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Vern Cotter reportedly set to take reigns of the Blues
By Ned Lester
The Blues have reportedly found their Leon MacDonald successor, in the form of Vern Cotter.
The appointment, reported by 1News, would complete the restructure of all three Super Rugby coaching groups which were impacted by the formation of the 2024 All Blacks coaching group.
Cotter, a former Scotland and Fiji head coach, has amassed championship hardware in France's Top 14 and flirted with further trophies in the Heineken Cup.
Cotter was a part of the Crusaders' coaching set-up in 2005 when his predecessor, Leon MacDonald, was playing fullback for the Canterbury side.
The 61-year-old's coaching career started 20 years ago with Bay of Plenty.
The Blues' full coaching changes are yet to be determined, but their squad will go through significant change in 2024.
Nine players are set to leave the club next season as the dawn of a new Rugby World Cup cycle arises. That turnover includes four All Blacks; Beauden Barrett, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Nepo Laulala and Alex Hodgeman.
If Cotter is to be named Blues head coach, the former forwards coach has some sizable holes in the starting XV to address. Although the significant talent pool of the Auckland region will no doubt lend a helping hand.
Each of the Super Rugby Pacific clubs will face similar challenges, and the Hurricanes and Crusaders each have new coaching staff of their own for the 2024 season, after the appointment of Scott Robertson and Jason Holland to All Blacks duties along with MacDonald.
The Hurricanes locked in All Blacks Sevens coach Clark Laidlaw to lead their next era, which will be without Ardie Savea and Dane Coles.
The Crusaders have enlisted the services of Rob Penney, who has big boots to fill and will be without the assistance of Sam Whitelock, Richie Mo'unga, Leicester Fainga'anuku and likely Jack Goodhue.
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Latest Comments
No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson. And Eddie Jones.
Sometimes it doesn't work out so you have to go looking for another national coach who supports his country and believes in what he is doing. Like NZ replacing Ian Foster. And South Africa bringing Erasmus back in to over see Neinbar.
This is the real world. Not the fantasy oh you don't need passion for your country for international rugby. Ask a kiwi, or a south african or a frenchman.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
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