Blues must focus on healing

Ali Williams

The Super 12 is now a sudden-death competition for the Blues.

They must win both remaining games against the Hurricanes and series-leading Waratahs if they are to make the playoffs.

Crucially, the Blues failed to collect any bonus points in Pretoria in their defeat by the Bulls, and slipped out of the top four.

They arrive home today with recuperation their top priority before Friday's match against the Hurricanes, who overwhelmed the Brumbies and moved into third.

At least Ali Williams will be available. In the eyes of some rugby observers that is no dividend but the Blues will welcome the lock's return from suspension for Friday's game.

They would also accept an injury reprieve for one of their halfbacks but that appears unlikely after Steve Devine damaged a shoulder and joined Dave Gibson on a lengthening damage list.

Lock Bradley Mika was another casualty in the loss to the Bulls when he retired with a medial ligament problem in his knee.

He will miss the Hurricanes match but Williams will be ready and fellow lock Greg Rawlinson is expected to be fit after being overlooked for both games on the South African tour.

Ben Meyer will have to carry on at halfback but the Blues will have to go to the pool again to find further backup from someone like Rhys Duggan or John Senio.

While Carlos Spencer's recovery from his broken cheekbone is reported to be going well it is unlikely the first five-eighths will get a medical clearance for this week.

The Hurricanes can clinch a semifinal place with a victory which would also celebrate captain Tana Umaga's 100th Super 12 appearance.

"I guess we will be up against it a bit," Blues manager Ant Strachan said. "But we have some different travel arrangements, spending some rest time in Perth, and we hope to be better rested when we get back.

"The real regret was missing out on any bonus points. We had worked really hard and to come out of the game with nothing was disappointing."

The Bulls outmuscled the Blues, had a huge height advantage in the lineouts and also outscored the visitors five tries to three where the pace of wing Bryan Habana was eye-catching.

"They played very well, they had some good rolls on, the crowd got behind them and they were hard to stop," Blues captain Xavier Rush said.

"We knew they would like to play a close game and we sort of backed ourselves that way but the Bulls were up to it and their wide defence was pretty good."

The Blues had a useful start with the impressive Isa Nacewa finishing a rollicking surge from John Afoa before Habana countered.

He supported for his opening try and then scored a solo classic from the restart when he evaded Doug Howlett, Devine and chipped Nacewa to regather and score from 65m.

The Bulls rumbled on but a converted try for Mils Muliaina took the Blues to within a point in the second half before they withered in the final quarter.

* Graham Henry yesterday dismissed an English newspaper report that Gloucester coach Dave Ellis had agreed to become the All Blacks' defensive co-ordinator for the series against the Lions.

"My job is to win," Ellis told the Sunday Times. "It would give me enormous satisfaction to be part of the team that defeats the Lions."

The newspaper said Ellis would join Mike Byrne, a skills coach with Scotland for the past two seasons, as hired help for the All Blacks.