"It's All About Performance": Cotter Says

Blues head coach Vern Cotter is wary of the danger of making g expansive predictions at the start of the season.

The former Flying Fijians head coach is aware of the Blues traditional unpredictability and is not buying into any thoughts that this could be their year.

This was despite Cotter highlighting how critical the last three weeks for his team to ensure that they are in their best shape.

"You've just got to get stuck in and see how you go," Cotter told TV One News.

"There will be games that you think you should win and you don't and at the end of the day, it will come down to the last three weeks.

"I know, from experience, there will be moments when we'll give ourselves a big uppercut, it's a fluid, moving motion.

"Just as long as we've got the energy there and everybody's up - and everyone has impressed me so farI think there's a bit of ambition in the group. We'll take the good times and the bad and try to go as far as we can."

Cotter is also concerned about tomorrow's Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific opener against the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua at Okara Park in Whangarei, New Zealand.

This is despite Drua head coach Mick Byrne naming four rookies in the Match 23 squad.

The starting three are, 19-year-old Isikeli Rabitu at fullback, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 20, at No.10 and winger Epeli Momo. On the bench is 20-year-old lock Mesake Vocevoce.

The changes have been made due to injuries to key players.

There has already been significant changes at the Blues camp, with Tony Brown brought in on a parttime basis to help with the team's attack after Jason O'Halloran's medical leave due to diabetes. Skipper Patrick Tuipulotu has been ruled out in the short term due to a broken jaw suffered in preseason.

Blues Head Coach Vern Cotter. Photo: Leon Lord

It means Josh Beehre, 21, will make his debut at this level by starting against the Drua alongside Sam Darry in the second row, with former Japan coach (and future Springboks assistant) Brown adding his expertise at the start of the week.

"I haven't worked with him before but I've spoken to him around the game," Cotter said, of Brown.

"He's got a sharp eye for things and helps players and offers us a perspective that perhaps we haven't looked at.

"It's nice to get his point of view and his experiences in Japan and how he's worked with different styles of players."

Cotter's game drivers - first-five Stephen Perofeta and fullback Zarn Sullivan - will be expected to dictate the pace tomorrow but beyond that, Cotter is keeping an open mind.

"I don't know how they (Drua) are going to play. I don't know what their plan is. I know Glen Jackson very well and he's a good coach.

"I know the individuals (as former Fiji coach), I know they have certain traits they'll look to go to. We've just got to be ready for anything and that's the key to rugby these days - keep your head up, take in the information and get yourself around the paddock.

"It's about performance. We don't expect everything to be right but we've got certain things we want to put in place. We feel like we've got a good team," Cotter added.

The match kicks-off at 3.35pm (Fiji time).

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj