Rugby: Casualty list gets grimmer for Blues

Pat Lam is looking for a change in attitude. Photo / Glenn Jeffrey

The grim injury news has deepened for the Blues and All Blacks with lock Anthony Boric ruled out of any rugby for the next few months.

Boric's standdown was confirmed late yesterday after an x-ray revealed he had fractured the big toe on his right foot and would need surgery to repair the damage.

"He will be in a moonboot until he sees the surgeon but from our experience he will not play any rugby for about eight to 10 weeks," team doctor Stephen Kara said.

Confirmation of Boric's injury means half the Blues' last pack has been wiped out for the visit to Wellington on Friday to take on the Hurricanes who are leading the Super 14 series.

It seemed it would have been easier for Blues coach Pat Lam to catalogue his fit players instead of contemplating a bloated injury list yesterday as the Super 14 entered its death or deliver stages.

While the Hurricanes had the luxury of pondering the best mix from their potent looseforward trio including All Blacks Rodney So'oialo and Scott Waldrom, the Blues were trying to scrape together some combination.

Lam has dipped into the Blues wider training group to come up with replacements for his battered looseforward contingent with No 8 Jerome Kaino the only survivor from the squad's original choices.

"It is not ideal but these are the challenges you have every week,"a phlegmatic Lam said. "And we have been having them every week but this is probably the biggest in one area really."

He had never seen such a looseforward injury toll from one match and lamented that would denude the Blues of a vast amount of experience. However, the injuries provide a chance for rising talent like Peter Saili, Tom Chamberlain and Dean Budd to contribute to the cause.

Looseforwards Chris Lowrey, Justin Collins and Josh Blackie were all hurt in the last match, Onosai Auva'a is on the invalid list while Kaino has been resting a tender knee but will front this week.

Boric's tournament is finished while fellow lock Ali Williams was only supposed to play half a game in his comeback against the Reds but doubled that content after Lowrey's early injury.

Tighthead prop John Afoa is still recovering from an ankle injury, halfback Chris Smylie and five eighths Tasesa Lavea will not be considered because of leg problems while Anthony Tuitavake and Williams did not train because of various strains.

The upshot is that Jimmy Gopperth will direct the backline against his old Hurricanes teammates while Lam will have to mix and match his other available players. He is also looking for a change in belief from his side.

"Something we were lacking in the weekend was excitement, a bit of attitude," he said.

The Blues' planning had remained constant through the season but the players needed to ramp up their effort as they had against the Lions and the Highlanders. They had shown their desire to win the collisions in those matches and when that occurred games could be won.

Lam did not know why his side was inconsistent, he did not have the answers. "We just have to play around and make sure we get the right team for the tactics we want to use," he said.

There was an onus on every player to be responsible for their match preparation. Strategies to combat the Reds had been on the money but the players had not implemented those plans.

"Even guys who are All Blacks have to prepare like they do when they play for the All Blacks," Lam warned. "And guys who are first time, whatever they did when they played their best games, they have to ensure they have to cover all that off. They can't take it for granted and just front up."