.
Speaker 5 (08:37):
But like I said, whatever happened on the field stays
on the field, and I'll shake your hand, I'll have
a beer with you after the game. And it was
it was never nothing personal. Yeah, And like I've got
no regrets of what things happened. It was just I
wanted to win. And you know, if there's an All
Black teammate that I've played a lot of ruby off.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
So be it. You know that this is the way
I was and that's just the way I was worn and.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
You shouldn't have regrets there's no way you should ever regret.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
So I remember that game against the Crusaders down here
at the stadium, you.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
And Cody Taylor, who were all teammates for years, you.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Know, having a bit of a snipe at each other,
and then he gets he gets a yellow cardis guns
in on the naughty chair? But you know you're right,
I think, But then I'm almost certain you'll be able
to confirm this afterwards.
Speaker 5 (09:18):
You probably And I know I've known Cody for a
while because obviously we had the same kind of story
from Ben Harf.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
And so we got a great relationship.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
But like I said, when we were on the field
and we're into each other and we you know, we
came to blows in that game, but like I said,
same with him, and were we forgot that, we left.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
It and we hugged it out, shook her hand.
Speaker 5 (09:37):
Had to be after the game, like they presented me
because it was my last home game at the stadium.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
He presented me a bottle of wine. So that was
you know, that's the beauty of.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
Rugby, a like you can you can go to war
with someone, but then you can have a beer and
they can things like that.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
That's what that's that was special. So yeah, but I'm
pretty stated.
Speaker 5 (09:52):
I've got the beat Crusaders in my last home game
at the stadium right at the.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
Back end of your career. He did play overseas very briefly.
Did you have opportunities during your your career to go overseas?
Speaker 4 (10:02):
Yeah? I did, I didn't look like quite seriously enough.
Speaker 5 (10:07):
I just I always say that the teams I love
playing for were the All Blacks, the Hurricanes, the Lions
and Paniki. And I always thought I'd always find it
hard to play for a team that I didn't have
like a sentimental value for, so I turned not like
a couple of offers I turned down. But then in
saying that one of my best years of rugby was
going to Caboda in Japan, it was just because there
(10:29):
was no pressure, you know, I had I came out,
I know, we had. I had about three days to
decide to go there, and it was rare, refreshing, Japanese
boys awesome. I got to play with Africans Bernard Folly
that were who we hated each other but were becoming
good mates, you know, like it was a great experience.
But I'm glad it was only six months.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
I don't.
Speaker 5 (10:47):
I wouldn't have done it earlier in my career, but yeah,
that was kind of my reason. Teams that I loved
I always fell I got the best out of and
that was kind of the reason I didn't really look overseas.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
You've got a couple of headknocks as well, didn't Yeah,
I mean, were you close to having to call it
quit earlyer than you?
Speaker 5 (11:02):
I think the two seventeen years was out for a while,
like six months. Yeah, And a lot of it's like,
because you're you're going for a bit of concussion, you
overthink things, I think a little bit too, like because
you get such in a bad state. But I actually
seen a sports psychologist and he sorted me out, so
that was quite good. And yeah, like and they haven't
probably helped me deal with other injuries down the line,
(11:22):
you know, like you can't control everything.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
Just try focus on what you can and that's all
part of sport, mate.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
Everyone goes through injuries and you learn a lot of
dealing with injuries and getting back on the field.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Ian Foster talks in his book about having to tell
you that you weren't in the squad for the Rugby
World Cup final. Yeah, in twenty twenty three, which was
basically ending your All Blacks career.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Can you tell us what?
Speaker 4 (11:49):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (11:49):
It was and there's no like resentment for me, and
I'm like the last thing he wants is a senior
member dropping his lip, you know.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
And he was emotional. He admitted that. I was like, mate,
look look I've got you back for it was like
I'll get around you. Let's get this.
Speaker 5 (12:03):
When this World Cup, I will say this and he'll
he'll find it's funny. Like I played the quarter final
and then we had a six day turnaround, so we
had one least day and we traveled on the day
to train. And usually if you get if you're not playing,
they'll tell you the night before. So he didn't have
that time. And I was about to put my boots
on for the Monday to go out to the Monday session.
