Blues need more than just a playmaker
Patrick McKendry / NZ Herald
The Blues’ season has mercifully come to a close after their capitulation to a Hurricanes B team in Wellington and the need for signing a quality first-five such as Beauden Barrett has surely never been as acute as it is now.
Tough questions will always be asked when a team at this level concedes a 24-5 halftime lead, and the fact the Blues managed it against a team without No10 Barrett or fellow All Blacks Jordie Barrett, Ngani Laumape or Matt Procter, Chase Tiatia and Wes Goosen should make them a little more searching.
The visitors weren’t completely dominant in the first 40 minutes at Westpac Stadium but they were in control. That they allowed the Hurricanes to run in 24 unanswered points in the second half without firing an attacking shot themselves is evidence of a worrying fragility and lack of composure.
They are two elements that have lingered around this team for a long time, and the truth of it is the Hurricanes had nothing to play for after qualifying for a home quarter-final, and the home side’s selections reflected that. They had also just travelled home from South Africa.
The Blues blew their chance of beating a Kiwi team away from Auckland for the first time since 2014 and may never get a better one. It should have been a perfect storm in their favour, instead it was a perfect disaster.
Coming back to that lack of composure, a first-five capable of controlling a game and therefore calming those around him would have made a huge difference and it’s more evidence that they need someone like Barrett and preferably sooner rather than later.
As for what the 28-year-old two-time World Rugby player of the year thought of the Blues’ performance is anyone’s guess, but he will know the extent of the challenge ahead if he does to decide to move north. It’s huge. But he could make a tangible difference if he joins after his sabbatical next year as the Blues hope.
Leon MacDonald’s organisational skills have improved aspects of the Blues’ game. Certainly, their defence, now in former head coach Tana Umaga’s portfolio, was much improved (although not so much in the second half at Westpac Stadium) and their scrummaging and mauling was far better under new forwards coach Tom Coventry.
It was their attack which disappointed time and again, and despite a backline containing the firepower of Rieko Ioane, Melani Nanai, (the albeit mostly injured) Sonny Bill Williams, Ma’a Nonu and newcomers Tanielu Tele’a and Caleb Clarke.
Quite simply, they didn’t score enough tries, and as he surveys a future without Williams and Nonu and Beauden Barrett – the latter for another year at least – fixing that has to be a priority for MacDonald.
Associated with that is the requirement to put kill teams dead when they get the opportunity as they did on Saturday.
“It wasn’t a great result, I’ll be the first to admit that, I was disappointed with it,” MacDonald said afterwards.
“When you’re 24-5 up, there are plenty of opportunities in the second half to be able to take that game by the scruff of the neck and put them to bed, but we didn’t take them. That’s where we’ve got to be better.
“We’ve reflected a lot as a coaching group about how we can get the most influence in this group in the off-season and how we’re going to keep building on the good things we’re doing, but eliminate their mistakes and get our game understanding better so we can take control of the game.
“You don’t come into a role like this and not expect it to be difficult. It’s been difficult for a long period of time, but I’m excited about it, because when we get there, it’s going to be a great feeling.
“I’m really confident in the coaching group that we’re doing the right things. I’m confident in the core of players that we’ll take through with us and when we get to that finish line where we want to get to, it’s going to be much more special.”
This article first appeared on nzherald.co.nz and is republished with permission.
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments