Rugby: Blues' search heads abroad

The Blues are after young Crusaders fullback Tom Marshall for next season. Photo / Getty Images

A foreign first five, a young Crusaders fullback and the increasing likelihood that Sonny Bill Williams could sign are the next milestones for the Blues as they try to build a title-winning squad for 2012.

The missing piece in the recruitment jigsaw is at first five. Both Stephen Brett and Luke McAlister are leaving and while New Zealand under-20 first five Gareth Anscombe has been signed, the Blues feel it's too soon to ask him to run their campaign.

Ideally they would like to bring in a senior first five to mentor Anscombe - allow the youngster to make cameo appearances off the bench and be gently introduced to the explosively physical world of Super Rugby.

Aaron Cruden was approached but has rejected the advance. With Dan Carter, Colin Slade and Lima Sopoaga all committed elsewhere and Stephen Donald, Mike Delany and Matt Berquist heading offshore, there just isn't anyone who fits the bill in New Zealand.

The Blues are now searching foreign markets to see if they can persuade a big name European-based talent to take a massive pay cut.

The World Cup will boost the profile of the country and potentially increase the willingness of foreign players to give Super Rugby a try.

England flanker James Haskell has confirmed that he wants to play Super Rugby next year before he returns to his three-year contract with Wasps.

Tipped as a future England captain, Haskell's decision suggests the prospect of time down under is growing in appeal to some northern hemisphere players - particularly if they can treat it like a sabbatical.

The extra attraction of coming to the Blues is the prospect of being part of a genuine challenger and also playing alongside Ma'a Nonu and possibly Williams.

Having already lured Nonu from the Hurricanes, the Blues are confident Williams is also close to reaching agreement with the franchise which will give them the most powerful midfield in world rugby.

The Chiefs have been aggressive in their attempts to sign Williams, hoping that his close relationship with incoming technical adviser Wayne Smith will hold an irresistible pull.

But the Chiefs will be in full re-building mode next season and with no legacy of success, it's hard to see how heading to Hamilton fits with Williams' big vision of becoming the world's greatest cross-code athlete.

The Crusaders are losing faith they will keep Williams; rugby-wise the 25-year-old would prefer to stay but lifestyle-wise he's been spooked by the earthquakes. The Blues, however, strike as a team with the potential to push on from what they achieved this season.

Their run to the semifinals contained periods of class and electric rugby. At their best, they had the look of champions.

Their scrum was powered by an All Black tight five and their lineout tidy and effective, with Ali Williams close to his best aerial form, even if other parts of his game took longer to bed in. The backs had a structure and flow they haven't had for years and, when Isaia Toeava was fit, only the Crusaders could match them.

The issue was consistency - during individual games and throughout the course of the season. Concentration flagged against the Stormers and Reds - two games that would undoubtedly have been won had they not mentally drifted for 20 minute bursts in each.

The conclusion reached by coach Pat Lam is that depth has become the critical flaw the Blues need to fix. Some of the failings can be pinned on the fact the Blues didn't quite have the quality of back-up they needed to cover injuries. Lachie Munro's goalkicking was valuable but next season the Blues will be hoping to have much greater strike power available.

Rudi Wulf and Nonu are direct and upgraded replacements for Joe Rokocoko and McAlister and Williams, should he sign, would be Jared Payne with considerably more bells and whistles.

The prospect of Nonu and Williams in tandem is one few could resist. The All Blacks tried it against England last year and while they didn't gel on that occasion, with time and patience these two could become more effective than the Williams-Robbie Fruean partnership that has been so damaging for the Crusaders.

It's understood the Blues are also chasing Tom Marshall - the Crusaders fullback who stepped in magnificently to cover for the injured Israel Dagg.

"It's a given for us that we have to make the playoffs again next year," says Lam. "The depth of our squad is going to be critical. Next season is going to be longer again, going into August; we have to get our retention and our recruitment right. That is where we are focusing. We have to improve again next season."