(12:24):
He said, oh, you're not playing for the semi final.
And I was living like I was just like this
close to making it on but like that's not his fault.
It was just the way that our week it was,
you had it one least day there was there was
probably the hardest one. So by the final, I and
the boys were unreal on that semiside. I knew in
my head there's no way, you know, they're going to
put me in for the final, and that was that's
(12:46):
He's well, I've played my whole career. There's no guarantees
in that black jersey, you know, like, and if you
take it for granted you're on the you get out
on the other side. And so I just put on
my energy trying to get the win for the boys,
doing a thing I can and unfortunately we lost. But mate,
that's I look back in my old work career of
nothing but proudness of the way it ended.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
And that's that's just rugby.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
That's the well the civil lining has it ended in
that that went over Ireland?
Speaker 5 (13:10):
Yeah, yeah, finish, Yeah, I suppose that's civil lining and
like and you know, as well as anyone, poney, they
caused us a bit of heartache, you know, like losing
that series at home was one of my toughest losses
in All Black. So kind of in that kind of
chapter was was kind of a better sweet and yeah, mate,
(13:30):
I've got no regrets and no, I don't hold any grudges.
That's that's footy, and that's that's the way it is sometimes.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
So you've got three times of your own Jacks Reef
and Bowie ten eight and five.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
I think any rugby interest there.
Speaker 5 (13:43):
Yeah, they're all playing not by pressure, pioneer they are.
I suppose they've just been surrounded by you know, and
now they love it.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
It's quite cool.
Speaker 5 (13:51):
It's it takes me back tomorrow when my men was
kind of involved in my career. And I take the
down Ciadeo up company coasts and I love it.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
Honestly. I love taking them to training. I love taking
them to the games.
Speaker 5 (14:02):
We do a bit extra training in the garage, you
know when they want to some clean outs and as
thing and all the little things. And but yeah, it's
awesome to see them kind of get the enjoyment that
I get. And there's no like pressure on them, you know,
like I just I let them do what they want
to do.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
If they don't want to play, Like my son played.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
Soccer for a year, you know, like that's I just
playing sport is such an awesome, awesome tol Fio.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
So yeah, but you never know.
Speaker 5 (14:26):
Piney hopefully's a couple of all bicks and nit pet
quite Smiley Barrett.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
But we'll see do.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
You think I'm also Jaxon's team. Do you think he
realizes that Dare was an all Black? Like, does he
grasp what that means?
Speaker 4 (14:39):
They definitely know.
Speaker 5 (14:40):
They get it on YouTube and play those bloody clips
that those tiktop clips, you know, not the highlight reels,
the bad ones, and they give me a better stick.
Speaker 4 (14:49):
But I think they kind of not. Yeah, I'm not sure.
Speaker 5 (14:53):
They definitely know I played in their black jersey and
they know how proud I am of doing that. Yeah,
so hopefully they realized, you know, the the I suppose
the sacrifices and all the work I had to put
into it. But like anything, mate, that's what you've got
to do to be at the top. And yeah, they
love that journey. They got to meet guys you know
in the jersey and they look up to a lot
(15:13):
of those people in the environment.
Speaker 4 (15:14):
Now love it.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
And so you're doing some primo work for New Jialing rugby.
I know you've got some commitments this afternoon, end, this evening.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
What else is taking up your time?
Speaker 5 (15:22):
I'm doing a bit of coaching, mate, I'm coaching the
local rugby team I put up senior rugby. It's a
big shout out there, so we've got to buy this week.
Just trying to get back a little bit coach doing
to do the half of n under and sixteens. I
did that last year. Like we come from a province
I reckon we underachieve up there. So just trying to
give back. And you know, I'm sure there's a couple
(15:42):
of all backs out there, black ferns. You know, it
would be so cold to get a bit more. So
you're just trying to give back pinting not not one
hundred scent. Sure what I'm going to do full time,
but I've said this to a lot of people. It's
been awesome just to kind of take a step back
and just have quind of no pressure on you, you know,
because you get so accustomed to that high pressure environment.
