Rugby: Oh baby, Coles gets nervy

WAITING GAME: Hooker Dane Coles is waiting for the big call. PHOTO/FILE

Scared, nervous and worried weren't the type of words one wanted to hear from an All Black frontrower in the countdown to tonight's test against the Pumas.

Hooker Dane Coles wasn't afraid to admit he was "pretty nervous" but it had nothing to do with taking on one of the best scrums in international rugby which the Pumas boast. It related to his having to pluck up courage to ask the All Black coaching staff for time out from the Rugby Championship when his partner Sarah is due to give birth to their first child on October 1.

"I was a bit scared, to be honest, about how they would react," Coles said when asked how he broke the news.

"Fortunately everyone in the ABs' camp was really supportive. Speaking to the fathers in the team, they said it was a pretty special time."

From a rugby perspective, Coles agreed the timing couldn't be worse with the ABs scheduled to play the Springboks on October 5 in Johannesburg. Coles will play in the La Plata test against Argentina on September 27 and then return to New Zealand, leaving veteran Keven Mealamu and uncapped rookie Nathan Harris, of Bay of Plenty, to battle for the starting hooker's berth.

Coles said such a leave application wouldn't be as popular in World Cup year.

"If we have another one next year, there will be a bit of planning."

Back in rugby mode, Coles said the ABs were ready for the set-piece battle, particularly at scrum time.

"Even their loosies are pushing like frontrowers. We just have to change our mindset that it is going to take an eight to really take them up front.

"We know they will have some tall timber at lineout time ... it's just about finding the space. We will be fine in that department. It's up to the lineout leaders to tell me where they want the ball and I will put it there," Coles said.

It was crucial that the ABs backed up what they did in the 51-20 demolition job on the Wallabies in Auckland three weeks ago.

"If we don't back it up it will mean nothing ... no matter what."