All Black admits Vern Cotter’s ‘tough words’ set the tone for Blues’ Super Rugby Pacific revival
Blues head coach Vern Cotter and Dalton Papali'i celebrates with his team-mates after scoring a try.
Blues openside flanker Dalton Papali’i has revealed the impact head coach Vern Cotter had on the side’s overall performance and how his “tough words” at the start of the season set the wheels in motion for the rest of their campaign.
Cotter’s troops finished in second position in the Super Rugby Pacific standings – after clinching a 31-17 win over the Chiefs – and will face the Fijian Drua in their quarter-final at Eden Park on Saturday.
Cotter did not mince his words
After former Blues boss Leon MacDonald left his job to join the All Blacks coaching staff at the end of the 2023 season, Cotter became the Auckland-based outfit’s new head coach and Papali’i said the 62-year-old did not mince his words when telling his new players what the rest of New Zealand thought of their ability to win titles.
“There were some pretty tough words – I won’t say it,” Papali’i told 1News. “Just, you, know, we’re just Aucklanders, we’re townies, we don’t want to work hard, we just want the result.
“He [Cotter] has changed that. I think his nature has brought a bit of that old-school fire to us. I think you can see it. When we’re playing well our forwards are dominating… we’re smashing people.
“A lot of New Zealand don’t think we’re up to the task, but that’s the beauty of footy – we get to prove them wrong.”
The Blues have been the nearly men in Super Rugby Pacific since the inaugural competition in 2022 and came off second best to the Crusaders on two occasions in recent years.
Blues denied top spot by late Chiefs try despite claiming victory at Eden Park
After losing in the final at Eden Park to the men from Christchurch two years ago, the Blues also suffered a defeat against their arch rivals in the semi-finals last year.
Last week, they conceded a late try in that win over the Chiefs which denied them a bonus-point victory which would’ve secured them top spot on the table ahead of the Hurricanes.
Focused on the Fijian Drua
Papali’i said they have already put that setback behind them and are fully focused on their upcoming challenge against the Drua. The Fijian outfit are renowned for their enterprising style of play as well as their unpredictability which makes them a threat in the play-offs.
“Our mindset the whole week was to win with a bonus point,” said the All Blacks back-row.
“A lot of the boys were pretty disappointed, but Vern said ‘who cares? We’re in finals footy now. Whatever team is in front of you, you can’t change it.’ That brought a bit of life back into the team. We got the win but we’ve forgotten about that and now we’re into the Drua. It’s going to be a hell of a game.
“We know the weight that’s coming this week and we know the Drua can light it up whenever they want.”
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