(16:04):
But yeah, loving it mate, doing a bit of this
with you. Done a couple of charity events, but yeah,
meeting a few old all blacks are in the speaking
scene and it's good.
Speaker 4 (16:12):
I'm trying to life. It's really good.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Well, mat if the last fifteen minutes or and then
to go by, you've got a future in the your
maybe you're I can go on tours.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
Q and yeah, I'll follow your lead. Piney. You clip
the ticket, mate, and I'll do it for free. Hey.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Great to see you, Colsey.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
Thanks for stopping in, mate, Cheers, Piney. Thanks having mate
there is Dane Coles.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Of course, the one and only ninety Tier is former
All Blacks hooker joining us from Shed twenty two in
downtown Willington.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to News Talk said B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks ed B Test.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Match Saturday one twenty five coming to your live from
Shared twenty two on Wellington's waterfront. It is amazing who
you bump into on Test Match Saturday in downtown Wellington.
Ninety tests for the All Blacks between twenty twelve and
twenty twenty three. World Cup win of twenty fifteen twenty
three tries the most buy a front runner in All
Blacks history. Only Ardie Savier, Kieren Reid and Richie McCay
(00:34):
have more as an All Black forward. Hurricane's third most
cap player, captain the Canes to their first and so.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Far only Super Rugby title twenty sixteen.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Same year nominee for the New Zealand and World Rugby
Player of the Year Awards for a long time, the
best hooker in the world, Dame corles Val.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
You mate, cheers. Why are you making me blessed after
that today?
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Not good to be here, mate, It's good to see
if I had to drag you away from the throng
of fans who still want to get photos with you, mate, Tim,
Miss Jim.
Speaker 4 (01:01):
Miss rug Beyond the day of a test today.
Speaker 5 (01:05):
I actually do like coming home to Williington and I
live up in Carpety, so the building and just walking
around and see all the fans.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
You know, it's been It's a different buzz.
Speaker 5 (01:12):
But yeah, at least I get to go to the
game and kind of watch it from the seats, and
I don't miss the contact, pinty. But yeah, I suppose
that big build up with your kids and your family
is always special.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
But no regrets made.
Speaker 5 (01:22):
I'm happy to be on the other side now and
just sit and have a beer and watch the game.
Speaker 4 (01:26):
Good stuff.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
But they always I think every every player in any
sport I've spoken to about retiring and they say, what
what do you miss and what don't you miss? No
one misses the training, right, no one misses that stuff,
And I'm sure you don't. But what about the And
a lot of people say it's the friendships they miss
the most.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Yeah, yeah, you do.
Speaker 5 (01:42):
Like that's that's always an important part of your your
team sport, as your as your mates. But I think
you just got to try and stay connected. I always
try to text the boys when around town. I caught
up a few of the All Black Boys last night.
You know, Sonny and that still give me a bit
of band down that So it was cool in that
space you kind of remember, you know that what you
went through and the guys you play with, But you know,
like life carries on, you know.
Speaker 4 (02:03):
That's just it was a big part of my life.
Speaker 5 (02:05):
But yeah, I'm very grateful for what I've done, but
I'm still I'm enjoying the kind of the bed on
the other side as well, and making some new friendships
and living a simpler life as well.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Good to hear, Good to hear. I mean, you were
always a good play growing up. What tuned you into
an all Black in late twenty twelve? What was there
a turning point for you?
Speaker 5 (02:24):
I remember, well, the big thing with obviously Horry was
there for a long time, so I had to bide
my time, which was the way it was back in
the day. And obviously him moving on in a bit
of time in the saddle with the canes and that
definitely helped. And I think I just made up my mind,
if I need a bit, I'm going to be an orbit.
Speaker 4 (02:39):
I was twenty five, it needs to be this year.
