All Black Dane Coles feels like a debutant after 11 months out of rugby HAMISH BIDWELL1 NEWSAll Blacks coach Steve Hansen explains why he's using 51 players for the tour to Europe and Japan. Lip readers would have had a field day on Friday, as Dane Coles made his much-anticipated return to rugby. And who should be waiting for him but Ricky Riccitelli, the player who's been at the heart of the Hurricanes' front row in Coles' absences over the last three Super Rugby seasons. A member of the All Blacks' senior players' group, Coles was very nervous ahead of the Taranaki game. After "pretty much a year of pre-season" Coles is eager for all the playing time he can get.

Source: Stuff October 15, 2018 04:26 UTC