Cooper trooper
Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper.
COLIN Cooper is cool as a cucumber.
Fresh off the field after a grueling Hurricanes training session at Newtown’s Rugby League Park, which was saturated with bursts of sideways rain for most of the morning, the Hurricanes coach walks casually toward a cluster of journalists querying the latest squad lineup and the injured side-liners.
One after another, questions are fired. He pauses for a microsecond, looks directly into the journalist’s eyes and speaks with a calm and controlled tone. A consummate professional.
One female reporter quickly applies lippy before engaging with the man – he’s a total silver fox after all.
In the lead-up to the Hurricanes v Lions game at the stadium this week, Cooper strides up the grandstand steps, speaks casually about friends in Zimbabwe and South Africa, before taking a seat facing the dense Green Belt and imagines what he would do if the Hurricanes won the Super 14.
“I’d celebrate for a while with the players and my mates,” he grins.
One of Cooper’s greatest Cane achievements was taking the boys to the 2006 final, not to mention leading them to the semi-finals in 2003, 2005, 2008 and last year.
But this year will be different. He believes in his heart of hearts that the Hurricanes can win.
“We have got the experience and ability to win it. It’s [about] putting it all together as a team and as management in the same canoe if you like. We have a good tight five, and the ability to control our set pieces on attack and defense.”
Cooper dismisses concerns that injury-prone half back Piri Weepu won’t finish the season.
“ There should be no reason why he shouldn’t. He will be marked though, he is quite a crucial player in our team so [provided] he looks after his injuries he will be fine.”
Hurricanes fans have voted Weepu as their second most favourite contender for the first five-eighth position, Willie Ripia third and Aaron Cruden first. With Cruden sitting in reserve during the Western Force game, the fans were again denied their request.
“[Cruden] will get an opportunity to start but whether he remains there is up to him. He will get his opportunity.”
Despite last weekend’s home game trouncing of the Western Force (47-22), there’s little time to celebrate just yet. Cooper says all Super 14 teams are a threat for a semifinal placing, at this early stage, but it’s the South Africans he is focused on beating now – particularly the Johannesburg-based Lions. Following that, the Canes fly to Bloemfontein, Cape Town and Pretoria to play the Cheetahs, Stormers and Bulls respectively before returning home to face off against the Sharks in Wellington on March 27.
“Touring South Africa is always tough so we have some big games with the Cheetahs, the Stormers and the Bulls [ahead]. If we can get over that then the threat is the New Zealand franchises which are quite strong. I think we need to work really hard.”
The Hurricanes’ have the team spirit, skills and drive to beat the South Africans, says Cooper, not to mention good leadership. Cooper has heaps of confidence in Andrew Hore, who replaced Rodney So’oialo as captain of the Hurricanes.
“Andrew has always been in the leadership group. At the start Rodney had to get conditioned so he had to pull out of rugby. He had to rehab some of his injuries and it’s an easy transition that allowed Rodney to get his conditioning right.”
When asked if he thinks it is funny that Hore is a hooker, a pregnant pause follows... then he cracks a smile and bursts out laughing while shaking his head. “No, I didn’t really think of that.”
Relieved not to have been clocked one, this reporter then asked if Hore has lived down being convicted for shooting a fur seal with a couple of mates in 2005.
“You have to talk to Andrew about that,” he responds in his gentle but firm manner. “But I know he was very disappointed and it was quite a while ago and he has certainly moved on.”
With a confident stare, a firm handshake, and a grin Cooper is off. This relaxed and focused coach is ready to make Hurricanes history.
Hurricanes v Lions, Westpac Stadium, 7.35pm, February 27.
Have Your Say
0 Comments
No comments.