Speaker 5 (02:42):
So I just kind of put my head down, went
to work, and I probably wasn't to a camp. They
invited me to an all black camp and Steve Hanson
and Mike Kron came along and said, like, you go,
good son, but you're throwing his crap. I was like, yeah,
your car, that's I can't really be okay. And they
just gave me some real basic feedback about my throw
(03:02):
and I just I remember just during the NPC season,
I just worked my butt off. I was throwing on
days off and it became really consistent and that in
that role and next thing, I'm on to India to
all and hadn't.
Speaker 4 (03:13):
Really looked back.
Speaker 5 (03:14):
So yeah, a bit of a bit of guidance and
a bit of determination and a bit of life experience.
I was twenty five, you know, and I was at
a good age that I needed to put my head
down and go to work and work it out.
Speaker 2 (03:26):
Because you were always that kind of player, though, weren't you. Yes, you,
I mean you you're a hooky. You're throwing to the
line out and you're trying to get the ball back
on the right side in the scrum. But you weren't
just a ruck had ray. You'd always run on the
loose with the ball growing up, right.
Speaker 5 (03:38):
Yeah, I think it was timing Piney like in that
two twelve of you. I think they all acts had
a game plan with a kind of the hockey was
on the edge, so he was kind of a back lucy.
So I think I was pretty lucky because it definitely
suited my skill set. Like, even if it wasn't the
game plan and the Hurricanes, I probably just hang on
the edge, and I think the coaches went too fond
of it, but just have a crack, and like I said, honestly,
(04:00):
I reckon it was a bit of luck that that
shag and that came up a game plan that suited
my skill set. And yeah, I just kind of always
backed my ability to have a crack and have a
run and try, you know, step the back or put
a kicking or saying like that. So yeah, that was
kind of kind of it.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Well, they might have come up with the game plan,
but you still have to implement it.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
And you know, you are regarded as somebody who redefined
that looking role a fourth loose forward, the guy on
the wing, the guy runs, you know, but.
Speaker 3 (04:25):
Now a lot of hookers do that, right.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
Yeah, So.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
When you look back, now, do you do you feel
as though you played a part in the development of
the number two jersey.
Speaker 5 (04:34):
I don't know about that, Piney, Like, I feel like
I just expressed myself if I've been completely honest, like
that's what that was, what my skill set was, and
I wasn't trying to redefine or change the way. I
just like, this is what I'm This is Dane Cole's
this is what I'm about. If you don't like it,
that's all good. But this is this is what I'm
going to kind of do. But I look back, I
(04:54):
think a guy that I probably Keith would from the
Irish I reckon he was the guy and Fitzy to
us at certain extent, you know that Keith Wood was
the guy that kind of used to watch like man
like kicking the ball side steps. He was a big inspiration. Yeah,
I just tried to mold myself, take little bits and
players and then put them into myself and express how
the way I did.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
It that twenty twelve side you came in. So we're
still pretty stacked. Aay, not too many.
Speaker 2 (05:18):
Not too many retired after twenty eleven, quite a few
that after twenty fifteen. But what was that environment like
coming into.
Speaker 5 (05:24):
Yeah, it was pretty intimidating, to be fair, because me
and so we had a Curbbarlow.
Speaker 4 (05:28):
We didn't make.
Speaker 5 (05:28):
The initial squads of trainations and the bleedders though, so
we went straight into India tour and there wasn't much
time to be like, you know, get around you.
Speaker 4 (05:36):
It was like, all right, we see how you go.
Speaker 5 (05:38):
You know, like remember my first line out says side
and you know, cause I was overthrowing it.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
Like but that in their era.
Speaker 5 (05:45):
You just kind of knew you shut your mouth, you
just got on with it, and your teamates respect and
as you kind of in your two much respect you
guys like Kevan Horry and we'll get you and like, yeah,
do this, And I lend a lot of that time.
Speaker 4 (05:56):
Mate was definitely shaped me. I'm the all black.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
I probably was because I've seen the commitment what it
talked to be to at a top eleven and I
didn't want to be like a one test all black,
you know. I wanted to be there for a long time.
