What do the Blues need to do to show they're genuine title contenders?
A seven-year away losing streak to Kiwi opposition finally broken, three wins in a row, and Beauden Barrett now formerly into the training setup – what could possibly go wrong for the Blues?
Quite a lot, really.
This is the Blues, after all, and fans would be best suited to err on the side of caution when it comes to hyping up any genuine title aspirations just yet.
The Blues might no longer be the worst of the Kiwi sides in Super Rugby – that title must surely go to the Highlanders based on what has happened so far – but Leon MacDonald and his men are still far from being the best.
What’s exciting, however, is that the last three weeks have shown that the Blues are capable of playing some truly gutsy rugby. Led by their defence, the heart on show last weekend in Wellington was nothing short of outstanding and will leave the Blues believing that they can keep any side in Super Rugby from crossing the chalk in those pressure moments that make or break a result.
Continue reading below…
Blues sides of the past would’ve succumbed to the torrent of pressure that the Hurricanes put on, particularly at the start of each half, as was the case in the Blues’ season-opener against the Chiefs.
Since that opening game, they’ve seemingly turned a new leaf.
In the most recent example of pure pressure, three or four tries would’ve been let in during pressured moments in other Blues campaigns but last weekend, they only let in two and managed to score a few times themselves.
But let’s not kid ourselves, the Hurricanes were a shell of their former selves that night. Their leadership was non-existent and their discipline even worse.
Going back to the performances in the Republic, the Blues were indeed firing on all cylinders early against the Stormers, but they also barely scrapped themselves over the line against the Bulls, arguably the worst performing side in the comp this year, thanks to a last-minute penalty.
Whilst those moments can be truly defining for a side trying to pull itself out of the rubble, it doesn’t automatically make the Blues genuine title contenders and any talk of it should be culled immediately.
That’s not what Leon MacDonald and his players need to be hearing right now.
What the message should be to the Blues is this: nothing else matters at this point apart from keeping this streak alive through until April – because that’s when the rubber will really start to meet the road.
Players like Jared Payne, Bundee Aki and Ben Tameifuna could well have never played international rugby if NZ had been fielding this team in prior years. #AllBlacks https://t.co/yKEZOE18o7
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 10, 2020
Before then, the Blues will face off with the Brumbies after what should be a formality against the Lions this weekend.
Don’t underestimate how tough it will be for the Blues to beat the Brumbies in two weeks’ time. The Canberra-based side is a team kicking into gear in a big way and they will be relishing their opportunity to return to New Zealand and attempt to repeat what they did against the Chiefs, a feat that if achieved, would be two wins on the trot over Kiwi opposition.
Then, on April 3rd after a bye week, the Blues travel to Christchurch for their second meeting of the year with the Crusaders.
Now, if MacDonald and his men can win that, then we might be cooking with gas.
By that time, Beauden Barrett will be about to lace up the boots after confirming in a press conference this week that his first outing in Blues colours will almost certainly be in the Round 11 clash at home against the Hurricanes. The value that Barrett will add to the team as a whole will be massive when he does finally step out onto the green grass, but what of his role prior to that?
Barrett is officially in camp and training with the squad from now onwards. His existing relationships with Rieko Ioane and Patrick Tuipoloutu have time to be expanded on, but herein lies the challenge that the Blues have consistently found themselves on the losing side of in recent years: getting the processes right behind the scenes in order to get a side on the park capable of winning the big matches.
Barrett’s off-field influence on the squad must certainly be one of the key reasons why the 28-year old was desperately wanted by the Blues.
What’s true is that, right now, the Blues are a side that is humming. Talk of a greater wellbeing has come out of the camp by rugby scribes close to the action and this is something that the arrival of Barrett will only add to.
What’s required from here is results, and the only way that happens is for good decision making by the players on the park, particularly in those pressure moments.
That area of the game has been on the up and up for the Blues in recent weeks.
What will be truly interesting, if the Blues can keep their streak alive and head into the Crusaders clash still on a high, will be how their clearly improved defence can match the absolute mammoth forward pack and overall sound attacking game of the three-time-defending champs.
