Cotter issues stern warning to Blues
‘Stern’ Vern Cotter didn’t come down in the last shower, so the veteran coach is not about to let his Blues walk into any sucker punches when they run out for their first match in his charge.
Probably better than most, given he was Fiji national coach from 2020-23, Cotter understands the dangers posed by the Drua in the Blues’ Super Rugby Pacific season opener in Whangārei today.
After ending a 17-year hiatus to return to the New Zealand game, and take charge of a Blues side still looking to take the final step of its transformation into a genuine championship outfit, he will be doubly motivated to launch the new season in style.
This is Cotter’s first official match back as a Kiwi coach. He will want to avoid any banana skins in the form of a Drua outfit who can play the razzle-dazzle game with the best of ’em. He will also be keen for his Blues, once again one of the hot title contenders, to put a genuine line in the sand from the off.
So, it was interesting to hear him talk about the threats posed by the visitors, and how best to deal with them.
“You don’t want to play Fijian rugby against them,” Cotter said. “They’re the best in the world at it. So we want to play a brand of rugby that suits us and suits the team we’re playing against. We need to find what they don’t like, and give them everything they don’t like.”
The Blues understand that where they boast a back four that is as good as anything in this competition, their advantages against the Drua lie up front. Squeeze them, and they can be contained. Fail to do that, and you reap the consequences.
“We know how good they can be,” added Cotter. “It’s about being accurate and having the concentration to put them under pressure, because if we don’t, and give them space and time, they’ll hurt us.
“We’ve just got to be ready for everything.
“That’s the key to rugby these days. You get your head up, take in information and get yourself around the paddock.”