The days of the Blues being the most feared team in Super Rugby seem a long time ago now. It’s now been eight years since the franchise last won the competition, with a dominant season that saw them lose just one game.
How things have changed.
Since then, they have made just one playoff appearance, and have struggled to carry form from one game to the next.
It is this that has become the Blues’ main problem. One week they look like world beaters, the next they look as though they don’t even belong in the competition.
Many have suggested that 2011 may be a new start for the Blues.
They certainly have the personnel to get the job done with a team full of All Blacks, as well as a coach who knows the game well in Pat Lam.
The franchise’s trademark has always been their ability to create out wide with their dangerous outside backs that are generally second to none in the competition.
With Joe Rokocoko and Rene Ranger on the wings, this is certainly the case again this year. With Isaia Toeava in the form of his life at fullback, it seems they are as good as ever in that department.
Jared Payne has also taken massive strides and seems to have carried his form from the ITM Cup through to Super Rugby; he has possibly been the Blues’ best player this year. In him, they have a very able center to pair with the experience of Luke McAlister, making for a good midfield combination.
Stephen Brett, at first five, could be a perceived weakness, but he continues to improve and is gradually becoming more consistent in his game, while Alby Matthewson inside him is a player on the rise.
Up front, they boast an All Black tight five led by their captain, Keven Mealamu, one of the key figures in last year’s All Black dominance.
Their loose-forwards are also very good, with Jerome Kaino providing a hard edge and Peter Saili being an adept ball runner; while the injured Daniel Braid has proven time and again that he is a class No. 7.
After reading all that, you would come to the conclusion that the Blues are one of the teams to beat in this year’s competition.
But are they?
Consistency is still a very real problem. While they have only lost one game so far, their opposition has hardly been top class, and the wins far from convincing.
Take their game against the Cheetahs over the weekend.
This was a team who had been on the road for three weeks, struggled to win at home — let alone away — and was coming off the back end of a walloping from the Reds the previous week.
The Blues should have put them away. But for one reason or another, they failed to finish them off, and a seven point winning margin was the outcome.
A better team would have seen them beaten.
Yet they have also shown us just how well they can play. In round one, they beat a very good Crusaders outfit, a team that no one else has even come close to beating.
But that’s just the Blues.
Their expansive style of play means that one week they could be world beaters, the next they could struggle to beat the minnows of the competition—depending on whether their passes stick or not.
Another problem is that they have too many of the same types of players.
There’s no real tactician on the team, just lots of dangerous runners who like to throw the ball around. They lack the structure to play a tight game where it is required.
This makes them one of the most dangerous sides in the competition, but also one of the most vulnerable; hence the inconsistency.
And it is this that will come back to haunt the Blues as it has done time and time again.
They have a very hard draw ahead of them and will need to maintain consistency in their form if they want to have a shot at winning the title; something they have struggled to do in recent years and are showing signs of struggling to do again this year.
Their potential is clear.
In a one-off game they would have a chance at beating any team in the competition. But unfortunately, one-off performances won’t win you a championship.
And for now, that seems to be just where the Blues are at.
Gavin Henson
Guest
johnny boy, If the Blues dont make the semis then pat is surely a gonner. what about all these NZ guys coaching top heineken cup sides in europe, there must be someone that can build a decent blues squad with all the talent in the region and nearby.
Gavin Henson
Guest
There are two somewhat separate points with the Blues IMO. 1) With the good players they have had they have still underperformed. You pick up the correct points in your article. I think the issue of similar players has improved though since utility players like lavea and nacewa have left and specialists like matthewson, Brett and Payne have been brought in. ultimate buck must stop with the coach for this surely? On that point I think Pat has gotten a bit better (tougher?) with his approach but is he yet world class? 2) The more surpising thing is that the Blues region can underperform for so long! Is there any region that has better resources anywhere in the world?!! Maybe somewhere in the highveld. The Northland, North Harbour and Auckland unions contain about a third of the population and even more of the economy of the number 1 ranked rugby country in the world. Greater Auckland city has the largest ethnic Pacific Island population in the entire world. The north has warmer weather, better transport links and has been voted as more livable than other nz cities in international publications. It has for more 'to do' than other nz cities. However the blues cant seem to attract any decent players while small town crusaders are stacked with world class non-locals. Good on the crusaders but what frankly f..ing pathetic management by the Blues leaders. If the team was a private franchise or a listed business surely the CEO would have been sacked many times over in the past 8 years. Am I wrong? The last time NZ won a RWC the Auckland province alone could have beaten any club or international team in the world with ease. You might think that is a big call but I believe they were better than the all blacks. the team won something like 50 consecutive ranfurly shield challenges over several years. INSANE. Now the Blues can't string two consecutive wins together.
