All Blacks captain Cane and hooker Coles to miss tour of Europe

By Sports Desk October 30, 2022

Captain Sam Cane and hooker Dane Coles have been ruled out of New Zealand's tour of Europe.

Flanker Cane suffered two cheekbone fractures in a 38-31 win over Japan at the National Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday.

The vastly experienced Coles missed that victory after suffering a calf injury prior to kick-off and he will return home along with Cane.

Billy Harmon has been called up to the squad ahead of a Test against Wales at the Principality Stadium next Saturday.

Wing Leicester Fainga'anuku will also join up with the All Blacks for that Test in Cardiff after leaving the squad in Japan for family reasons.

The Rugby Championship winners will face Scotland and England next month after doing battle with Wayne Pivac's side.

New Zealand head coach Ian Foster said: "It will create a great opportunity for the likes of a Dalton Papali'i and he's in good form. It's the reality of rugby, you always want to get through your first couple of games injury free.

"It hasn't worked out this way, and it doesn't change the challenges coming up."

The All Blacks will appeal against Brodie Retallick's red card for a clean-out on loose forward Kazuki Himeno in the 65th minute of the win over the Brave Blossoms, with a hearing likely to take place on Tuesday.

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    Ford replaced Smith, who had scored 17 points and set up England's only try in their 24-22 loss, hitting a potential match-winning penalty against the post before narrowly missing a drop goal.

    England had held an eight-point advantage when Smith left the field, but Mark Tele'a's 76th-minute try before Damian McKenzie added five late points proved enough to get the All Blacks over the line.

    The hosts' autumn series got off to a losing start as Ford struggled to find his clinical edge in the dying moments, but Smith does not lay any blame at his team-mate's feet.

    "Sometimes that's the life of a kicker, we've all experienced that. It's part and parcel of the job," said Smith.

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    Saturday marked a third consecutive narrow loss to New Zealand for England, with their last win an emphatic victory over Japan in June.

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    "International rugby is very different to the Premiership and the experiences we're experiencing now are very painful, but we'll be better for them," Smith added.

    "Keep the faith. We've fallen again on the wrong side of the result, but we'll learn from it 100%.

    "These experiences will tighten us as a group, and it will be worth it in the long run. We will be better for it."

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    England went down 24-22 to the All Blacks in Saturday's Test match at Twickenham.

    Mark Tele'a scored the decisive try for New Zealand, who beat England twice in July, in the 76th minute.

    England missed the chance to win it late on when George Ford missed a drop-goal attempt, after he had struck the post with a penalty.

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    With the pre-match build-up having been dominated by Joe Marler's jibe at New Zealand's pre-match haka routine, tries from Tele'a and Will Jordan put New Zealand in control.

    Marcus Smith's penalties kept England in contention, though, and he set up the hosts' only try when he intercepted a loose pass and teed up Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.

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    "We really have to find a way of winning these close ones," said captain Jamie George. "We put ourselves in a really good position after 60 minutes.

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    England walked up to the halfway line to face the haka, something George explained was planned prior to Marler's comments.

    "That was always our plan before Joe's comments but we did it in a respectful way," said George. "I saw a smile on Scott Barrett’s face, I was smiling, and it was done in good spirits."

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