Hansen admits no hooker ready for All Blacks step up

Hansen admits no hooker ready for All Blacks step up

Coles has been selected alongside elder statesman Andrew Hore and Keven Mealamu, but despite flagging hooker as a potential problem position, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen decided not to give the next cab in the rank a look in at this stage.

"We don't think there is a younger hooker ready to come in yet," Hansen said to ESPN Scrum.

Coles, who has been earmarked as an All Blacks hooker in recent seasons, will be the team's special project.

"Our main focus is Dane Coles in that area," Hansen said.

"We think if we can bring him up to speed and use the other two (Mealamu and Hore) as well, particularly early in the season, we'll be happy with that."

Hansen again stressed that players outside the squad could still be selected for the Steinlager Series, mentioning Crusaders hooker Corey Flynn as a player still on the All Blacks radar.

"We've got Corey Flynn playing probably his best rugby he's played for a while which is pleasing," Hansen said.

However outside of that the situation wasn't so ideal.

"But you look around at the young guys that are left and two of them have got broken bones," Hansen said, mentioning the Hurricanes' Motu Matu'u and Blues' James Parsons.

"The others are 21, 22 and are not quite ready to step in and there's no point bringing them in until they're ready. You just have to be patient."

Hansen said another big part of the hooking equation was how much his two mainstays had left in the tank.

"We'll also find out how much desire and commitment and rugby (Mealamu and Hore) have left in them," he said.

"Talking to them they say they've got plenty so we'll wait and see."

our hookers concern me quite a bit though, i cant see both mealamu & hore being at the next RWC, & we need to be mindful of the future, but like qui gon jinn told obi wan, not at the expense of the present.

motu matuu and james parsons are two players i can see playing for the All Blacks at hooker, with coles to keep them on their toes.
chiefs rhys marshall has also had some good outings, but i cant see him making enough of an impact, especially come RWC time. his best chances will be in 2016 and beyond, but u never know, so maybe,,,

hika elliot is too hot and cold, much like his whole career, so it might be best for the All Blacks to cut their losses and not invest any more time with him.

i hope matuu and parsons get better soon, we need them playing as much top class rugby as possible as that is better for the All Blacks.

The young Hurricanes hooker seems to be the logical choice for the future, don't know his name and don't knowif you've already mentioned him but that's my 2 cents.

Tell me Shezza, I know you say you don't know his name, but do you at least know what he looks like?

If you do at least know what he looks like, does he look anything like the guy in the picture at the top of this thread?

 Fair play you're one of the most condescending people on here. No it's not the player that's pictured above.

Oh I see, so there's some other young Hurricanes hooker - but not Dane Coles - who you rate as the "logical choice for the future" for the All Blacks?

Fascinating. I'd love to know who you mean. Please be sure to update us when you remember what his name is. Thanks!

I got mixed up, thought Jeff Toomaga was a hooker but he's a prop.

@shezza,

 i thought u might have been talking about motu matuu, one of the hardest hitters in the spXV, hospitalised two rebel players in last years hurricanes vs rebels game, mark gerrad and cant rememeber who the other one was. gerrad said it was the hardest hes ever been hit and hes played against samoa, LMAO, that comment always made me laugh, :oD

but jeffery toomaga allen, yeah ive been real impressed with him, made his spXV debut before he made his ITM debut, testamnet to the potential that folks see in him.
i think hes going to be a household name in the next few years, just hope he dosent jump ship though from the hurricanes, wouldnt blame him if he did though with cockhead hammet as coach.

 Jeez, be a spectacle to see the outcome of Coenie running at Matuu! Be a case of 'Unstoppable force meeting an immovable object'!