Nucifora remains optimistic

Highlanders 25 Blues 13

Good news was in desperately short supply for the Blues this weekend with their loss to the Highlanders putting Luke McAlister out for up to six weeks and Justin Collins for the rest of the campaign.

McAlister has a hairline fracture in his jaw and is expected to miss at least four weeks, while Collins has ruptured his Achilles and will play no further part in the Super 14.

The loss of McAlister, who was accidentally hit in a collision with Nick Evans, will leave the Blues wondering whether they are experiencing a Groundhog Day scenario.

In 2004 Carlos Spencer suffered the same injury and was ruled out of action just when the Blues most needed a spark to get them back to winning ways.

Without McAlister the Blues were guilty of lateral running and indifferent decision-making in the midfield at Carisbrook. McAlister offers a more direct approach and the occasional touch of genius to break open any defence. His absence will pile the pressure on Tasesa Lavea and Rua Tipoki to guide a backline that should be the equal of anything in the competition.

Blues coach David Nucifora reacted to the news with his usual humour, suggesting that he had indeed enjoyed more pleasurable visits to Dunedin but the Australian is still keeping his index finger well away from the panic button.

A played two, lost two record is not the one Nucifora was looking for. Yet, he still believes his side are not that far off putting in the sort of performance that will see them live up to their favourable pre-season billing.

"I think we need to be a bit more circumspect," said Nucifora. "For some reason we are pushing our attack. We are doing all the entertaining while our opponents sit back and wait for us to make a mistake.

"Our enthusiasm is actually working against us. We need to calm down a bit.

"But I think against the Highlanders we controlled possession and territory. We made all the line breaks and played most of the rugby but made some mistakes. Their tries came when we turned the ball over and our ball retention was not as good as it should have been."

The loss of Collins will be partly offset by the availability of former All Black Troy Flavell and possibly the return of Angus Macdonald.

If Macdonald is fit he is likely to slot in as a direct replacement for Collins to play the Reds in Brisbane. If he is not, then Nucifora will have to contemplate using Flavell, Kurtis Huia or Anthony Boric.

As for the Highlanders, they will be without No 8 Craig Newby who has been suspended for a week after being found guilty of a high tackle that was picked up by the citing commissioner.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY