Chiefs turn on the style – for first 40 minutes at least
You suspect Colin Cooper was almost happy he had something to work on improving.
Such was the magnificent first-half display from the Chiefs against the Highlanders in Suva on Saturday that Cooper must have been wondering what wisdom he could impart on them this week as they prepare to host the Brumbies.
But a healthy Highlanders comeback left Cooper with a few issues to fix along with a brimming confidence from his troops following the 45-22 victory.
‘‘It was a little bit frustrating letting them come back in like that,’’ Cooper said.
‘‘We talked about not making mistakes, keeping the ball and just building phases into the wind, but we turned it over and the Highlanders, being a good team, took advantage.
‘‘We probably made less mistakes than they did and opportunities we grabbed probably better, but they scored some great tries also.’’
They were minor quibbles, however, compared to the delight at a first-half performance that Cooper said was ‘‘right up there’’ with any he has witnessed as a player or coach.
With veteran loose forward Liam Messam and fullback Solomon Alaimalo prominent, the Chiefs ran in six tries and the result was sealed when they headed to the sheds up 42-0.
‘‘There’s been a couple of other teams who have performed like that, but it was just great to be part of it,’’ Cooper said of the firsthalf demolition. ‘‘Our preparation was really good. We talked about starting really hard, with the wind or without the wind.’’
Cooper also praised his staff’s work at home in preparing for the heat, and the way the Chiefs embraced the culture and the people on their third trip to Fiji.
"There’s a lot of support here, it’s like a home game for us.’’
Rookie All Blacks prop Karl Tu’inukuafe was another individual to shine for the victors.
‘‘He was doing a lot of things too, before he went to the All Blacks, he was helping us scrumwise,’’ Cooper said.
‘‘He’s still learning the game at this level but he’s going really well, along with Angus Ta’avao.’’
Cooper kept skipper Sam Cane on the field longer than intended in the second half to ensure the Highlanders’ comeback didn’t trigger panic stations.
‘‘I was trying to took after him a bit and bring him off maybe, but he was playing so well and when the Highlanders came back we had to keep him on there.’’
The win has left the Chiefs third in the New Zealand conference, just four points behind the Hurricanes following their loss in Canberra to the Brumbies.
There was also bright news on the injury front, with Cooper not expecting any long-term problems to the likes of Charlie Ngatai and two-try winger Toni Pulu.
‘‘Charlie had a niggle with his ankle, he was suspect to start but got through the warmup. We didn’t want to give him the full game so . . . just managing him.’’
‘‘It was just great to be part of it.’’
Chiefs coach Colin Cooper on his team’s brilliant first-half display