Rugby World Cup: “The most difficult choice of my life as a coach”, confides the coach of the All Blacks who did not retain Dane Coles

Hard choices but priority to the team. For the Rugby World Cup final, this Saturday (21) against South Africa, All Blacks coach Ian Foster had to make difficult choices. Particularly at the hooker position. The Kiwi technician has indeed decided to start Codie Taylor as number 2 but, on the substitutes' bench, he preferred Samisoni Taukei'aho to veteran Dane Coles as replacement hooker. The latter will therefore not have the opportunity to play a final match - what is more a world final - with the black jersey with the famous silver fern.

A real heartbreak for Ian Foster. “It's hard... We don't want to dwell too much on what will happen after the meeting, but it was hard, perhaps the most difficult choice of my life as a coach,” he said. confided in a press conference. But Dane took it as I expected. He’s a champion.”

The Hurricanes hooker, who has 90 caps since 2012, will not have the chance to try for a second world title, having participated in the victorious 2015 campaign. Second rows Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock (substitute), as well as as scrum half Aaron Smith, will play their last match with New Zealand, this Saturday, at the Stade de France.