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There are some big weekends coming up for Maori super-coach Colin Cooper.
On Saturday his Taranaki side is up against Tasman in the ITM Cup premiership final at New Plymouth’s Yarrow Stadium.
Then it’s off to join the New Zealand Maori squad on the plane to Japan, to take on the world’s 10th-ranked test nation in Kobe on November 1 and Tokyo on November 8.
There’s 11 new caps in the team, which will be captained by Chiefs midfield back Charlie Ngatai with Tasman loose forward Shane Christie as vice-captain.
He’s expecting the Maori team to perform on and off the field.
A planned game against the Asia Pacific Dragons in Singapore on November 15 has been scrapped because the National Stadium pitch was not up to scratch.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH COLIN COOPER CLICK ON THE LINK
http://www.waateanews.com/play_podcast?podlink=MjMzNDM=
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