Black day haunts the Blues

In a season where there were too many blemishes, it was a ghastly imperfection. It was the game which cost the Blues their slim chance of semifinal redemption.

What made the defeat last April even worse was that it came at Eden Park, a shellacking from the Stormers which sent the visitors towards the semis and condemned the vanquished.

That 51-23 pounding hovers menacingly over the Blues as they prepare to meet the same opponents tomorrow in Cape Town.

The playoffs are out of the Stormers' grasp this season but the Blues are still nibbling away at the fringes of the leading group.

At least one victory in South Africa is necessary. The Stormers appear a more likely victim than the Bulls next round but they have been stung by some widespread criticism of their play.

They have made changes. Test centre Marius Joubert has been dropped, wing Tonderai Chavhanga whose speed damaged the Blues last year has been recalled and coach Gert Smal has been able to pick repaired No 8 Joe van Niekerk.

"They are in that dangerous state where they have nothing to lose and they are a team which can really damage anyone," Blues manager Ant Strachan said.

Certainly the Blues can speak from experience after the eight-tries-to-three mauling they took last year.

They have also arrived to showers in Cape Town, conditions which are predicted to leave Newlands soft for this round nine match.

The Blues avoided the venue yesterday for their captain's run, choosing to go a little distance up the coast for the session before returning to their hotel.

"Sometimes there is a camera or two at the local ground and as it's a dress-rehearsal for the match we just thought we would go somewhere else," Strachan added.

First five-eighths Tasesa Lavea is still a little tender from his damaged ribs and will have to pass a final medical today.

Cape Town, tomorrow 3am

STORMERS
Gaffie du Toit
Breyton Paulse
Jean de Villiers
De Wet Barry (c)
T. Chavhanga
Chris Rossouw
Bolla Conradie
Joe van Niekerk

Gerrie Britz
Luke Watson
Rob Linde
Andries Bekker
Faan Rautenbach
Hanyani Shimange
Eddie Andrews

Reserves: Pieter Dixon, Riaan Olckers, Ross Skeate, David Hendriks, Neil de Kock, Marius Joubert, Gus Theron

BLUES
Mils Muliaina
Doug Howlett
Ben Atiga
Luke McAlister
Joe Rokocoko
Tasesa Lavea
Steve Devine
Xavier Rush (c)
Daniel Braid
Jerome Kaino
Bradley Mika
A. MacDonald
John Afoa
Keven Mealamu
Tony Woodcock


Reserves: Derren Whitcombe, Saimone Taumoepau, Nick Williams, Justin Collins, Ben Meyer, Rua Tipoki, Isa Nacewa