Time for Chiefs coach Cooper to throw caution to the wind
OPINION: In 2012, Dave Rennie guided the Chiefs to a Super Rugby championship in his first year as coach.
Back then, it had been three years since the Chiefs had last made the finals (though few like to remember the 61-17 drubbing the Chiefs suffered at the hooves of the Bulls in their final match in Pretoria). It was also only the Chiefs’ third ever appearance in the finals series with their first appearance being in 2004 when they were buddle out in the semi-finals by the Brumbies, who went on to win the competition.
Including that 2012 season, 2018 marked the seventh year in a row that the Chiefs had made at least the elimination finals of Super Rugby without fail.
It’s increasingly looking like 2019 could be the year that ends the Chiefs’ stunning run of finals appearances.
Last year, Colin Cooper’s reign as new head coach got off to a reasonable start, guiding the team to a top-four placing, eventually succumbing to the Hurricanes in Wellington.
A few less experienced players were given game time – players who could well be long-term fixtures in the squad. Solomon Alaimalo’s star burned the brightest, with his speed and offloading ability prompting many to suggest he could be in the frame for an All Blacks call up. Luke Jacobson also made his first appearances at Super Rugby level and will likely be the long-term replacement to stalwart Liam Messam.
Perhaps most impressive was the emergence of a number of quality props.
As is tradition, the Chiefs were hit very hard by injuries. The front row, in particular, took quite a knocking. Mitchell Graham wasn’t sighted all season after dealing with lingering problems from a horrific leg injury first suffered during the 2017 Brisbane 10s. Kane Hames also didn’t appear due to concussion symptoms. New front-rower Aidan Ross then had his season cut short in the early rounds of the competition after a teammate fell on his leg.
So emerged the unlikely pairing of Angus Ta’avao and Karl Tu’inukuafe.
Ta’avao had already been round the blocks in Super Rugby, appearing for both the Blues and the Waratahs. He had also notched up over 60 appearances in the Mitre 10 Cup for Auckland and Taranaki.
Tu’inukuafe, on the other hand, had almost given up on professional rugby, working as a bouncer in Auckland.
By the end of the season, both players had represented the All Blacks.
It wasn’t an easy year for a new coach to navigate – but Cooper did reasonably well with the hand he was dealt. His appointment, however, had still raised many questions in the rugby community – and few were convinced he was the man for the job, even after the relatively successful 2018 season.
Cooper, after all, had already spent many years with a fairly well-stocked Hurricanes side and had not achieved much in the way of Super Rugby glory.
Since he had parted ways with the Hurricanes, Cooper had redeemed himself somewhat with the Taranaki provincial side – but his strong Taranaki ties perhaps caused even more ire. When Chiefs players were struck down with injury in 2018, they were often replaced with Taranaki players – many of who were not up to the task of Super Rugby.
Regardless, a spot in the finals in no way indicates a poor season. Cooper may not have necessarily silenced the doubters, but he at least quietened them down for another season.
2019, however, has seen questions once again raised about Cooper’s ability as a coach.
The Chiefs season started with three straight losses. Against the Highlanders, the Chiefs built up a reasonable lead going into the final quarter but even with a one-man advantage due to Sio Tompkinson’s yellow card, they somehow threw the game away. The Highlanders have only managed two other wins this season.
Week two saw the Chiefs absolutely belted in Canberra by a Brumbies side that has otherwise underperformed this year and with the third round of the year came perhaps the most embarrassing loss in the Chiefs’ almost 25-year history when they didn’t fire a shot against the Sunwolves at home. The Sunwolves have improved significantly in 2019, but they have nowhere near the same calibre of players at their disposal as the Chiefs.
Then came four reasonable results which, in some ways, have papered over many of the cracks in the Waikato-based team.
Coinciding with a return to form for Damian McKenzie (and a return to fullback for the diminutive playmaker), the Chiefs drew with the Hurricanes, slaughtered the Bulls in Pretoria, narrowly escaped with a win against the Jaguares and then came out trumps in their grudge match with the Blues.
