Good news for Dane Coles as All Blacks build for Rugby Championship.
Dane Coles will front for his province before targeting the All Blacks' final two games of the Rugby Championship.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen confirmed the next step of the 56‑test hooker's injury comeback was to front for Wellington in the Mitre 10 Cup, with the aim of getting match fit in time to don the black jersey by the end of next month.
That would mean Coles, who has been sidelined by knee and calf injuries the past nine months, could front against Argentina in Buenos Aires on September 30, and South Africa the following week in Pretoria.
Coles is one of 29 All Blacks in the wider training group which has gathered in Christchurch this week. Crusaders representatives preparing for Saturday's Super Rugby final will join the squad next week, after Hansen on Monday names his 33‑man squad for the Rugby Championship.
[Source: stuff.co]
All Blacks wider training camp:
Backs: Jordie Barrett, Ben Smith, Nehe Milner‑Skudder, Waisake Naholo, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert‑Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, Ngani Laumape, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi. Forwards: Luke Whitelock, Akira Ioane, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Liam Squire, Shannon Frizell, Vaea Fifita, Jackson Hemopo, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuipulotu, Jeffery Toomaga‑Allen, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Dane Coles, Liam Coltman, Nathan Harris.
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