BLUES 2011
The first-ever Super 12 winners have flattered to deceive since the expansion from twelve to fourteen teams in 2006. Can an increase to 15 sides – and a fixture list including more local derbies – be a good thing or a bad thing for them?
Having won the Super 12 title in 1996 and 1997, with the likes of Sean Fitzpatrick, Zinzan Brooke, Carlos Spencer and Jonah Lomu – to name just a few – leading their charge, they had to wait until 2003 before claiming more silverware.
Since then, however, it’s been something of a slippery slope for a side boasting an overall Super Rugby win-rate of 60% (111 wins in 184 starts) – winning 72% of their home games and just 47% of their matches away from home.
They finished eighth in 2006, fourth in 2007, sixth in 2008, ninth in 2007 and seventh last year. For a playing group as talented as the Blues, those results are – quite simply – just not good enough.
They will, once again, rely heavily on veteran hooker Keven Mealamu, but the return from injury of Ali Williams (Achilles Tendon) will also be a good thing, as will back row strongman Jerome Kaino’s continued growth – having had an outstanding year-end tour of Europe last season.
Consistency, however, continues to be their Achilles’ heel – excuse the pun, Mr Williams! – and any side that boasts big names like Mealamu, Woodcock, Williams, Braid, Mathewson, Stanley, McAlister, Rokocoko, Ranger, Toeava should be finishing closer to the top of the table than the middle… or dare we say… the bottom-end.
Strengths: A potential back three of Joe Rokocoko, Rene Ranger and Isaia Toeava is enough to send the shivers down the spine of even the most miserly defensive unit. They can hurt you – and change a game – in the space of just five minutes.
Weaknesses: Consistency… or, rather, their lack thereof. Take their results last season – Lost, Won, W, L, W, L, W, L, W, L, L, W, W – those wins included a 32-17 home triumph over the defending champion (and, ultimately, the 2010 champs) Bulls, followed by a 21-33 loss to the Stormers (again at home) just seven days later. Surely that says enough?
Noteworthy acquisitions: George Stowers (wing), Luke Braid (flank), Ash Dixon (hooker), Mathew Luamanu (loose forward), Liaki Moli (lock), Toby Morland (scrumhalf), Jared Payne (fullback). Braid will add crucial openside back-up, Morland will challenge Alby Mathewson (a recent All Blacks tourist) and Chris Smylie for the No.9 shirt and Stowers – according to head coach Pat Lam – is “going to be pushing hard for a starting spot this year”.
Noteworthy losses: Paul Williams, Anthony Tuitavake, George Pisi, Rudi Wulf and Viliame Ma’afu – Tuitavake Williams (Japan), (Sale Sharks, England) and Wulf (Toulon, France) are playing abroad; robbing the Blues of even more strike-power out wide.
Coaches: Former Scotland assistant coach Pat Lam goes into the third 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 – the latter via an unbeaten run. His assistant coaches are Bryce Woodward and Liam Barry, with Mike Casey coming on board as scrum coach.
Captain: Inspirational hooker Keven Mealamu became the first Blues player to reach the magical 100-game barrier when he led his team out onto Eden Park to face the Brumbies on March 19, 2010, having surpassed former legends Carlos Spencer (96) and Doug Howlett (97) en route to becoming the most-capped Blues player of all time.
Potential bolter: A specialist openside flanker, Luke Braid is the younger brother of stalwart Daniel, who is back in New Zealand after two seasons with the Reds in Queensland. Luke was a part of the Chiefs Wider Training Group in 2009 and was promoted to the full Chiefs squad in 2010 where he earned nine caps before signing for the Blues. The 2008 IRB Junior Player of the Year, he will put big pressure on his older brother for the Blues No.7 shirt. Could veteran Ali Williams be considered a bolter after his horrific run of injuries?
2010 Position: Seventh
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)
2011 prospects: You would expect the Blues to win more than they lose… but, then again, this new conference system could work against them – given that they will play against Kiwi opposition eight times this season. They will push for an additional play-off place, but won’t top their conference.
Blues squad (in order of overall Blues appearances): Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock, Ali Williams, Daniel Braid, Joe Rokocoko, Bradley Mika, John Afoa, Jerome Kaino, Luke McAlister, Kurtis Haiu, Anthony Boric, Isaia Toeava, Benson Stanley, Tom McCartney, Chris Lowrey, Rene Ranger, Peter Saili, Chris Smylie, Tevita Mailau, Winston Stanley, Charlie Faumuina, Lachie Munro, Stephen Brett, Alby Mathewson, Filo Paulo, Sherwin Stowers, Luke Braid, Ash Dixon, Mathew Luamanu, Liaki Moli, Toby Morland, Jared Payne, Nafi Tuitavake.
Schedule:
Saturday, 19 February: v Crusaders, home
Saturday, 26 February: v Sharks, away
Saturday, 5 March: v Lions, away
Saturday, 12 March: v Force, away
Saturday, 19 March: v Hurricanes, home
Saturday, 26 March: v Chiefs, away
Saturday, 2 April: v Cheetahs, home
Saturday, 16 April: v Waratahs, home
Friday, 22 April: v Rebels, home
Friday, 29 April: v Highlanders, away
Friday, 6 May: v Hurricanes, away
Friday, 13 May: v Reds, away
Friday, 20 May: v Stormers, home
Saturday, 4 June: v Chiefs, home
Saturday, 11 June: v Crusaders, away
Friday, 17 June: v Highlanders, home
