BLUES 2010
Tue, 30 Jan 2007 05:59
BLUES 2010
The Blues were one of the early pace-setters in Super Rugby immediately after the advent of professional rugby, winning the Super 12 championship in 1996 and 1997, losing the 1998 final, and winning the title again in 2003.
But apart from their semi-final loss to the Sharks in 2007, their performance in the Super 14 has been disappointing, with sixth, eighth and ninth positions on the log.
Granted though, last season's ninth place may well have been appreciably higher for the pride of Auckland and its partner unions, North Harbour and Northland, were it not for the squad having suffered one injury after another.
There are nine changes to the 28-man Blues squad from their 2009 group, with significant changes coming in last season's problem area of loose forwards and inside backs.
Coach Pat Lam is happy with the balance of his 2010 squad and with the experience he now has to complement the talented younger players in the group.
Crucial to the Blues success in 2010 will be remaining relatively free of injury, especially after Ali Williams (who had been appointed vice captain) has had to undergo surgery to repair an Achilles tendon. A similar Achilles tendon injury, as well as shoulder problems, had kept Williams out of rugby for most of 2009, but he had been recovering well and had expected to be fit for the start of the Super 14 campaign, but in the Blues preseason clash with the Chiefs - his first game back - he came off injured after less than four minutes.
Skipper Keven Mealamu ruptured a chest muscle against the Springboks in August, but he, much to the relief of the Blues, has recovered.
Mealamu, Rudi Wulf, Isaia Toeava, Joe Rokocoko, Anthony Tuitavake, and returning midfield star Luke McAlister all missed the All Blacks November northern hemisphere tour in order to recover from their injuries and will be keen to perform impressively in the Super 14 and regain their All Black status later in the season.
Pat Lam will encourage his players to play an adventurous, creative brand of rugby and they may be one of the most exciting teams to watch.
Strengths: Any team boasting forwards of the calibre of Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, John Afoa, Ali Williams and Jerome Kaino and backs like Stephen Brett, Luke McAlister, Isaia Toeava and Joe Rokocoko must be regarded as potent opposition. Their attacking pattern should see them score a lot of tries.
Weaknesses: There are no obvious weaknesses in player ranks, but there remains the danger of continuing the tendency in recent years to under-perform in games when it really counts. The team appears better balanced than last year's squad, with the specific endeavour to improve the quality of players at 9 and 10 and loose-forwards. The loss to injury of vice captain Ali Williams is a big blow. Williams, with 61 Test and 71 Super caps, is one of the world's best lock-forwards and a key leadership figure in the Blues team.
Noteworthy acquisitions: Lam regards the acquisition of inside backs Stephen Brett (from the Crusaders) and Alby Mathewson and Daniel Kirkpatrick (both from the Hurricanes) as key signings. Draft pick-up Brett could prove a valuable addition; his goal will be to ignite the Blues backline. The Blues have overhauled their loose forward ranks as well, introducing Wellington flanker Serge Lilo (regarded as a particularly tough competitor at breakdown), Aucklander Peter Saili, and North Harbour pair Viliame Ma'afu and Tom Chamberlain. Saili and Chamberlain are promoted from last year's Blues wider training group.
Noteworthy losses: Jimmy Gopperth to Newcastle Falcons, Michael Hobbs to the Highlanders, and Josh Blackie is back with the Kobe Kobelco Steelers for a third season after provisionally parting ways with his Japanese team at the end of 2008. Fly half Tasesa Lavea has moved to Clermont (France). Justin Collins, who played over 100 games for the Blues, has not officially announced his retirement but it is doubtful he will play again after sustaining a number of serious concussions last season.
Coach: Pat Lam goes into the second year of his three-year contract to coach the Blues. After a spectacular career as a player, representing Samoa at three World Cups, he coached the Auckland Air New Zealand Cup team from 2004 to halfway through the 2008 season, winning the national championship in 2005 and 2007, in 2007 securing the Ranfurly Shield as well. His assistant coaches are former All Blacks Shane Howarth and Liam Barry.
Captain: Keven Mealamu, who now has 71 Test caps for the All Blacks and 95 Super Rugby caps, is widely regarded as one of the best hookers in the world. Lam says the leadership style of Mealamu is not to be boisterous, but rather to lead by example. "He has [the players'] respect and he works by example," says Lam, adding: "That can have more impact out there than guys ranting and raving. Kevin does talk, but he is not out there shouting and that sort of stuff. However, when he talks the guys listen, and I think we have a good balance with other individuals in the team."
Potential bolter: Fly-half Daniel Kirkpatrick was Player of the Tournament when New Zealand won the IRB U20 World Cup in 2008, played for the Vodafone Wellington Lions which won the Ranfurly Shield later that season, and played for the Hurricanes in the 2009 Super 14. Having also won the U19 World Cup and debuted for the Lions as an 18-year old in 2007, Kirkpatrick has achieved great success as a junior player - but he has to take that talent to the next level and perform in the Super 14. Could this be the beginning of a stellar career for him on the big rugby stage?
2009 Position: Ninth
Best finish: Super 12 champions in
1996, 1997, 2003
Worst finish: 11th (2000)
Home Venues: Eden Park, Auckland (Capacity: 50,000), North Harbour Stadium, Albany (Capacity: 25,000)
2010 Prospects: Ravaged by injuries in 2009, the Blues used 16 players new to the Super 14, more than any other team. If they can keep their first-choice players on the field for most of the campaign, their improved mixture of experience and youth this year could see them as semi-final contenders. Certainly, they have the talent to be a formidable combination.
Blues squad: Tony Woodcock, John Afoa, Charlie Faumuina, Tevita Mailau, Keven Mealamu, Tom McCartney, Anthony Boric, Filo Paulo*, Kurtis Haiu, Jerome Kaino, Peter Saili, Serge Lilo, Tom Chamberlain, Chris Lowrey, Viliame Ma'afu, Alby Mathewson, Chris Smylie, Stephen Brett, Daniel Kirkpatrick, Luke McAlister, Benson Stanley, Isaia Toeava, George Pisi, Rudi Wulf, Anthony Tuitavake, Joe
Rokocoko, Rene Ranger, Paul Williams.
(* with James King and Andrew van der Heijden both unavailable, little-known North Harbour lock Filo Paulo will replace the injured Ali Williams for the start of the Super 14)
Schedule:
12 February: v Hurricanes, home
19 February: v Highlanders, away
27 February: v Reds, away
6 March: v Crusaders, away
19 March: v Brumbies, home
27 March: v Waratahs, away
3 April: v Bulls, home
10 April: v Stormers, home
17 April: v Western Force, home
24 April: v Sharks, away
1 May: v Cheetahs, away
8 May: v Lions, away
15 May: v Chiefs, home
By Len Kaplan
