John Hart said the Blues' failure was not coach Tana Umaga's fault.. Photo / Getty
John Hart said the Blues' failure was not coach Tana Umaga's fault.. Photo / Getty
Former All Black coach John Hart says without more support from New Zealand Rugby, the Blues will continue to struggle.
The Blues are on another run of disastrous results with their worst start to a Super Rugby season in three years.
Having lost six of eight games this season, andvictory over the Jaguares far from guaranteed, the Blues languish in second-to-last on the combined Super Rugby table.
Hart, who coached the All Blacks in the 1991 and 1999 Rugby World Cup, said that the Blues' downward spiral had become an "endemic" that the New Zealand Rugby Union had to step-up and face.
Former All Blacks coach John Hart said Auckland Rugby was to blame for the Blues' failure. Photo /Getty
"I think that New Zealand Rugby should be doing a lot more in supporting the Blues in terms of coaching and in terms of structures, because they have a huge say in the running of Super Rugby," Hart told Radio Sport Breakfast.
"I think if they're really concerned about Auckland, and the Blues, they should be doing a lot more in getting beside them and really saying 'we want to put some energy in here and some people in here that are going to make a difference.'"
Blues coach Tana Umaga has found himself in the firing line, however, Hart said that he was not to blame for the Blues' downward spiral, and instead believed it was Auckland Rugby who had sparked their continued failure.
"Things have been going wrong for seven or eight years ... You've got to go back a bit deeper, the problems in the Blues go back to Auckland Rugby, the failure of Auckland Rugby, and the failure to identify talent, develop talent, and create a culture were players want to play."
The Blues have only won two of eight games this season. Photo / Getty
"It's not just about a coach, it's about a whole structure that goes in behind, and I think that unless Auckland is successful, the Blues are always going to struggle. Auckland's failed over many years too."
Hart said that the Blues suffer a lack of culture, due to a failed unity between the franchise's provincial teams.
"What I think is missing is that the culture in the Blues has never been where Auckland, North Harbour, and Northland have been strongly together and driving toward one purpose, and that's been a failure for many years," said Hart.
"The coach is therefore not, I don't' believe, necessarily getting the right talent coming through the regions."
Hart added that the Blues - as well as Auckland Rugby - needed to replicate similar changes as those made by the Warriors this season, in order to establish proper leadership.
"If you look at the way the Blues are playing, they are just going away and making stupid mistakes at stupid times and just not seeing games out."
"If there's one thing we're starting to see in the Warriors, it's leadership, and that's probably were the Blues are lacking."
"The whole growth of leadership across a team … there's been quite an acquisition there of good leadership, and I think that's sadly one of the areas that the Blues need, a growth in their leadership."
The Blues will face the Jaguares tomorrow night at Eden Park.
