PACIFIC POWER HOUSE
NZ Rugby World|Issue 207, October - November 2020
FIJI HAVE NEVER QUITE BEEN ABLE TO FULFIL THEIR ENORMOUS POTENTIAL. BUT THEY MIGHT NOW FOLLOWING THE APPOINTMENT OF VERN COTTER AS HEAD COACH.
PACIFIC POWER HOUSE

There can't be any doubt that Scotland's loss is Fiji's gain. Vern Cotter, installed as head coach in 2014 was delivering the sort of results Scotland hadn't seen in decades.

They were climbing the world rankings, unlucky in the extreme not to make the World Cup semi-finals in 2015 and then almost out of nowhere, it was announced in 2017 they wouldn't be extending Cotter's contract.

It was as strange as it was sudden and Cotter, with a 53 per cent win record, found himself unwanted in test football.

To prove how profligate the Scots had been, Cotter had ample club suitors eager to bring him on board, with Montpellier eventually winning his services after agreeing to make him one of the best-paid coaches in the world with a package worth a reported $2 million a year.

He was crazy rich but Cotter had done the French club thing for a long time before shifting to Scotland. He was the man who had turned Clermont into the force they are now after joining them in 2006.

The Montpellier gig had a twist at least as they had a pile of cash, enormous ambition but no pedigree in the French top division. Turning them into serious contenders was a challenge that engaged Cotter, but when the Fijian job became available in early 2020, his hand shot up.

This was the sort of role that Cotter really wanted. Not only would it get him back into test football, but it would also be a fascinating challenge to see what he could do with one of the world's great talent pools.

Cotter had seen and worked with plenty of Fijians in New Zealand and in French club football and the potential was obvious. The opportunity to take Fiji from exciting but erratic to consistent and brilliant was too good to turn down and he signed in February.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM NZ RUGBY WORLDView all
The 20 Most Memorable Rugby Acts Of 2020
NZ Rugby World

The 20 Most Memorable Rugby Acts Of 2020

2020- Most Amazing Rugby Acts

time-read
10+ mins  |
Issue 208, December - January 2021
RUGBY ROYALTY
NZ Rugby World

RUGBY ROYALTY

FRANS STEYN’S IMPACT AT LAST YEAR’S WORLD CUP ADDED MORE PRESTIGE TO A DECORATED CAREER THAT ISN’T OVER YET. CRAIG LEWIS FROM SA RUGBY MAGAZINE REPORTS.

time-read
10+ mins  |
Issue 208, December - January 2021
NZ Rugby World

WINGING IT FOR LONGER

TYPICALLY POWER WINGS DON'T LAST LONG IN THE ALL BLACKS. BUT CALEB CLARKE AND RIEKO IOANE ARE HOPING TO BUCK THE TREND.

time-read
10 mins  |
Issue 208, December - January 2021
TOUGHEST JOB IN THE WORLD
NZ Rugby World

TOUGHEST JOB IN THE WORLD

NZ RUGBY WORLD EDITOR GREGOR PAUL HAS A NEW BOOK OUT CALLED THE CAPTAIN'S RUN. IN IT HE EXPLORES WHAT IT TAKES TO LEAD THE WORLD'S BEST RUGBY TEAM, HOW THE JOB HAS CHANGED AND HOW THE VARIOUS LEADERS HAVE DEALT WITH PRESSURE, FAILURE AND SUCCESS.

time-read
10+ mins  |
Issue 208, December - January 2021
NZ Rugby World

WOW FACTOR

SCOTT ROBERTSON IS UNORTHODOX BUT HE'S ALSO BRILLIANT AND WANTS A JOB WITH THE BRITISH & IRISH LIONS.

time-read
10+ mins  |
Issue 208, December - January 2021
RUGBY REBORN
NZ Rugby World

RUGBY REBORN

COVID BROUGHT ECONOMIC CARNAGE IN 2020 BUT RATHER THAN BEING SEEN AS A WRECKER OF FORTUNES, THE PANDEMIC WAS ACTUALLY A GIANT BLESSING.

time-read
10 mins  |
Issue 208, December - January 2021
NZ Rugby World

BATTLE FOR THE BLEDISLOE

THE UNPRECEDENTED CONDITIONS OF 2020 SAW THE INTERNATIONAL CALENDAR HASTILY REDRAWN AND IN A UNIQUE TWIST FOR THE PROFESSIONAL AGE, THE ALL BLACKS PLAYED FOUR CONSECUTIVE TESTS AGAINST AUSTRALIA.

time-read
7 mins  |
Issue 208, December - January 2021
PACIFIC POWER HOUSE
NZ Rugby World

PACIFIC POWER HOUSE

FIJI HAVE NEVER QUITE BEEN ABLE TO FULFIL THEIR ENORMOUS POTENTIAL. BUT THEY MIGHT NOW FOLLOWING THE APPOINTMENT OF VERN COTTER AS HEAD COACH.

time-read
9 mins  |
Issue 207, October - November 2020
THE PEOPLE'S CHAMPION
NZ Rugby World

THE PEOPLE'S CHAMPION

ON AND OFF THE FIELD, SPRINGBOKS WING CHESLIN KOLBE CONTINUES TO MAKE AN INSPIRATIONAL IMPACT.

time-read
10+ mins  |
Issue 207, October - November 2020
DEFENCE FORCE ONE
NZ Rugby World

DEFENCE FORCE ONE

THE BLUES WERE A RADICALLY DIFFERENT TEAM IN 2020 AND MUCH OF THAT WAS DUE TO THEIR VASTLY IMPROVED WORK ON DEFENCE.

time-read
9 mins  |
Issue 207, October - November 2020