And I definitely leand a line off of those senior
guys in there in there on that.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
So yeah, giving me alarm of everybody who talks about him,
talks about his manner in the team.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
And what an influential play he was.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
But you know during that time and heading into the
twenty fifteen Rugby World Cup, you end up starting games overhead.
But was he still a supportive teammate.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
One hundred percent. And I got that kind of fear
when Hory and.
Speaker 5 (06:30):
TV like probably two opposites, once from Southwark and one
from you know, me and Toto. But the relationship they had,
like it was like you got to earn your jersey,
but they'll do everything he can to help, you know,
get the best out of each other. And it was
never like if there was like a thing they needed
to share, that'd share with it. So yeah, and Kevy
was the same rid into fifteen, a great relationship. You know,
(06:51):
when it was time to work and compete, you go
hard for each other, but at the same time, you know,
would always sit down and always I would always bounce
off ideas or you know, things I could make my
game better off Kevy.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
So you know, I okivy a lot.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Twenty fifteen Rugby World Cup winner obviously, Then the next
year the Canes are Super Rugby champions, You're leading that team,
nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year, what was
that your sweet spot that twenty sixteen.
Speaker 5 (07:14):
Yeah, I think it was, you know, like I had
a few injuries after that, but that's footy. But yeah,
like I obviously the Canes is a big part of
my life, mate, Like I used to go to the stadium,
I'm on the train effort at Park so and to
be keptain of a team that I love, you know
a lot, a lot. Yeah, to bring a championship home
was a great, great experience, and then it kind of
(07:35):
flowed into my all black footy as well. You know,
Like I think the turning point was probably Boydy giving
me the captaincy. Like I was at an age and
I was kind of cruising, not cruising a little bit,
but I need a bit of a challenge, and I
think him giving me the captaincy kind of just lifted
my game to another level.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
So yeah, I've got to I thank Wordy for that.
Speaker 2 (07:52):
One thing that people who played at the same time
you did will say is they love playing with you,
but didn't particularly enjoy playing against you, because I mean,
off the field, you're I mean, ever, I could tell
you a nice guy on the field, you just liked
did whatever it took.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
For your yeah, it's probably that sums it up on me.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
I was deliberately to people.
Speaker 5 (08:14):
There's sometimes that like back then, you could see, you know,
back in the paper days, you could get you know,
quotes from like you know, from other teams that would
say stuff about your pack or your personal players. So
you use it as a bit of a motivation. But
when I was out there, I want me to make friends, mate,
I'm there to win and do what I can for
my team. And and like since i've been retired, I've
done a few talks and sometimes I crossed the line
and I'll admit that, you know, and I've cost my team.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
I've been simporn.
Speaker 5 (08:37):
But like I said, whatever happened on the field stays
on the field, and I'll shake your hand, I'll have
a beer with you after the game. And it was
it was never nothing personal. Yeah, And like I've got
no regrets of what things happened. It was just I
wanted to win. And you know, if there's an All
Black teammate that I've played a lot of ruby off.
Speaker 4 (08:54):
So be it. You know that this is the way
I was and that's just the way I was worn and.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
You shouldn't have regrets there's no way you should ever regret.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
So I remember that game against the Crusaders down here
at the stadium, you.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
And Cody Taylor, who were all teammates for years, you.
Speaker 2 (09:07):
Know, having a bit of a snipe at each other,
and then he gets he gets a yellow cardis guns
in on the naughty chair? But you know you're right,
I think, But then I'm almost certain you'll be able
to confirm this afterwards.
Speaker 5 (09:18):
You probably And I know I've known Cody for a
while because obviously we had the same kind of story
from Ben Harf.
Speaker 4 (09:24):
And so we got a great relationship.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
But like I said, when we were on the field
and we're into each other and we you know, we
came to blows in that game, but like I said,
same with him, and were we forgot that, we left.
Speaker 4 (09:35):
It and we hugged it out, shook her hand.
Speaker 5 (09:37):
Had to be after the game, like they presented me
because it was my last home game at the stadium.