If we are to engage in predictions for a moment, this season is starting to slowly shape into a similar trajectory that previous ones have. Positioning yourself with the best chance possible, come the playoffs, may well depend on these kiwi sides winning the derby games played away from home – and the Blues still have three of those to come.
All that is certain right now is that the Blues winning regular matches is good for Super Rugby as a whole, but don’t be too quick to patch over the holes that still linger from the past; this is still a team far off being near what’s required to go all the way.
WATCH: Catch up on the highlights from the Blues’ win over the Hurricanes.
Comments on RugbyPass
What was the excuse for the other knockout blowouts then? Does the result not prove the Saints were just so much better? Wise call to put your eggs in one basket when you’ve got 2 comps simultaneously finishing.
28 Go to commentsReally hope Kuruvoli and his partner rock the Canes.
1 Go to commentsI wonder what impact Samson has had on their attack, as the team seems less prone to trundle it up the middle, take the tackle and then trundle it up again. I lost faith in the coach last year as the Rebelss looked like a 2nd/3rd rate South African team. I also disliked Gordon standing back, often ignored as the forward battle went on and on. Maybe its our Aussie way of not getting off our A***’s until the enemy is at the gate.
83 Go to commentsThanks for the write up. Great to see the Rebs winning, I am a little interested in how they will go against the remaining kiwi teams, I think they’ve only played Hurricanes and Highlanders but how great to see these players performing!! I also see Parling has a job beyond June 30! A good move by RA? Also how do you fix the Rebels previously scratchy defence?
83 Go to commentsbe smart - go black
13 Go to commentsNext week the Crusaders hopefully have Scott Barrett back. Will be great to have the captain back. Hopefully he will be the All Black captain as well.
12 Go to commentsExciting place to be for the young fella. I expected he was French Polynesian when I saw him included in the France 6N squad (after seeing him in NZs), and therefor be strong grounds we might loose him to rugby down here. Good, in that he is good enough to warrant such a profile, and from a journalism’s fan interaction aspect, to finally get a back ground story on the fella. Hope he has settled into NZ OK and that at least one rugby country will fit with him to help his development, which, if so, he should surely continue for a few years, and then that he can experience France to it’s fullest with a bit more maturity and less reliance on family than you would have at his current age. A good 3 or 4 years before he would be ready for International duty if he wanted to wait. Of course he already sounds good enough to accept a call up, and to cap himself, in the more immediate future (he’d have to be very very good in the case of the ABs), and he’ll get a great taste of that being with the Canes who have a bunch who are just a few years further into their career and looking likely Internationals themselves.
13 Go to commentsI remember towards the end of the original broadcasting deal for Super rugby with Newscorp that there was talk about the competition expanding to improve negotiations for more money - more content, more cash. Professional rugby was still in its infancy then and I held an opposing view that if Super rugby was a truly valuable competition then it should attract more broadcasters to bid for the rights, thereby increasing the value without needing to add more teams and games. Unfortunately since the game turned professional, the tension between club, talent and country has only grown further. I would argue we’re already at a point in time where the present is the future. The only international competitions that matter are 6N, RC and RWC. The inter-hemisphere tours are only developmental for those competitions. The games that increasingly matter more to fans, sponsors and broadcasters are between the clubs. Particularly for European fans, there are multiple competitions to follow your teams fortunes every week. SA is not Europe but competes in a single continental competition, so the travel component will always be an impediment. It was worse in the bloated days of Super rugby when teams traversed between four continents - Africa, America, Asia and Australia. The percentage of players who represent their country is less than 5% of the professional player base, so the sense of sacrifice isn’t as strong a motivation for the rest who are more focused on playing professional rugby and earning as much from their body as they can. Rugby like cricket created the conundrum it’s constantly fighting a losing battle with.
4 Go to commentsOh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on their @r$e$ one week later?
28 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
4 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
4 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
13 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
28 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to comments