Rugby: Assistant Woodward boosts Blues' season

Bryce Woodward has gelled with Pat Lam. Photo / Getty Images

The Blues' renaissance has been led by several characters, none more influential than assistant coach Bryce Woodward.

He arrived and suddenly the backline is playing with polish, structure, accuracy and potency - that's no coincidence. Nor is it a coincidence that head coach Pat Lam has come of age this year either.

Lam has learned the value of the stick. In his previous two seasons, he's been almost exclusively devoted to the carrot - seemingly determined to be as much a friend as a mentor to the players.

Tactically the Blues have been smarter this year. Not since Graham Henry acted as technical director in 2003 have they so thoroughly and expertly analysed opponents and devised the right tactical approach.

They gave the Highlanders no space to move in Dunedin and then on Friday night against the Hurricanes had to guts it out, defend bravely and scramble the win.

The way they played showed they have faith in their structure, belief in their strategy and, finally, the conviction to stick to it.

It's been an age since they have backed up, played consistent football and got the best out their forward pack.

The contribution of fellow assistant, Liam Barry can't be ignored either. The Blues finally have a management trio with the capability of guiding the team to the title.

That's not to say they will, but at least by the end of the season there will be no talk of wasted potential. There will, almost regardless of how the Blues fare from here, be no talk of changing the coaches.

This is a trio with longevity and Lam has relished the input of Woodward.

"First and foremost, he's a good person and I enjoy being around him," says Lam. "He's got a lot of experience as a head coach. I love talking the game with him and we are passionate about this team doing very well.

"We challenge each other and he's been an immense help to me this year and I really appreciate the relationship we have."

Lam has probably been pleasantly surprised at just how easily he has gelled with Woodward and just how much he has learned.

Woodward is a long server, a coach who has had to travel the harder road as a result of not having been a top-end player.

So many rugby administrators are dazzled by big-name former All Blacks trying to jump into coaching that historically men like Woodward have been overlooked.

The Blues took an age to get round to him despite the fact Woodward had obvious tactical appreciation and man-management skills.

Lam himself was reluctant for change in his team - not because of any dislike or lack of respect for Woodward, but because he was fiercely loyal to close friend Shane Howarth.

That loyalty became a serious source of tension between Lam and the Blues board in 2009.

Howarth, who was backs coach, reviewed badly and the board wanted change. Lam counter argued that, as head coach, he needed to have people around him he trusted.

When Howarth reviewed badly again in 2010, the board weren't going to debate it - the assistant post was advertised.

Having been friends since school, the split was hard to accept. That loyalty may have been hurting Lam, preventing him from growing and maturing.

What he has now is a more experienced wing man.

"You can have a younger guy or an older guy who don't actually respect what you do and then it is a disaster," says Lam.

"Age is irrelevant and it's more about the person and I really like him. With that there is a chance to grow and then it comes to trust and knowing that he's got my back and I have got his and these are the most important things in a coaching relationship."

The relationship will face its toughest test in the closing weeks. The Blues are in the best position they have been in for years.

They have momentum, confidence and, by June, may even have more than 20 fit bodies.

They have already completed what they called a Grand Slam - victories against the other four Kiwi franchises - and with a second win against the Hurricanes they are on track for a double.

It's in those final weeks when coaches really earn their keep.

So much comes down to the quality of their analysis, their ability to predict how opponents will play and their ability to assess where teams are vulnerable.

It's also when they have to really know their own players - be aware of who still has gas in the tank; who has the temperament and composure for pressure football.

There is every reason to believe the Blues are, at last, equally well-equipped in the management team as they are on the playing side.