Speaker 4 (09:41):
He presented me a bottle of wine. So that was
you know, that's the beauty of.
Speaker 5 (09:44):
Rugby, a like you can you can go to war
with someone, but then you can have a beer and
they can things like that.
Speaker 4 (09:49):
That's what that's that was special. So yeah, but I'm
pretty stated.
Speaker 5 (09:52):
I've got the beat Crusaders in my last home game
at the stadium right at the.
Speaker 2 (09:56):
Back end of your career. He did play overseas very briefly.
Did you have opportunities during your your career to go overseas?
Speaker 4 (10:02):
Yeah? I did, I didn't look like quite seriously enough.
Speaker 5 (10:07):
I just I always say that the teams I love
playing for were the All Blacks, the Hurricanes, the Lions
and Paniki. And I always thought I'd always find it
hard to play for a team that I didn't have
like a sentimental value for, so I turned not like
a couple of offers I turned down. But then in
saying that one of my best years of rugby was
going to Caboda in Japan, it was just because there
(10:29):
was no pressure, you know, I had I came out,
I know, we had. I had about three days to
decide to go there, and it was rare, refreshing, Japanese
boys awesome. I got to play with Africans Bernard Folly
that were who we hated each other but were becoming
good mates, you know, like it was a great experience.
But I'm glad it was only six months.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
I don't.
Speaker 5 (10:47):
I wouldn't have done it earlier in my career, but yeah,
that was kind of my reason. Teams that I loved
I always fell I got the best out of and
that was kind of the reason I didn't really look overseas.
Speaker 2 (10:56):
You've got a couple of headknocks as well, didn't Yeah,
I mean, were you close to having to call it
quit earlyer than you?
Speaker 5 (11:02):
I think the two seventeen years was out for a while,
like six months. Yeah, And a lot of it's like,
because you're you're going for a bit of concussion, you
overthink things, I think a little bit too, like because
you get such in a bad state. But I actually
seen a sports psychologist and he sorted me out, so
that was quite good. And yeah, like and they haven't
probably helped me deal with other injuries down the line,
(11:22):
you know, like you can't control everything.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
Just try focus on what you can and that's all
part of sport, mate.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
Everyone goes through injuries and you learn a lot of
dealing with injuries and getting back on the field.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Ian Foster talks in his book about having to tell
you that you weren't in the squad for the Rugby
World Cup final. Yeah, in twenty twenty three, which was
basically ending your All Blacks career.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Can you tell us what?
Speaker 4 (11:49):
Yeah?
Speaker 5 (11:49):
It was and there's no like resentment for me, and
I'm like the last thing he wants is a senior
member dropping his lip, you know.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
And he was emotional. He admitted that. I was like, mate,
look look I've got you back for it was like
I'll get around you. Let's get this.
Speaker 5 (12:03):
When this World Cup, I will say this and he'll
he'll find it's funny. Like I played the quarter final
and then we had a six day turnaround, so we
had one least day and we traveled on the day
to train. And usually if you get if you're not playing,
they'll tell you the night before. So he didn't have
that time. And I was about to put my boots
on for the Monday to go out to the Monday session.
(12:24):
He said, oh, you're not playing for the semi final.
And I was living like I was just like this
close to making it on but like that's not his fault.
It was just the way that our week it was,
you had it one least day there was there was
probably the hardest one. So by the final, I and
the boys were unreal on that semiside. I knew in
my head there's no way, you know, they're going to
put me in for the final, and that was that's
(12:46):
He's well, I've played my whole career. There's no guarantees
in that black jersey, you know, like, and if you
take it for granted you're on the you get out
on the other side. And so I just put on
my energy trying to get the win for the boys,
doing a thing I can and unfortunately we lost. But mate,
that's I look back in my old work career of
nothing but proudness of the way it ended.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
And that's that's just rugby.
Speaker 3 (13:06):
That's the well the civil lining has it ended in
that that went over Ireland?
