Rugby – Maori Coach Cooper says there is no pressure

screen-shot-2016-11-11-at-17-58-49MAORI All Black coach Colin Cooper sat down with PostSport this week and previewed the clash with Munster at Thomond Park. Cooper talked all things rugby, pressure and how Munster hooker Rhys Marshall should not have been allowed leave New Zealand.   (Words by Kevin Casey)

What are your impressions of Limerick and Munster so far?

“It’s great. I’ve never been to Ireland before. I’ve been to London and Wales but I’ve never been here. As I flew in I thought it looked like New Zealand except there are a few castles. I don’t mind the cold, I’m used to rain. The people are very friendly and they know their game. That’s what impressed me”

Are you excited about playing in front of 26,000 people, a full house in Thomand Park?

“We’re excited about being in one of the best clubs in the world and playing against their home crowd. Yeah we’re excited about that. Like I said I’ve never been here before and all I’ve heard about is Munster. We’ve got a lot of people who’ve played for Munster, New Zealanders who speak very highly about Munster. I’ve spoken to Rhys Marshall, I coached him back home. He should never have been released. He’s too good a player. Munster got a good player there.”

Sign up for the weekly Limerick Post newsletter

Why does it happen that a guy that’s as good as you say he is, is allowed to leave New Zealand?

“Well there’s a lot of talent in New Zealand and he made Super  Rugby, before he even played provincial rugby,  but it was too early for him. Now he’s at his best and it’s a shame. He should have been kept in our country.

Is it correct to say as Maori coach you have only ever lost one game and that was to the New Zealand Barbarians?

Yes

So is there any pressure involved in games like this for you to keep that record?

No pressure.

No pressure? Really?

No I’m an old, I’m a 20-year veteran. I used to be like that when I was younger, worrying about what everyone else is thinking, you can’t. It’s too tough, you gotta deliver and create the best environment you can. Selection is massive, picking the right players to play the match, you need your big characters out. I think the Maori team represents 100 years of history and we’re here to inspire not only young New Zealanders or Maoris but young Irish lads who want to grow up and play rugby.

They’re was a little pressure ahead of the USA game, because of expectations being high cause we’ve dropped down some All Blacks to play and it’s probably the strongest team I’ve put on the field in my time last week. So there was a bit of pressure there but it is what it is. Munster is an outstanding club, 26,000 people. We gotta get our content or not give away too much content because then it becomes a handbrake because we only had short turnarounds to get this team ready but the crowd will excite these guys. It will either spook them or excite them. So we’re talking a lot mentally, that’s my main selection. You don’t have the right people the right character to be able to confront what’s coming Friday night. If that makes sense.

It must be frustrating for you that the Maoris only play three matches in the whole year?

That gets thrown at me a lot but there’s a lot of things and the reasons why it’s a global game. These guys came out of Super, which starts in January, they get together in December and finish in May and then provincial will take them over and provincial goes on for June, July, August, September, October. If they don’t go to the provincial they go to the All Blacks. So they’re in the provincial and the demands of that short-term I’ve got to squeeze to provincial into a so many weeks. I mean we played three games in ten days which is just crazy three games in ten days at that level, but its to squeeze it into so many weeks but after that, cause it’s a global game and because they’re All Blacks this is the only fit you can have for Maori rugby. In December they’re going back into super so they get four weeks off.

Advertisement