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Coles blow for All Blacks

By Online Editors
Wednesday 24 Sep 2014

All Black hooker Dane Coles is returning home, to New Zealand, from Argentina to be at the birth of his first child.


After performing a haka to teammates, a tradition for a player leaving the All Blacks camp, Dane Coles has left the team hotel bound for the airport and impending fatherhood.


Coles' earlier than expected departure will bring veteran Keven Mealamu into the starting role to face the Pumas in Buenos Aires on Saturday.


It also means that the All Black debut for Bay of Plenty hooker Nathan Harris will most likely take place in La Plata, as opposed to Johannesburg as previously planned.


It is unclear at this stage if Coles will return for the crunch Rugby Championship Test against the Springboks in Johannesburg next Saturday, October 4.


The All Blacks 23-man squad for this weekends Test against the Pumas will be named on Thursday.

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