Rugby: Blues backs letting the side down

Luke McAlister. Photo / Getty Images

Blues or Crusaders, Crusaders or Blues - which side will collect the all-important lead in the New Zealand conference at the end of Super 15 pool play?

Both should make the playoffs, while the Highlanders are chasing hard and could yet join or overtake them. But the Blues and Crusaders hold the advantage and both will gain automatic points from a bye.

The Blues have their downtime this round, while the Crusaders rest next week before the Kiwi heavyweights settle their return showdown in Timaru on June 11.

When the dust clears and points are collated after the last pool matches on June 18, there is an initial prize to treasure.

The New Zealand, Australian and South African pool winners are each guaranteed a place in the playoffs but there is an extra incentive.

The top two qualifiers have a weekend off to prepare for semifinals on their home grounds while the remaining four qualifiers continue to duke it out.

Right now the Reds and Blues are the leading teams and would earn that extra rest before the finals.

The complicating factor is the bye. The Blues have it this week (and earn an automatic four points) and the Crusaders the week after, then every team has two matches left to play.

The Blues head into their bye in reflective mood after successive and contrasting defeats against the Reds and Stormers. They started slowly against the Reds and could not retrieve the match before leaking a flurry of late points in their loss to the Stormers.

It is time to regroup and sort out some of the erratic play before the final stretch against the Chiefs, Crusaders and Highlanders.

The backs are the main issue. The pack is standing up but injuries to Isaia Toeava and Benson Stanley have left a lack of certainty in the backline.

The Stephen Brett-Luke McAlister axis will be re-examined to decide if it is the best combination to take to the finals.

Brett is deemed to be the best organiser though his general play sometimes withers under fire, while McAlister is the goalkicker and an alternate pivot.

Meanwhile, the globetrotting Crusaders have been hit hard by injury too but are grinding out results. They were not at their best in Napier but got the goods.

This week they are off to Brisbane to play the Reds, who had a bye this round and are top of the Australian section and overall series leaders.

The Reds have only lost twice this season, both times away, to the Hurricanes and Waratahs.

The 6-30 defeat to the Tahs stands out, when the Reds were shut down up front, then squeezed and frustrated in the backs.

It is a formula which will appeal to the Crusaders coaching crew as they go through their homework and hatch plans for their visit to Suncorp Stadium. They will have noted the way the Blues' defence did not stand up early but also how effective they were in getting their game going late as well. The Reds' plan was to starve the Blues of possession and cramp their space.

Time and time again the Crusaders have shown they can play a variety of styles. They will need all those skills in Brisbane.

They have Richie McCaw and Daniel Carter back, Brad Thorn too and Sonny Bill Williams is likely to be ready after his knee problem.

It will be a huge sporting week for Brisbane with the opening State of Origin on Wednesday then the Reds-Crusaders clash on Sunday.