Pressure on Nacewa to perform

Blues coach David Nucifora has asked Isa Nacewa to lead the backline when the team meet the Bulls in Auckland tomorrow. Picture / Dean Purcell

The curative demands on Isa Nacewa have moved from band-aid to tourniquet to stop the Blues bleeding.

After being used at late notice as a makeshift first five-eighths in a pre-season trial match, Nacewa has been asked to lead the backline against the Bulls tomorrow at Eden Park.

The gamble was forced on coach David Nucifora once he had criticised Tasesa Lavea's play against the Waratahs and then discovered the alternative pivot, Luke McAlister, was unfit.

The coach warned there would be selection consequences after the shabby 43-9 loss to the Waratahs but he was restricted to two sackings - Lavea and Kurtis Haiu - by a lengthy injury list.

McAlister, Doug Howlett, Steve Devine and Daniel Braid were unavailable but all, except Devine who is struggling after several head knocks, are expected to be ready for the following match.

Nucifora's challenge, though, is to deliver a side and victory tomorrow. He can no longer persist with Lavea, whose nerve had taken a bruising and he needed a break after six games.

"When any player starts to lose his confidence, it's an accumulative effect," the coach said.

"Tasesa has felt under a lot of pressure and it's obviously affecting the way that he is reading the game and playing the game on the day.

"He just needs a rest, he needs a break. I think a fresh body and a fresh pair of eyes in there seeing the game will make better decisions."

Nacewa has inherited that responsibility. He played fullback, wing and midfield for Auckland in last year's NPC but started at first five-eighths only in the Super 14 trial game against the Force this season when others were unavailable.

The 23-year-old showed some neat variation to go with his defensive strength and attacks on the line. He also kicks goals, though some of his general kicking can be variable.

Switching players from fullback to five-eighths has become more fashionable with Stephen Larkham, Mat Rogers, Leon MacDonald and Percy Montgomery some of those who have been successful.

In other alterations, Troy Flavell has returned to blindside flanker after injury, Rua Tipoki to second five-eighths and Brent Ward will play at fullback.

With Braid aggravating his hamstring twinge at training, Nucifora resisted the chance to use the squad's other specialist opensider, Onosai Tololima-Auva'a.

Instead he retained the versatile Angus Macdonald. Tololima-Auva'a had spent little time with the Blues because of Commonwealth Games duty since he replaced the injured Justin Collins.

"The guys know that they are under pressure for their positions," Nucifora said.

"It would have been nice to have a full complement of fit players to choose from but that is just the reality of it.

"You don't always have that and we just have to deal with injuries and people have to put their hand up and perform to the best of their ability."

The Bulls were consistent and there would be no surprise about their style.

They had a huge pack, kicking halves and two opportunist speedy wings.

They have had four wins against the Highlanders, Waratahs, Cheetahs and Force, with losses to the Hurricanes and Brumbies.

According to John Robbie, the former Lion turned media critic in South Africa, the Bulls had to improve their backline repertoire if they were to be semifinalists again this year.

"With the exception of the Sharks and Cheetahs on occasion, we see South African sides kicking ahead and relying on luck or a spot of brilliance to score tries," he said.

"We're not wearing down sides, working through phases, creating overlaps and hitting gaps."

* Blues v Bulls, Eden Park, tomorrow 7pm

Blues

Brent Ward
V Waqaseduadua
Anthony Tuitavake
Rua Tipoki
Joe Rokocoko
Isa Nacewa
John Senio
Nick Williams
Angus MacDonald
Troy Flavell
Ali Williams
Greg Rawlinson
John Afoa
Keven Mealamu (c)
Tony Woodcock

Bulls

Johan Roets
Akona Ndugane
J. P Nel
Dries Scholtz
Bryan Habana
Derick Hougaard
Heinie Adams
Jacques Cronje
P Wannenburg
Danie Rossouw
Victor Matfield (c)
Bakkies Botha
Andries Human
Gary Botha
Jaco Engels

Reserves:

Blues: Tim Dow, Saimone Taumoepeau, Anthony Boric, Auva'a Tololima Onosa'i, Junior Poluleuligaga, Tasesa Lavea, Ben Atiga.

Bulls: Adrian Strauss, Wessel Roux, Francois van Schouwenberg, Tim Dlulane, Fourie du Preez, Morne Steyn, Pierre Spies.