Super Cooper in 2018
‘ Cooper’s potential appointment would cap a remarkable comeback.’
COLIN Cooper is expected to be unveiled before Christmas as the next Chiefs coach, taking over from Dave Rennie in 2018.
Rennie enters his sixth and final year at the Chiefs in 2017 before signing off to join Glasgow. He has already banked the franchise’s first two titles in 2012 and 2013, and will be a tough act to follow.
That task appears set to fall to Cooper, the former Hurricanes turned Taranaki and New Zealand Maori mentor.
Highly-respected Kiwi coach Joe Schmidt was the Chiefs’ original target but he instead opted to recommit through to the 2019 World Cup with Ireland. Fellow high-profile New Zealander Vern Cotter also signed on with French club Montpellier after next year’s Six Nations campaign with Scotland, ruling him out of contention.
Kieran Keane, the former Tasman mentor now Chiefs assistant, was considered another strong internal candidate but it is believed Cooper has been given the nod with a formal announcement expected this week.
Cooper’s potential appointment would cap a remarkable comeback.
During his eight seasons with the Hurricanes from 2003 to 2011, Cooper led star-laden teams to five Super Rugby playoff appearances, a run which included the infamous 2006 fog final defeat to the Crusaders in 2006.
Cooper, who declined an approach to comment on his likely appointment, has since guided Taranaki to the 2014 provincial title and helped the union claim the coveted Ranfurly Shield, defending it seven times from 2011.
Insiders suggest he is a better coach now than when he failed to secure a title with the Hurricanes, despite having squads that included at various times All Blacks Tana Umaga, Christian Cullen, Jonah Lomu, Jerry Collins, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Piri Weepu, Rodney So’oialo and Chris Masoe.
Coach of the Maori since 2013, Cooper has formed a close relationship with All Blacks management to the point they were comfortable releasing players into the Maori team in Chicago.
Cooper coached alongside Steve Hansen’s right-hand man Ian Foster with the Junior All Blacks from 2005 to ’07, and is believed to be rated by those men.
The 57-year-old’s close ties to Taranaki, who joined the Chiefs in 2014, also seemingly ticks a political box.
Cooper’s expected arrival in 2018 could signal a clear-out in the management team and, in particular, be a worry for Chiefs assistant Neil Barnes.
When Cooper was appointed to Taranaki in 2010, former longserving assistant Barnes penned an open letter heavily criticising the union’s chief executive Mark Robinson and chairman Peter Crawford.
Keane, who joined the Chiefs last season is also believed to be eyeing another post, possibly overseas, in 2018.