New change in tact from Blues: 'We're not comfortable with having a good performance but losing'
Long gone are the days of the Blues simply taking positive learnings out of their matches – wins are what matter now, according to flanker Dalton Papalii.
In years gone by, when the Blues regularly struggled to get wins on the board and both players and coaches were regularly under the pump, the usual comments would be floated about how the franchise was moving in the right direction. Now that the wins are considerably more plentiful, every loss is a lost opportunity – including last weekend’s game against the Crusaders.
“In that game, we did a lot of good things and people were patting us on the back about our attitude and effort,” Papalii told Stuff in the build-up to the Blues’ rematch with the Hurricanes. “But no one likes losing and the good thing about this team is that we’re not comfortable with having a good performance but losing. When we lose, it hurts and this Blues team is onto that now.
“People were congratulating us, but it was a loss. So we’ve flushed it and started a new week, it will be a different beast this week.”
That’s a markedly different attitude than from seasons gone by where the inaugural Super 12 champions have almost been required to defend their place in the competition, given their relative lack of success.
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Now, there’s nothing left to justify. The Blues are the real deal – and they know it. Their newfound form couldn’t have come at a better time, either, because Super Rugby Aotearoa has been a step up from usual competition.
“I knew every week it was going to be like a test match,” Papalii said.
“In the normal Super Rugby competition, with teams from other countries, every game was hard, but we knew some games were going to be easier on the body. But in Super Rugby Aotearoa, every New Zealand team loves going out there and smashing into each other.
“We know it’s going to be a big game each weekend and that’s showing, the boys’ bodies are sore, but we’ve still got to go out there and do a job.”
While there’s no doubt that revenge against the Crusaders in their final round fixture will be occupying a small space at the back of every Blues players’ mind, Papalii and his teammates have three other battles to navigate before they have a shot at getting against the red and black machine.
“People are talking to us about the Crusaders game at the end of the season, but we’re not thinking about that at all,” said Papalii.
“We’ve got a Hurricanes team coming up this weekend that’s a different beast and we’ve got to tick that off to keep advancing.”
The Blues travel south to Wellington tonight with the chance to record a third victory of the year over their traditional rivals. The match kicks off at 7:05pm NZT.
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
36 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
36 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
36 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
36 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
36 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
36 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
36 Go to comments