That undefeated run saw the Chiefs drop out of the headlines; no longer were they doing quite as poorly as they had been at the start of the season, and the Highlanders were having significant issues of their own, drawing away some of the attention.
With the Chiefs’ most recent loss to the Lions coming in the same round as the Highlanders finally getting their third victory of the season, the Chiefs are now back to bottom of the New Zealand conference. Another run of losses could see Cooper facing the heat once more, so upcoming derby matches against the Highlanders and Hurricanes will be crucial to the coach’s fate.
The fact that, outside of Christchurch, no team is maintaining any real consistency in the competition will mean that it will be impossible to write off the Chiefs until much later in the season. Finishing only just short of the finals could be very possible if Cooper sticks to his guns and plays it safe.
This would likely be the worst possible outcome for the Chiefs.
If Cooper is to maintain his position, the onus should be placed on him to ensure that the Chiefs are well prepared for the seasons to come. 2019, at this point in time, is almost a write off already and development should be the focus moving forward.
McKenzie’s injury against the Blues will mean we don’t see him take the field again this season. Against the Lions, the Chiefs looked completely devoid of attacking options without McKenzie at fullback – this needs to be rectified.
There are some players in the Chiefs squad who are, in all reality, just filling gaps.
With Brad Weber, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown and Solomon Alaimalo you have the makings of a very good backs division – but they need to be supplemented with some more rising stars.
Tumua Manu, playing in his first season of Super Rugby, has shown a lot of promise – but you have to wonder what guys like Bailyn Sullivan and Quinn Tupaea, who both shone for Waikato in their successful Mitre 10 Cup campaign, could be doing. Perhaps there’s no room in the midfield, but throw one on the wing to get some invaluable Super Rugby experience.
It’s a similar situation in the outside backs. Shaun Stevenson has been off-form this year and may well come right later in the season – but now’s the time to given a young player like Etene Nanai-Seturo the chance to show his talents off.
Nanai-Seturo has been restricted to the wing in 2019 – and under-20 commitments will mean he won’t always be available for the Chiefs – but let him have a run in his favoured position of fullback and see what he can do.
Ataata Moekiola has made some blockbusting runs on the wing, but how many seasons are the Chiefs likely to get out of the Japanese test representative? He needs plenty of development of his own and chances are he won’t hang around for too long. Whilst it’s fine to support the Tier-2 nations, New Zealand franchises should not be developing foreign players at the expense of their own.
The situation in the five-eighths should be hugely worrying for Chiefs fans. Marty McKenzie, whilst his determination can never be questioned, is simply not a Super Rugby level first five – and that’s been clear for a number of years. In 2017, he wasn’t even playing at 10 for Taranaki, with young Stephen Perofeta preferred and in 2018 injury kept him out for the whole season.
Likewise, Jack Debreczeni, who has had an awful run of injuries this year, is probably not a long-term solution for the Chiefs. In his limited game time with the team, he’s shown that he’s probably the best passer amongst the backs, but he never quite cut the mustard with the Rebels in Australia and it’s hard to imagine that he’s going to develop into a major force at 10 for the Chiefs.
There are no obvious solutions to the myriad of problems that the Chiefs have been having this year. Sometimes, things don’t always fall your way on the field – but the way in which the Chiefs have lost this season should be concerning for all. Colin Cooper still has plenty of time to prove that he’s up to being a Super Rugby coach – but he’s not going to do that by simply guiding the Chiefs to a midtable finish this season.
With a successful campaign likely off the cards for 2019, Cooper needs to throw caution to the wind and put his faith in the young players coming through the system. There’s no point in coasting to an average finish with journeymen who aren’t going to develop significantly further – it’s time to invest in the future.
Warren Gatland’s future determined:
Comments on RugbyPass
Oh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
2 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
2 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
26 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to comments