Rugby: Plenty riding on Blues-Chiefs derby

Blues' halfback Alby Mathewson will be out to shadow Chiefs' counterpart Brendon Leonard. Photo / Getty Images

Nothing on it. Try telling that to halfbacks Alby Mathewson and Brendon Leonard, duelling flankers Jerome Kaino, Liam Messam and others.

The Blues-Chiefs confrontation tomorrow at Eden Park will do little to alter their modest returns this season but it will offer huge bragging rights to the victor and a final stage for fringe All Blacks to push their claims.

One missing that last dance is Chiefs No 8 Sione Lauaki, who is reported to have signed for a year with the Clermont Auvergne club in France.

The club's director of sport Jean Marc Lhermet claimed they had been following Lauaki for some time. It must have been a very bumpy journey, which may explain his comment that Lauaki's "had a remarkable Super 14 season".

Chiefs coach Ian Foster said he couldn't comment on Lauaki's reported signing because he hadn't received any confirmation about the deal.

Foster said Lauaki, who will miss the Chiefs' final match of the Super 14 season, was feeling good although his arm was still sore.

"It's been a complicated two or three weeks for him," he said.

Teammates like Aled de Malmanche and Tanerau Latimer will be on the park pushing their international causes against benchmark hooker and Blues captain Keven Mealamu and Serge Lilo.

There is no noise yet whether the All Black selectors will favour picking an understudy to skipper Richie McCaw even in a 26-man group. But if they do, Latimer has been in consistent form without having the advantage of working from a great platform this season.

The Blues are without utility back Isaia Toeava, who has been lowered by a continuing hip complaint, while a twisted knee has left Rene Ranger bracketed with Luke McAlister at centre.

The Blues result sheet could not be better balanced but the six wins and six defeats should be grim reading for the franchise and national administrators. Probably not, though, as the Blues continue to meander to the death throes of the Super 14 since their last triumph in 2003.

"We want to finish well," coach Pat Lam said as his side finished their first training since returning from South Africa.

"We wanted to get into the top four and we are not happy about it."

Lam felt the Blues had made big gains this season, they had not folded in matches as they had last year. A number of defeats could have been victories if the Blues had been sharper with their decisions and lowered their error rate.

The core of the side at No 8, halfback and first five-eighths had been strengthened and Lam felt if the bulk of the side stayed next season there would be continued growth.

Mathewson had signed to play for Auckland so he would definitely be back with the Blues while Stephen Brett also indicated he wanted another Super season up north.

The Chiefs had walloped the Blues 63-34 last year and the hosts wanted revenge for that beating. Both sides were mid-table in the competition but there was franchise pride on the line, personal reputations to be judged and "no excuses".

Widespread changes had followed the Chiefs with a new front row, a change at lock and a fresh backline in the absence of the injured or suspended Mike Delany, Stephen Donald, Callum Bruce, Richard Kahui, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Lelia Masaga, Dwayne Sweeney and Mils Muliaina.

Eden Park, 7.35pm tomorrow

BLUES
Paul Williams
Joe Rokocoko
R. Ranger/L. McAlister
Benson Stanley
Rudi Wulf
Stephen Brett
Alby Mathewson
Viliami Ma'afu
Serge Lilo
J. Kaino/P. Saili
Anthony Boric
Kurtis Haiu
John Afoa
Keven Mealamu (c)
Tony Woodcock

CHIEFS
Tim Nanai-Williams
Save Tokula
Jackson Willison
Phil Burleigh
Jason Hona
Trent Renata
Brendon Leonard
Colin Bourke
Tanerau Latimer
Liam Messam (c)
Culum Retallick
Craig Clarke
Ben Afeaki
A. de Malmanche
Tony Smith

Blues: Tom McCartney, Charlie Faumuina, Filo Paulo, Tom Chamberlain, Chris Smylie, Daniel Kirkpatrick, George Pisi.

Chiefs: Hika Elliot, Tristan Moran, Kevin O'Neill, Luke Braid, Junior Poluleuligaga, Siale Piutau, Tim Mikkelson.