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'I got sick of passing the ball': Former halfback's journey to New Zealand U20s as a No 8
The often laconic chat of Cooper Flanders is compatible with his no-nonsense approach to rugby.
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The industrious loose forward, selected for the New Zealand Under 20s, prefers to deal in actions rather than words.
His father Michael is the same. He runs a septic tank business in Havelock North, Cooper helps when he can. Since the Napier flooding the Flanders have been “flat out.”
Cooper thought his selection prospects for the ‘Baby Blacks’ would be flattened in March. A day before Super Rugby Under 20 in Taupo he suffered a borderline stress fracture in the shin which ruled him out of the tournament.
“I don’t know how I got the injury, nor do the Hurricanes doctors. I was buggered, but what can you do,” Flanders told RugbyPass.
All Blacks Sevens coach Clark Laidlaw is coaching the New Zealand U20s alongside former Black Ferns assistant Wesley Clarke.
Flanders was stunned when he heard the voice of Scotsman Laidlaw in a “surprise” telephone call inviting him into the wider squad.
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“I thought I was gone burger. Clark is a good guy. I spent a week with the All Black Sevens, I learned a lot,” Flanders said.
It took time for Flanders to establish his best position. He started as a halfback at Hastings Boys’ High School.
In Year 11 he was “too big” to play in the backs, so he switched to No 8 and made the First XV.
In 2017 Hastings produced one of the best 1st XVs ever seen in New Zealand. They were unbeaten in 21 games en route to winning the National Top Four title. They kicked their first penalty goal of the season in their penultimate fixture.
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Kianu Kereru-Symes, Jacob Devery, Lincoln McClutchie, Danny Toala, Kini Naholo (41 tries in 20 games), and Cooper’s brother Devan Flanders have all played Super Rugby from that team.
The following year Hastings capitulated losing every single Super 8 match.
In 2019 Cooper was a raw Year 11 with no fear and the 1st XV was able to repeat as national champions.
“We had a good culture that year, things clicked, we moulded together and took out Nationals which no one believed we could win,” he said.
“I loved eight. I got sick of passing the ball and telling people what to do [as a halfback].
“We had eight returning players in vital positions. Their learnings from the previous year and the standards they set were important.
“Hamilton Boys’ were out big rivals that year. They beat us twice in Super 8 but the final in Hamilton was close. At Nationals we beat them 11-10 in the semis.”
Hastings beat King’s College, Auckland 27-14 on a miserably cold Palmerston North afternoon in the National final. Flanders was inspirational in a resounding success against older and larger opponents.
“We had nothing to prove or lose. It’s quite good playing with that mindset.”
Hastings mindset in 2020 was the opposite of 2019. Spectacularly they collapsed again and lost every Super 8 match. Managing Covid and high expectations proved overwhelming.
In 2021 Flanders had leadership responsibilities and Hastings were resurgent.
“We made the Super 8 and Hurricanes finals losing to Hamilton and Napier. We won everything else, so it was a good season,” Flanders reflected.
“My leadership style is to have a patience mindset. Nothing needs to be rushed; you have eighty minutes.”
“Too small” to play eight, Flanders swapped to seven and made the New Zealand Secondary Schools.’
“I love to tackle, the breakdown, getting turnovers. I’m a seven through and through now. I still run but I’m a bit small in the lineout.”
The New Zealand Under 20s go into camp in Wellington on May 19 ahead of two internationals against Australia starting ten days later. Eight players will be cut from the existing squad of 38 for the World Championships in South Africa in June and July.
Devan Flanders was a New Zealand Under 20 representative in 2018. Another brother Ethan has played canoe polo for New Zealand.
Cooper trains with the Hurricanes senior Super Rugby squad.
Comments on RugbyPass
Good on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
21 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
21 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
21 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
5 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
21 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
21 Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
2 Go to commentsHaha lads lads lads, that’s how you have a holiday In Majorca
4 Go to commentshit on Lynagh was defo late and card-worthy. The other 2 are bang on OK. Hurts you at Test level if youre timing is off and the nostrils are flared. Jerry C knew when to lean in on one, Finau just needs to keep his discipline and head straight.
7 Go to commentsSlade was exceptional against Gloucester. Not only was he doing the classic Slade stuff of running amazing lines and timing passes to perfection to put his wingers into space, he was kicking goals, flying off the line smashing people and crashing into rucks like a flanker… his hair even looked on point. 😍
1 Go to commentsThat’s really sad, hope everyone involved is ok. At least he had pants on.
4 Go to commentsTo be fair it was nowhere bear the Leinster first team (for which, btw, Leinster copped nothing like the outrage that Jake White did for sending a rotated team to the UK). But it’s fun to watch the Stormers doing their thing. They are attracting big, diverse crowds of young fans, and deservedly so. Great to see.
1 Go to commentsIt might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
7 Go to commentsCan we also show some love for Tane Edmed’s fantastic draw and pass? Put his body on the line and committed the defender before letting go of that pass. Flawless skill.
7 Go to commentsYou forget this is Rassie Erasmus who is still holding the Springbok keys. Even with Felix Jones orchestrating a really tight RWC SF last year. It still wasn't enough to get England past their particular Springbok Monkey in world cups. The reason is FJ was going off of what they did in 2019 not necessarily adapting to current Springboks. So yes, Australia can get passed England because let's be honest, England have a one track strategy, Springboks do not. Even with rush defense I wouldn't be surprised if Rassie continually tweaks it. Also bear in mind Rassie is happy to sacrifice a few mid year and inter World Cup matches to pin point how opposition plays and how to again tweak strategies to get his Springboks in peak performance for the next World Cup. As much as most teams like to win games in front of them and try to win everything, Rassie always makes sure to learn and train for the greatest showdown International Rugby has to offer. Tbh, most people remember World Cup wins and ignore intermediate losses as a result but will remember also WC losses, Ireland, even if they won games in the interim. So even if games are won against the Springboks, it's likely Rassie is just getting a feel for how opposition is moving and adapt accordingly…in time. For Rassie, a loss is never a loss because he uses it as a chance to learn and improve. Sometimes during a game, again like the England match in last year's Semi Final.
7 Go to commentsDanny don't care. He pretends to care but he don't. He says all this stuff to justify his reasoning but no one can claim that legitimately. He knew exactly what he was doing and wondered if his old team mate would overlook it, which he did. Ref has got to be sidelined or properly trained. It's one thing for refs to move up the ranks but if it was me I would require refs to either have played in different clubs or not at all having the temptation to bias in high stakes games like this. This has got to be stamped out. But then again World Rugby is so destroying the game of rugby in an attempt to be more “safe” and “concussion free”. What they are doing is making it more infuriating for the fans and more difficult for the refs to officiate evenly and consistently. It's fast become Australian Rules football. If guys don't want concussions, they should have played chess. Stop complaining you oldies of the game. When they played the game was vastly heavier hitting than it is now but of course they can't see that.
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