KEY POINTS:
Blues coach David Nucifora's trip down the motorway turned up menacing new information about his old mates.
The Brumbies had sharpened their game in the opening round of the Super 14 and, in his opinion, were clearly better than the Chiefs, although there was a mere six-point margin
in the final score.
"And unfortunately for us in our next game, the Brumbies are generally worth a 10-point start when they play at home," the coach said.
"They showed that unless you win the initial contest with them you are going to be in trouble when they get into their rhythm.
"They played with a lot of speed, a fair bit of width and were physical and got the better of the Chiefs' forwards - they did not have anywhere to go."
The Brumbies used the long kicking game of Julian Huxley to great effect before they chose to attack. While Stephen Larkham would return this week as the Brumbies' first five-eighths, Huxley was likely to be retained somewhere because of Mark Gerrard's knee injury.
Nucifora chose to watch the game in Hamilton live to get a better handle on the team pattern, some of the newer brigade and those who still remain from his three-year stint as Brumbies coach.
"The Brumbies started very crisply and I thought the Chiefs were hanging on, much like I thought was happening to the Crusaders on Friday. I thought both the Brumbies and us were unlucky not to win by more," Nucifora said of the first-round winners.
Medical checks today on Blues midfielders Isaia Toeava and Sam Tuitupou would help decide their availability for Saturday's game in Canberra. Toeava is to have a scan on his injured shoulder today and Tuitupou will have a further assessment on his knee problem to see if either can leave with the side on Wednesday.
But it was apparent the successful start for Isa Nacewa at first five-eighths would be continued after his strong performance in the 34-25 victory against the Crusaders. "He controlled the game well and his decision-making was good," Nucifora said.
"When things are not quite right he takes responsibility for carrying the ball or making things happen. He has worked hard on his game and showed those benefits," the coach said.
There was some frustration about players lying around the ball at the tackled-ball area, an issue which drew a yellow card for captain Troy Flavell when referee Paul Honiss ruled he had stomped a rival forward.
"I mean, what do you do?" Nucifora said in his captain's defence.
"We have been in trouble before, obviously, and it has been against the Crusaders before as other teams have found. The team that gets in trouble does so for putting their boots on them and yet you feel you need the referee to help you out. If you are not going to be able to put boots on them what are you to do?
"These days most blokes are well over 100kg and when they are lying down there is no other way to move them. You can't clean someone out when they are that low to the ground or on the ground, so you have to leave it up to the referee if you can't use your feet on them," Nucifora said.
"Otherwise if there is that sort of [Flavell] treatment for everyone who puts a boot on someone, there will be a lot more people spending time in the sinbin this year."
