Rugby Championship
Coles to join All Blacks in South Africa
September 29, 2014
Dane Coles will rejoin the All Blacks squad for the final Rugby Championship Test against the Springboks © Getty Images
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Hooker Dane Coles will rejoin the All Blacks squad ahead of their Test in South Africa following the birth of his first child. New Zealand coach Steve Hansen says Coles and second five-eighth Ryan Crotty will both travel from New Zealand to Johannesburg ahead of Saturday's final Rugby Championship Test against the Springboks.

While Crotty needed only to prove his fitness at ITM Cup level with Canterbury to earn a recall, there was doubt over Coles' availability. The 27-year-old flew home from Argentina last Thursday to be with partner Sarah, forcing him to miss the 34-13 defeat over the Pumas which clinched a third successive Rugby Championship title for New Zealand.

She gave birth to son Jax on Friday and Coles subsequently made himself for the Springboks Test. He is likely to be reinstated to start the Test, with veteran Keven Mealamu demoted back to the reserves bench. That will leave no room for Bay of Plenty's Nathan Harris, who made his Test debut off the bench in La Plata.

The selectors face a dilemma at second five-eighth, where Crotty has performed well in eight Tests but must usurp Malakai Fekitoa, who was outstanding in the unfamiliar No.12 role at La Plata. Usually a centre, Fekitoa was impressive on attack and defence in place of the injured Ma'a Nonu.

Lock Brodie Retallick took a blow to the head which forced him off in La Plata. Hansen says he will be assessed for concussion when they arrive in Johannesburg. Sam Whitelock and Jeremy Thrush are the only other specialist locks in the squad, meaning flanker Steven Luatua will provide cover if Retallick is ruled out.

© AAP

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