Krishna’s present earns Phoenix draw
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. Two goals in a frenetic 12-minute period of an action-packed second half has earned the Wellington Phoenix their first draw of the A-League season in Auckland last night.
Trailing the Western Sydney Wanderers 2-0 after the visitors doubled lead in the 56th minute, the hosts first match at Mt Smart Stadium and the second match in charge for interim managers Chris Greenacre and Des Buckingham looked set to end in disappointment.
But, thanks to Gui Finkler’s first goal in a Phoenix jersey from the penalty spot and the head of Roy Krishna, the home side were soon back on level terms and the three points was back on offer to both
LIAM NAPIER
sides.
An open and entertaining final quarter followed and while neither was able to strike a vital third blow as the contest ended in a 2-2 draw, another lacklustre crowd of 5,702 left having well and truly received their money’s worth.
The result meant the Phoenix remained eighth on the 10-team A-League ladder, with the Melbourne derby still to be played on Saturday night.
Basking in the warmth of a sundrenched eastern stand, the home crowd found their voice as quickly as their team found the energy so key to their 3-0 rout of the Mariners in Hamilton.
Lanky right back Jacob Tratt glanced a pinpoint Finkler corner narrowly across the face of goal in the fourth minute and while appeals for an early penalty were also unsuccessful after left back Adam Parkhouse went down inside the area, there was little doubt who was on top.
After his team had been forced into several early fouls, Wanderers’ Kearyn Baccus picked up the opening yellow card.
All that endeavour went unrewarded and in the 19th-minute, totally against the run of play, the visitors capitalised on almost their first foray into the Phoenix red zone.
Nicolas Martinez whipped in a corner and as several Wellington defenders watched on from close range, Santalab nipped in front to drive a classy first time volley low past helpless goalkeeper Glen Moss.
The goal only briefly silenced the Yellow Fever and the Phoenix continued to press forward, a charging Finkler driving low past the left post from just inside the penalty area in the 34th minute.
But the confidence of the Western Sydney outfit had been visibly boosted and they too threatened in the closing stages of the half, Moss forced into a smart low save to deny an increasingly dangerous Martinez.
The opening moments of the second spell went by with little action of note before the contest burst into life in a frenetic 12 minutes of play.
Lazy Phoenix defending gifted Nichols a relatively simple finish to double the Wanderers lead in the 56th minute and, at that point, the hosts looked on track for an seventh loss of the season.
But only six minutes later Wellington grabbed one back when Krishna was felled in a needless tackle by Jaushua Sotirio and Finkler calmly converted from the penalty spot, drawing a huge roar from a reinvigorated crowd.
Sotirio looked to have made up for his mistake only moments later when he drew what was perhaps a debatable penalty from an Andrew Durante challenge.
However, Moss guessed correctly and comfortably saved the kick.