Dan Cole: ‘I’m enjoying playing for Leicester’
Dan Cole's last England cap came in the 2019 Rugby World Cup Final
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Dan Cole struts into the media room at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens in the wake of Leicester Tigers’ 41-21 win over their East Midlands rivals, Northampton Saints.
For his role in the Gallagher Premiership champion’s win, Cole was awarded Man of the Match. At 35, the 95-cap England international has in some ways never looked more comfortable on the rugby pitch and taught 21-year-old Saints loosehead Emmanuel Iyogun a thing or two.
It was at the set piece where ultimately the 250th edition of this noisiest neighbour’s competition was won and lost. Throughout the game, Cole had the better of his opposite number, 14 years his junior, and after the loosehead prop was forced to re-join the fray after injury to his replacement Ethan Waller, things would go from bad to worse.
Sin-binned shortly after No.8 Juarno Augustus was shown a yellow card by Karl Dickson, Tigers pressed home their two-man advantage, an advantage that would grow following Alex Mitchell’s deliberate knock-on in the process of George Martin’s try.
Winning the game thanks to late scores from Chris Ashton, Martin and a double for England full-back Freddie Steward, Cole was pleased with how the scrum played a deciding factor, especially after a first half in which Northampton had the better of proceedings.
“It’s nice, but I’ve had plenty of games where the scrum has been really good and we’ve lost the game,” Cole said. “It’s about winning any which way. Today we had a scrum and played to the corner and scored. You’re as happy with that as you are about a scrum penalty.
“You look for any way into the game and with Saints, after the first 20 minutes we were almost shell-shocked. They ran back two loose kicks and scored. We just tried to find our way into the game and, thankfully, today the scrum was able to get us the field position and to get Nemani [Nadolo] running.
“In the other games it has been the maul. Credit to the team, we were in a hole 20 minutes in. It was 14-10 at half-time and then they scored in the second half, but we were able to score again straightaway.
“Those are periods that are break points. Saints could have pulled away, but we kept it close and gradually got on top.”
Post-match, Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick heaped praise on his former England teammate. Describing the tighthead prop as having arrived for the first day of preseason in “incredible shape”, it is clear that Cole is by no means slowing down in the period his career should be reaching its twilight.
Working closely with Leicester’s Head of Athletic Performance, Aled Walters, to be in the best physical state possible, with an England squad announcement coming on Monday and having played in front of Eddie Jones on Saturday afternoon, the question of being drafted back into the international fold does arise.
By the time the Rugby World Cup in France rolls around next year, Cole will be 36. His 95th and final England cap came back in 2019 in the World Cup Final. Playing much of the game after injury to starter Kyle Sinckler in the opening exchanges, it was hardly his easiest day at the office, with Tendai Mtawarira impressing himself upon Cole in the Springboks' 32-12 win in Yokohama.
Even when the prospect of a recall is spoken about, the 35-year-old is as you’d expect quick to say his focus is on club first.
“I’m enjoying playing for Leicester,” Cole said. “I’ve had some lean years at Leicester, so to be part of a team that’s competitive and winning games is great. We’ve got a great coach in Steve and a great squad. It’s just enjoyable.”
Before looping his backpack over his shoulder once more, Cole is asked how long he can carry on for in the game with the care of Walters and Borthwick behind him. His response is a dry “60 minutes”, the room erupting into a series of giggles.
Even with there being an element of comedy to it, it’s a valid point. Cole has never seemed more dominant on the rugby field. With James Cronin at loosehead too, Tigers’ bite is something to contend with, and will go a long way to retaining their crown as England’s best side.
“Forever,” Cole said, half-jokingly this time. “As long as you enjoy the game. Yes, it’s physically tough but if you enjoy the game and are looked after by blokes like Aled and Steve, that understand the game and make it simple for guys like myself because training is catered to what we do.
“We’ve got guys in the team pushing 40 like Gopperth [Jimmy] and Wigglesworth [Richard]. They’ve got five years on me. They’re just an inspiration to all the youngsters out there.”