Speaker 5 (13:10):
Yeah, yeah, finish, Yeah, I suppose that's civil lining and
like and you know, as well as anyone, poney, they
caused us a bit of heartache, you know, like losing
that series at home was one of my toughest losses
in All Black. So kind of in that kind of
chapter was was kind of a better sweet and yeah, mate,
(13:30):
I've got no regrets and no, I don't hold any grudges.
That's that's footy, and that's that's the way it is sometimes.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
So you've got three times of your own Jacks Reef
and Bowie ten eight and five.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
I think any rugby interest there.
Speaker 5 (13:43):
Yeah, they're all playing not by pressure, pioneer they are.
I suppose they've just been surrounded by you know, and
now they love it.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
It's quite cool.
Speaker 5 (13:51):
It's it takes me back tomorrow when my men was
kind of involved in my career. And I take the
down Ciadeo up company coasts and I love it.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
Honestly. I love taking them to training. I love taking
them to the games.
Speaker 5 (14:02):
We do a bit extra training in the garage, you
know when they want to some clean outs and as
thing and all the little things. And but yeah, it's
awesome to see them kind of get the enjoyment that
I get. And there's no like pressure on them, you know,
like I just I let them do what they want
to do.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
If they don't want to play, Like my son played.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
Soccer for a year, you know, like that's I just
playing sport is such an awesome, awesome tol Fio.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
So yeah, but you never know.
Speaker 5 (14:26):
Piney hopefully's a couple of all bicks and nit pet
quite Smiley Barrett.
Speaker 4 (14:29):
But we'll see do.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
You think I'm also Jaxon's team. Do you think he
realizes that Dare was an all Black? Like, does he
grasp what that means?
Speaker 4 (14:39):
They definitely know.
Speaker 5 (14:40):
They get it on YouTube and play those bloody clips
that those tiktop clips, you know, not the highlight reels,
the bad ones, and they give me a better stick.
Speaker 4 (14:49):
But I think they kind of not. Yeah, I'm not sure.
Speaker 5 (14:53):
They definitely know I played in their black jersey and
they know how proud I am of doing that. Yeah,
so hopefully they realized, you know, the the I suppose
the sacrifices and all the work I had to put
into it. But like anything, mate, that's what you've got
to do to be at the top. And yeah, they
love that journey. They got to meet guys you know
in the jersey and they look up to a lot
(15:13):
of those people in the environment.
Speaker 4 (15:14):
Now love it.
Speaker 2 (15:15):
And so you're doing some primo work for New Jialing rugby.
I know you've got some commitments this afternoon, end, this evening.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
What else is taking up your time?
Speaker 5 (15:22):
I'm doing a bit of coaching, mate, I'm coaching the
local rugby team I put up senior rugby. It's a
big shout out there, so we've got to buy this week.
Just trying to get back a little bit coach doing
to do the half of n under and sixteens. I
did that last year. Like we come from a province
I reckon we underachieve up there. So just trying to
give back. And you know, I'm sure there's a couple
(15:42):
of all backs out there, black ferns. You know, it
would be so cold to get a bit more. So
you're just trying to give back pinting not not one
hundred scent. Sure what I'm going to do full time,
but I've said this to a lot of people. It's
been awesome just to kind of take a step back
and just have quind of no pressure on you, you know,
because you get so accustomed to that high pressure environment.
(16:04):
But yeah, loving it mate, doing a bit of this
with you. Done a couple of charity events, but yeah,
meeting a few old all blacks are in the speaking
scene and it's good.
Speaker 4 (16:12):
I'm trying to life. It's really good.
Speaker 2 (16:14):
Well, mat if the last fifteen minutes or and then
to go by, you've got a future in the your
maybe you're I can go on tours.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
Q and yeah, I'll follow your lead. Piney. You clip
the ticket, mate, and I'll do it for free. Hey.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Great to see you, Colsey.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
Thanks for stopping in, mate, Cheers, Piney. Thanks having mate
there is Dane Coles.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
Of course, the one and only ninety Tier is former
All Blacks hooker joining us from Shed twenty two in
downtown Willington.
Speaker 1 (16:36):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen live
to News Talk said B weekends from midday, or follow
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