New Zealand
Dane Coles is a chink in All Blacks armour
Craig Dowd
November 11, 2014
Dane Coles must improve his self-control as discipline has always been his weak point © Getty Images
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England started the Test against New Zealand at Twickenham very well, and, as much as the All Blacks have the upper hand in confidence, and came away from the game knowing that psychologically they can beat England, it was a reminder that England should never be taken lightly.

But England know they need a big day at the office if they are to beat the All Blacks; they have to turn up with their heads right as the difference between the sides, I feel, is that New Zealand can sustain the mental toughness, or the self-belief, for 80 minutes whereas England at times let themselves down.

The last play of the game said it all of the situation England are in: they were in a position where they had to hang onto the ball, to build pressure and force the All Blacks into giving away a penalty, or making a mistake, and they conceded a knock-on; something as simple as just catching the ball.

England react to their defeat to New Zealand, England v New Zealand, Twickenham Stadium, November 8, 2014
Close but no cigar once again for England © Getty Images
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That's when the red-hot mental alertness that you can't make a mistake is vital. The All Blacks have shown they can play that game, when they beat Ireland last year, and when they beat Australia in Brisbane this year; they have shown time and again they've got the skill level, the absolute confidence in the players around them, and the necessary self-belief. Whatever it takes in the last minute of the game, it is not over until the referee blows his whistle, and it comes down to what I have mentioned before: the level of experience within that team.

I thought the All Blacks' loose-forward trio were outstanding. You could see that Jerome Kaino was playing to make up for his previous outing. He was on a personal mission and I was pleased for him that he produced a performance like that. He was playing so well I would not have been surprised if it had been Richie McCaw who went off when they needed to replace Dane Coles when the hooker was yellow-carded.

England's Chris Robshaw confronts Dane Coles, England v New Zealand, Twickenham Stadium, November 8, 2014
Teams know Dane Coles will lash out if they can rattle him © Getty Images
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So far as the refereeing was concerned, you have to say there were some decisions that defied belief. The whole Coles incident started with Dylan Hartley's jersey-pulling, which you can't do, but the whole problem with Coles from the early days of his career has always been his discipline. He's done really well lately - he's getting better and better, and I think he's a world-class hooker in the making - but just for that split second, that moment he needs to bottle, he lashed out and it created the situation.

This sort of reaction has seen him become a target for opponents. Teams in the future will see the opportunity to niggle Coles, knowing he will lash out if they can rattle him. And that becomes a chink in the All Blacks' armour, knowing you can actually get under his skin and he will go and do something stupid. Coles can't afford to show that weakness; he needs to be reminded that other teams will target him as a weak point, and teams are only as strong as their weakest link. All opponents will try to assess the All Blacks' weaknesses, real or imagined, and every game they will attempt to get at him. It becomes a personal battle for Coles to try to contain that, and deal with it.

England 21-24 New Zealand (Australia only)

The incident was a relative nothing, and I do think the television directors have got something to answer for. So far as Nigel Owens was concerned, he showed he was human. He made some calls that basically the crowd was trying to make for him. It appeared also, at times, that the referee and the TMO were out of synch, and they didn't work well together.

Sam Whitelock's 'no-try' was another instance. It demonstrated just how well some of these players know the laws, and that's not a bad thing. It was clever play on Whitelock's part, to dive in as the ball was nestling by Danny Care's foot, and even the television commentators were scratching their heads not knowing the law. But Whitelock knew it, and that was a try.

New Zealand's fly half Dan Carter prepares to kick, England v New Zealand, Twickenham, London, November 16, 2013
Dan Carter is the Maestro © Getty Images
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Another feature of the game was the wobbly kicks from the five-eighths, Aaron Cruden and Beauden Barrett; they have opened the door for the Maestro to come in. When you ask how the All Blacks can improve, and how can they get better, you just bring in a world-class player like Dan Carter. It's that plain and simple. He's been waiting in the wings for his opportunity, and I'm confident he'll go out there and we'll start seeing the best of Dan Carter.

It has all worked out well for coach Steve Hansen. Carter didn't like sitting on the bench at Twickenham. He'll have been hurting, and he has been given a message, and a demonstration, that he faces competition for the role. He should be extremely motivated right now to get back out there, with the little bit extra motivation not to be No.3 and sitting on the bench. I think Hansen has played it brilliantly. He's come away with a win over England and Carter thinking he needs to pull his socks up; whether it is just doing the little things, or demonstrating the hunger, Carter is such a cool character who has the time and space.

Carter needs to look after his body - he needs to train like he is 31 years old - if he is to be part, on the field, of the 2015 Rugby World Cup effort. He will go down in history as one of the greatest first-fives, and England 2015 will be his motivation over the next 12 months.

Malakai Fekitoa runs at Freddie Burns, New Zealand v England, 3rd Test, Hamilton, June 21, 2014
New Zealand missed Malakai Fekitoa's elusive stepping at Twickenham © Getty Images
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In regard to the side to be picked for the Scotland Test, I think Malakai Fekitoa has been brushed sideways since the Argentine Test and in the Tests in which he played so really well. He needs to be managed very well in terms of his development and nurtured in that All Blacks environment, but I did think at times against England that New Zealand missed someone with his line-breaking ability. This is where he is different to Sonny Bill Williams: Sonny Bill is an off-loader who draws defences in and, being a big man, he is hard to bring down; but Fekitoa is a stepper and he's elusive and he's powerful.

We know there will be a mid-field shuffle with Conrad Smith not available in Scotland, but it is a case of what it is. Is it Ryan Crotty coming in and playing Sonny Bill again to give him more rugby? You can say that Fekitoa has had a long season, and has played a lot of rugby, including the three Tests before England, so it is a great position for him to be in. Whatever happens, the three of them will be in the mix and will get on the field at some point; New Zealand must be the envy of the rest of the world because of this depth.

Scotland will not lie down, especially at Murrayfield, and it will be a big moment for new Scotland coach Vern Cotter to play against his home nation. And after Ireland's win over South Africa, it is interesting to see the impact those New Zealand coaches are having. And you can be sure Warren Gatland will be waiting quietly with Wales for the last game of the tour.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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