Rugby: 2009 Blues rich in talent, poor in results

Pat Lam's body language says it all in the build-up to the match tomorrow. Photo / Kenny Rodger

There's an unfortunate juxtaposition going on at the Blues - a Super 14 side defined in equal measure by talent and underachievement.

The freedom of expression on the field, which has moved through unconventional and bold phases this season, has been balanced by the stoic responses from the administrative hierarchy.

As the Blues prepared to end their frolicking, unsuccessful season tomorrow at Eden Park, inquiries to officials about the team's sorry results were met with cautious resistance.

Responses are trotted out about being fair to the Blues who have a game left against the Crusaders and not wanting to detract from that occasion. Reviews are best left until the end of the season, they claim. Well here's a pre-review.

Unless the Blues win tomorrow, their success rate this season will rival that of the dire 2001 year and will be worse than 1999 when Jed Rowlands got the blade. Even if the Blues nail their southern rivals, their winning ratio for 2009 will be below 50 per cent.

The Blues have won three titles since the professional series began in 1996 but even the most ardent supporters might struggle to recall much of the detail about the last triumph. It was seven campaigns ago, in 2003, when the Blues beat the Crusaders to take the title.

Five players remain from that campaign: Joe Rokocoko, Justin Collins, Ali Williams, Tony Woodcock and Keven Mealamu, who was reinstated as captain this season after a two-year lull.

Coach Pat Lam and his assistant Shane Howarth were promoted after their NPC successes but were unable to coax similar triumphs at the next level of rugby.

They had the best talents from three first-division unions to measure and when the selection dust settled, they had 10 All Blacks, several others who had been on national standby and some experienced other talent.

Injuries have bitten hard into the squad, such as the loss after the first game of midfielder Benson Stanley and the lengthy absence of Ali Williams, but the Blues have also had many senior players available for much of the season.

Five wins out of 12 matches has been a shabby return. Bonus points have inflated their position on the points table.

"We have not met the expectations, no," chief executive Andy Dalton said. "I think it is difficult to put it down to any one thing. I mean we have got to look at this season and there is another game to go and I am not going to go into detail about it now.

"I think there are areas we can change but I would prefer to get this game on Saturday over before we go into that detail. There are things, clearly, that despite the injuries have not been to where we would expect them. It is deeper than that."

For the season's first half, the Blues had a win-loss routine going that saw them take huge beltings from the Bulls and Chiefs. In the second half they chalked up a couple of victories before a three-game losing streak.

They have scored a sackful of tries, the most in the competition with 46, and to show they have balance in their game have conceded the same number, leaving them just adrift of the Lions, the competition's poorest defensive side.

The Blues never solved the axis problems which have afflicted the side for some years. There were always questions about some part of the directions coming from the 8, 9, 10 nerve centre, while the team's reliance on lateral play at the expense of up-the-guts forward grunt seemed to escalate as the season wobbled on.

The more they concentrated on their attacking whims, the worse their defence performed. The Blues got 10 tries in their last three games but conceded 15 tries and lost the lot.

Selection juggling occurred in the back four and loose forwards because of injury, hope, hunches and form but there was still enough clout left there and in the front five to have done more damage.

But it was the hinge between those two units which needed more oil. Jerome Kaino looked rusty and nowhere near the form of last season at No 8 while halfback Taniela Moa was too one-paced and did not challenge the defences enough. Out further, Lam decided to alternate Tasesa Lavea and Jimmy Gopperth at first five-eighths.

It seemed an unusual scheme which did nothing for team development or either player's confidence until Lavea succumbed to injury and Gopperth played on steadily.

Both are heading for the exit door and overseas contracts.

The return of Luke McAlister will bolster resources next season, but he is more suited to midfield than running a backline.

Mealamu remains a top bloke, one of the most pleasant players on the Super circuit, but he may be too nice to be captain. The Blues need more mongrel, more hardcore directors who will not smooth away poor performances.

While the New Zealand Rugby Union will carry out next month's initial review into the franchise coaching staff, the Blues board also have a significant say in the outcome when decisions are made in July. They will need to exert that influence because, purely on results, Lam and Howarth have not reached the success mark in their first Super season.

But the Blues will be reluctant to dispense with the new team and will remind the national body that the pair struggled first in the NPC before they found their rhythm.

"It is a season of frustration and disappointment, we have not met our expectations," Dalton said.

It has been ongoing since 2003. The Blues have won 40 matches since Xavier Rush held up the trophy that season. They've also lost 32 and drawn one.

WYNNE GRAY'S REMEDIES

1. BBT - BRING BACK TED
Bring Back Graham Henry. After all he was involved in the three Blues triumphs so far. As part of his All Black brief, he had several lengthy observations of the Blues this season, though none of the magic rubbed off. Get him in for the next pre-season induction course.

2. GO SHOPPING
Find a potent 9-10 combo. Scour the world, pay the dosh. In 2002 the Blues got Christian Califano, claiming (gamely) that they had few local props. Why not? The Sharks have used Frederic Michalak and Tony Brown and anyway the Blues have never had a regular first five-eighth who was born inside the region.

3. GET A RED-AND-BLACK
Steal one of the Crusaders' brains trust. One of their coaches must be susceptible to an offer to come north, to warm weather, traffic jams and unlimited coaching challenges. The Blues graciously gave them Ron Cribb, Norm Berryman, Caleb Ralph, Mose Tuiali'i and Rico Gear. Its time for the reciprocal gratuities.

4. NO SABBATICAL
Don't allow the weary and wounded, such as Ali Williams, to have a sabbatical during next year's Super series. If they want a decent rest, then spell them from the All Blacks end-of-year tour, give them 4-5 months off for rehab, mental health and reconditioning and let them loose again for the Blues in 2010.