Rugby: Blues back fitter and faster despite Christmas

Alby Mathewson is back training with the Blues. Photo / Getty Images

Pat Lam might have worried about what some of his players might be feasting on as he tucked into another helping of Christmas pudding. He needn't have fretted.

The Blues took a two-week break from pre-season training over Christmas and New Year and extensive testing showed they came back fitter and faster than when they left.

All of the players were given fitness programmes to follow over that fortnight off but they were optional. It seems his players were conscientious.

"They can say what they like [about what they ate over Christmas] but the skinfold, weight and fitness tests are the real factor," Lam said. "The really neat thing is everyone improved from when they left. You could tell straight away. We hit them pretty hard when they came back on January 5.

"When they came in, I was pleased to say no one gained any fat and when we did the fitness test, they all beat their times. It's a good sign when players go away and follow the programmes we gave them. We have a high island population in our team and I know there's always good food around that time. It's all part of the culture - God, family and food."

Lam wouldn't divulge whether the coaching staff had improved on their tests.

It means the Blues are in a good place just a month out from the start of the Super 15 season. Injuries threatened to interrupt a lot of their build-up but Lam was confident he would have a squad of 31 to choose from when they lined up against the Crusaders for their season opener at Eden Park on February 19.

No 8-lock Brad Mika needed a full knee reconstruction after seriously injuring it soon after re-signing with the Blues and won't be available until about round six. That is ahead of initial forecasts, which put him out for the first half of the season.

Lock Liaki Moli, who dislocated his shoulder in Auckland's narrow ITM Cup semifinal loss to Waikato, should be fully fit by the time the Super 15 season kicks off, as should Luke Braid, who injured his ankle in Bay of Plenty's last game of the season.

Ali Williams has played two games for Nottingham - the first 20 minutes and the second 40 minutes - in his rehabilitation from a second Achilles tendon injury. He was due to play 60 minutes this weekend before an 80-minute appearance on January 25.

Incorporating the All Blacks into the squad is part of the challenge for Lam. Alby Mathewson and Daniel Braid are already back training, while Anthony Boric, Isaia Toeava, Joe Rokocoko, Tony Woodcock and John Afoa have taken part in some sessions.

Captain Keven Mealamu has met with Lam to discuss strategies around their game plan and team culture.

The entire squad, minus Williams, is expected to assemble tomorrow but officially they will all be on deck on January 24. That is just five days before their first pre-season match against the Highlanders in Balclutha. They will also play the Hurricanes in Kerikeri on February 4 and the Chiefs in Pukekohe on February 11. The team that take on the Chiefs will be as close to the starting XV as possible.

"The easy option is to throw all your All Blacks in and go for it," Lam said, "and it's something we might do. But it all comes back to where they're at. We have to put our best side out against the Crusaders, whatever that is. That will come down to form, conditioning and fitness."