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It won't be up front where the Blues need to prove their title credentials against the Crusaders
Credit where it’s due.
The Blues weren’t just a Super Rugby also-ran for a decade or more, they weren’t even relevant.
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No, the Blues were an utter embarrassment to rugby in New Zealand and appeared completely ill-equipped to change that.
The talisman or messiah became a staple of Blues rugby. Roll out a beloved former player as head coach – no matter how unsuitable for the job or how threadbare the actual squad was – and everything will be sweet.
The public will be so distracted by all the bells, whistles and good intentions that they won’t notice what a rabble the team is.
This – let us never forget – is the franchise who signed Benji Marshall to play first five-eighth.
New Zealand Rugby eventually acted and now we’re looking at an outfit who might finish 2021 as the best side in Super Rugby. They’re certainly the most talented and all that remains is to see if they can translate that into results when it matters.
That’s long been the bulwark of the Crusaders’ success. Sure their teams have had playing ability, but their greatest achievement in knockout situations has been not beating themselves.
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Quite the opposite, in fact.
The Crusaders have long allowed you to have the ball and to enjoy some field position, all while gradually decimating your set-pieces. When you panic and are drawn into a mistake, they’ll score on the counter and that’ll be that.
You might feel as if you’ve played all the rugby and, actually, you have. It’s just that – in playing all that rugby – you’ve also made all the mistakes and the Crusaders have punished you every time.
This season has rapidly developed into a two-horse race and it would be easy to talk this Sunday at home against the Crusaders up as a chance to gauge the Blues’ title credentials. Ultimately, though, it’s not on sunny Sunday afternoons that Super Rugby champions reveal themselves.
No, they invariably emerge on cold and damp nights in Christchurch, clad in their traditional red-and-black colours.
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Sunday is still intriguing, though.
The Blues, now ably coached by Leon MacDonald, have assembled the type of squad that does win titles.
They have size and depth in the tight five, abrasive and multi-talented loose forwards, good wings and a rapidly-improving centre.
The Blues should compete with the Crusaders up front. They might even dominate.
Given that platform, it wouldn’t be a shock to see marquee men such as Hoskins Sotutu, Akira Ioane, Caleb Clarke and Rieko Ioane occasionally run rampant.
The Blues’ issues are potentially at 9, 10, 12 and 15.
Jonathan Ruru, Otere Black, Harry Plummer and Stephen Perofeta all have their moments. Each has ability, but none has proven themselves when it matters.
That’s the challenge for MacDonald this season. He’s done exceptionally well to build a battery of competent props and to coax consistent performances out of the Ioane brothers, but he knows where the big games are won.
If Ruru and Black and Plummer and Perofeta can execute their skills when it matters, then maybe even the mighty Crusaders won’t better the Blues this season.
Sunday serves up a mouth-watering taste of things to come, but it won’t be until May that we find out which of these two teams truly is the finest in the country.
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
24 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“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?
13 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.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 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.
25 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
6 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 comments