Moaman
Guest
I agree Jerry-and also with Weepu likely to be gingerly finding his way back from injury near the commencement of the 3N(?),there should be space for another 9 in the squad. Personally I have reservations about Mathewson....he does need to refine his box-kicking game .IMO if the ABs take 3 halfbacks to the WC then Leonard,Mathewson & Ellis are vying for one spot.(assuming Weepu recovers).In that scenario....I'd say Ellis has the inside channel.
Jerry
Guest
Cizzy - Mathewson's already been an All Black, and Henry showed with Brendon Leonard in 2007 that he's not above bringing someone into the squad in a WC year.
The Roar
Guest
Restoring comments after outage – apologies for this issue. The Roar =============== Maximus Submitted on 2011/04/07 at 3:55 pm I agree with your comments mate. The mighty “aucks” just don’t have the tight, disciplined game that will win them hard contests in the rounds to come. Luckily they have improved immensely, and if they stick at it I think they can win the comp in 2-5 yrs from now. Goooo u BLUES!! – Comment left via The Roar’s iPhone app. Download The Roar’s iPhone App in the App Store here. =============== nathan Submitted on 2011/04/07 at 1:45 pm all the potential in the world but. McAllister at 10 is a good start, Brett is way too erratic. and pass it to Rene bro! =============== Brett McKay Submitted on 2011/04/07 at 1:40 pm Jeff, I can’t put my finger on the Blues, and haven’t been able to for years – evidenced by my tipping! They were brilliant in the first round against the Crusaders, then went quiet for a few weeks, and are suddenly looking like world beaters again. Brett and McAlister look good as a 10-12 combo, and Jared Payne as you point out has been great. Mealamu has been rock solid up front too. But it’s hard to say if this a surprise or not, they’ve promised to play like this for years… =============== EP – Rugbywits Submitted on 2011/04/07 at 10:51 am | In reply to CizzyRascal. I agree about Alby Matthewson. He is a gun player. He probably SHOULDN’T be brought in yet. NZ teams pick guys that have performed for a few years straight. He will get there. But consistency is rewarded in NZ, which is good. But I really think that if Matthewson could become a bit of a tactical leader on the field as well as skills then the team will have the ability to play a more compact game when the situation requires it. He could be the player their hopes hinge on for a few years. =============== Fog Submitted on 2011/04/07 at 10:32 am | In reply to Max. That 2003 outfit was the best super rugby team I have seen, a great pack and a superb backline. Their attack zone started on their own dead ball line. Rock and roll rugby at its best. They could also win ugly. I remember them beating the Chiefs in Hamilton with 14 men after Troy Flavell was sent off for stamping. The Crusaders have been a great, great team but nowhere near as fun to watch as the Blues at their best. The Brumbies system was very efficient but ultimately, unless you were a Brumbie fan, less satisfying. Other teams have played in a similar style – the Hurricanes and currently, the Reds, but none have won the big one. =============== ohtani’s jacket Submitted on 2011/04/07 at 9:35 am They have the same problem as many of the other NZ Super 14 sides in that they can’t restructure their attack at the breakdown when play breaks down. Instead, they try to throw the miracle ball. The try the Highlanders scored to seal their win over the Brumbies was a good example of resetting the attack through multiple phases and the Crusaders are adept at this. =============== Max Submitted on 2011/04/07 at 9:24 am By the way in the next couple of years as Gareth Anscome comes through the Blues should start to look a bit more consistent. =============== Max Submitted on 2011/04/07 at 9:23 am That last winning season in 2003 was all about the King Carlos show. Everybody in Auckland has known all along that as soon as we get a good first five we’ll be unbeatable. Brett is playing alot better this season but the jury’s still out whether he can take us to the playoffs. Anyway here’s hoping… =============== CizzyRascal Submitted on 2011/04/07 at 8:22 am Well at least they won that game against the Cheetahs, whereas maybe last term, they would have lost that. I think like you, Jared Payne has been the big difference this time around. He is like Smith for the All Blacks a calming influence in mid-field, who makes sure his team-mates don’t make too many hot-headed decisions. On the point of Matthewson, I know that Henry would not bring in a player this close to the World Cup, but I think he is the best half back in New Zealand next to Kahn Fotuali’i. Also, while you say this Blues side is inconsistent, but they have only lost one game this year and it really does take truly top teams to play at their peak, week in, week out. =============== jamesb Submitted on 2011/04/07 at 8:19 am Pat Lam was only good at Pulp Sports. =============== johnny-boy Submitted on 2011/04/07 at 8:13 am Pretenders. Pat Lam couldnt coach a bus or a greyhound.