Rugby: Cooper not worried by changing team before clash

Colin Coope. Photo / Wayne Drought

Colin Cooper is having to deal with uncertainty around who he can access ahead of a potentially epic clash with Fiji, but, as ever, he takes it all in his stride.

The Maori All Blacks coach only got the bulk of his 27-man squad in yesterday for a training run at Auckland's King's College, but there were plenty of comings and goings.

In go All Blacks prop Joe Moody and Blues loose forward Joe Edwards, plus NZ Universities front-rower Marcel Renata, whom the coaches watched in club action for Auckland University last weekend. Out go prop Chris Eves and loose forward Shane Christie, both crocked.

Charlie Ngatai, the 2014 Maori skipper, may go from the All Blacks bench in Apia today to a flight to Suva later tonight, but the chances of halfback Brad Weber and hooker Hika Elliot linking up with the Maori appear reliant on the benevolence of the All Blacks selectors and what cover they require for next week's Rugby Championship opener in Christchurch.

"It's just great to have guys of the calibre of Joe and Tawera [Kerr-Barlow] in the mix, coming down from the All Blacks. But there's an opportunity here for the Maori to play a test match and for me to grow some of the younger guys into professional players," said Cooper.

The Maori dived for cover under Auckland's inclement skies yesterday, but that will not have fazed the clutch of Super Rugby champion Highlanders. "They were a bit rough when they came in, but that was to be expected," said Cooper.

Some of the squad were in camp as early as Friday, but they gel swiftly, and they will have to, as lying in wait are the Flying Fijians, the world's No 11 ranked side, with most of their best players back from Europe and gearing up for the Pacific Nations Cup, partly held in North America, and then the Rugby World Cup, where they will front in Pool A, the infamous "Pool of Death". Fiji will play the tournament opener against England at Twickenham.

"They'll be very tough. They are very passionate about the game. I took the Junior All Blacks over there [in 2007]. It was mayhem. Any team wearing black jerseys gets the Fijian boys excited," said Cooper.

He and assistant Tabai Matson, who will join the Fijians after the Maori programme to help with their coaching leading into RWC, will have a plan in place to combat Crusaders wing Nemani Nadolo, who has played second-five for Fiji.

"He'll be a threat wherever he plays," says Cooper. Nadolo is not the sole threat, with Asaeli Tikoirotuma and Napolioni Nalaga in line to play.

The Maori will name their 23 for the match tomorrow.