Rugby: West deserves Blues' starting spot

Ihaia West had a good 30-minute stint for the Blues on Friday as the Sharks Tendai Mtawarira.

Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby first five-eighth Ihaia West deserves a start for the Blues in Saturday night's clash against the Hurricanes in Auckland.

That's the view of his Magpies backline coach and former Blues and All Black halfback Danny Lee. While many pundits believe West has exceeded expectations in his three appearances off the bench for the Blues to date Lee, one of West's harshest critics, is expecting more of him.

"I would like to see him get more game time so he can develop his decision making at the Super level as well as his tactical kicking and ability to control things.

"He's proven he can handle the pressure goalkicking at this level as we saw with his two against the Sharks on Friday night, including one from the sideline," Lee said.

He agreed the Hurricanes match would certainly be a good one for West to start and shine in given the fact he wasn't selected by the Hurricanes, another of Lee's former teams, for this Super season.

Lee has heard talk suggesting 22-year-old Napier Boys' High School product West could be one of four, Simon Hickey, Baden Kerr and Daniel Bowden the others, battling for three Blues first five-eighth berths next year. However he is predicting Bowden, a 2010 Crusader, who is returning to New Zealand after stints in England and Japan could be used more at second five-eighth where he has played most of his rugby in England.

"I'm hoping Ihaia doesn't get injured in the next couple of months so when he returns to the Magpies he can have an ITM Cup season which will warrant a full Super Rugby contract from the start. A big ITM Cup could see Ihaia put in a situation where he can decide which Super franchise to go with which is the ideal situation."

Lee pointed out the feedback he is getting from West suggests the Blues is a good environment to be part of.

During West's 30 minute stint off the bench in the 29-23 loss to the Sharks at North Harbour Stadium he provided more spark than Hickey, provided more direction and most importantly brought more out of All Black second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu.

Blues coach Sir John Kirwan appreciated the quality lift when West took the field.

"I thought Ihaia came on and gave us something a little different," Kirwan told APNZ.

"I felt [before West came on] we were passing too far back at times and they were able to put us under pressure. I wanted to kick a little bit more behind them just to slow that line up," Kirwan added.