Patrick McKendry: Blues up against cricket opener

New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew, left, will be at this morning's launch. Photo / Mark Mitchell

New Zealand's five Super Rugby teams will officially launch their season in Auckland this morning. All will be aware of how difficult it is going to be to win the hearts and minds of a public gearing up for the Cricket World Cup and none is likely to feel the pinch like the Blues.

The launch will be held at College Rifles Rugby Club in association with the Auckland Archery Club. How some among the Blues hierarchy must privately wish for something sharp to burst cricket's bubble.

They can't argue about the summer sport having its place in the spotlight for February and March, but there is no doubt being forced to hold the opening game against their nearest rivals the Chiefs at North Harbour on Saturday, February 14, rather than Eden Park, will hurt the franchise's bottom line.

The Blues players would prefer it to be held at their fortress, of that there can be little doubt either. Last season they lost only one match there, and that was against the Chiefs in the final round. At the Albany ground now known as QBE Stadium their record last year was played one, lost one - a disappointing 29-23 defeat to a Sharks team which had plenty of support among the crowd.

It is understood that 7000 tickets have been sold for the Chiefs game - which will be held on the same day as New Zealand's opening World Cup match against Sri Lanka in Christchurch. The franchise will be hoping for a crowd of 18,000-20,000. Their first home game last season, the blockbuster against the Crusaders in round two which they won 35-24, attracted a crowd of more than 26,000. They have a very long way to go to get anywhere near that.

Perhaps the one thing in the Blues' favour is the fact that the Chiefs match is not being held on a Friday night, with all the Harbour Bridge-related travel chaos that generally brings to the Super City.

New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew, who will be at this morning's launch, often talks about the importance of engaging with the rugby supporters in this country, more of whom seem willing to get their fix via the television rather than attending matches.

He must know, too, that it is likely to be even harder next year, when there will be a host of top players heading overseas or retiring. Making things potentially worse for New Zealand Rugby is the fact that they will have to attempt to sell a competition which will have fewer derby matches - the very things that the New Zealand public do care about - and which will have three more teams - Argentina, Japan and South African outfit the Southern Kings. Never mind slow burner - that has all the ingredients of a fizzer.

It's a big year for rugby, with the All Blacks' trip to Samoa to play their first test in the Pacific Islands and the World Cup in September and October. It's likely to have a quiet beginning, though, starting with the Crusaders against the Rebels in only 11 days time.

Fantasy Rugby
Get bragging rights over your mates with three Dream Team Super Rugby Games in 2015: Super Rugby Tipping, Fantasy Super Rugby and a chance to win a $50,000 top prize in our brand new game Super Rugby Streak.