Rugby: Backline rethink aided by wily Fox

By Wynne Gray

If intent brings success then the Auckland Blues may have found some cure for the woes which have plagued their backline during the Super 12.

Lynchpin Carlos Spencer believes a session yesterday with acknowledged expert Grant Fox will deliver on Saturday against the Cats some answers to the try-scoring drought which has bedevilled the Blues.

Recently Fox, the master of analysis and five-eighths play had visited the squad to take them through some video and discussion sessions. But yesterday it was away from the theory and into the practice at Eden Park as Fox took the backs through manoeuvres they hope will bypass some of the suffocating defences which have held the Blues to just eight tries this season.

It was a tricky practice though as regular second five eighths Craig Innes could not train because of a foot ligament strain and Joeli Vidiri was absent because of some viral complaint.

Similar problems came in the pack with Paul Thomson still hobbling from his foot injury while Craig Dowd strained his calf muscle early in the workout - front row injuries which have disrupted plans for coping with the massive Cats' pack.

"I don't even care to think about that," said coach Jed Rowlands, who will pick his side tomorrow.

Watching all the drama was Evan Crawford, the manager of rugby development for the NZRFU who was at the ground as part of the NZRFU's annual assessment of each Super 12 squad and staff.

Not to be left out, officials from the New Zealand Sports Drug Agency turned up for some routine testing on a small group of players. It was that sort of training, all sorts of schemes were being tried.

"Grant [Fox] and I have had discussions right through the season and we have been working on a few things," Rowlands said. "Obviously much of it revolves around Carlos [Spencer] and he seemed to adjust well."

Spencer had his problems in the last game against the Hurricanes where he seemed to run out of both choices and ideas. Instead of concentrating on his basic tasks he went for more elaborate moves without much success. Backline communication and formation were the main principles stressed yesterday as methods of cracking defences.

"We were looking to help Carlos and pinpoint some simple ways we could do it. Not a lot of it is his fault but we knew we had to make it easier for him to run the backline. Factors make it difficult for a first five-eighths now and we want to get it right otherwise he is wasted."

Hearing ideas from his predecessor was a boon for Spencer.

"It is always good to hear a different voice and with Foxy it is all about experience and knowing what to do. Breaking down these defences is tough obviously because there are not as many tries being scored by most teams," said Spencer.

"So we either have to break down the defence or get outside it. It has been tough losing someone senior like Eroni who was a good general but we are getting there.

"Making the right choices is what it is all about."

* The NZRFU reports record Super 12 crowds this season with 317,860 fans watching 15 games so far in New Zealand compared to 306,993 at the same stage last year.