Coles relives special try

Editor

All Blacks hooker Dane Coles revealed he had to dig deep to finish off what was another special long-range try at Eden Park.

Coles is beginning to get a reputation for scoring impressive tries after another fine effort earlier this year at Ellis Park against South Africa.

Coming up on the inside after Dan Carter sliced through, Coles had the pace and power to run it in from 40 metres out to the roar of the home crowd.

"I got to the 22-metre line and didn't think about passing and then I saw the half-back coming across," Coles told the NZ Herald.

"Honestly, my legs started to buckle a bit and I thought to myself 'I'm going to have to dig deep here and just try to go hard'.

"We were under the pump a bit and got a turnover and we relieved a lot of pressure by scoring. It got us into the game."

Saturday's win in Auckland was also a final home Test in New Zealand for a number of giants in Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Keven Mealamu and Tony Woodcock. 

Coles paid tribute to the group and was proud to have played alongside them.

"They were getting a photo in the changing room and I looked over and thought, 'jeez, they're legends' and not only of New Zealand rugby, but world rugby. I feel honoured to have played a few games with them," he said.

"It's something I'll look back on and tell my grandkids about – playing with those legends of the game."