Rugby: Blues missing Toeava's inspiration

Isaia Toeava. Photo / Greg Bowker

The serious injury to fullback Isaia Toeava is hurting the Blues more than they suspected.

His absence has reduced much of the Blues attacking thrust, defensive certainty and powerful kicking game while they are also missing his organisational command.

Coach Pat Lam yesterday spoke of how Toeava's loss had bitten into the side's framework as the squad take their bye week before they regather for their three match stretch with the Chiefs, Crusaders and Highlanders to finish the round-robin section.

"It has been our biggest problem and we will be giving the solution some more thought as we sift our ideas," he said.

Captain Keven Mealamu will only be on the bench when the Blues resume next week, taking some of the rest the All Black selectors want for their leading players.

Senior openside flanker Daniel Braid is eyeing some club rugby this weekend and prop Charlie Faumuina is pencilled in for some more as the pair eye their return from injury. There is not the same optimism that Tony Woodcock or Benson Stanley will recover from their damage.

Since Toeava reinjured his hip and went on extended medical leave, the Blues have battled past the Hurricanes and then fallen to the Reds and Stormers. They switched Jared Payne from centre for two games then used Lachie Munro at fullback in the last round.

Elsewhere the problems had eased with Rene Ranger much better while Joe Rokocoko's high workrate and defence had been strong and he was making some inroads on attack.

"We had a bit of breathing space but we have lost that now and it is now the hard way in. All that means is we need to win the three games we have left.

"We have to step up and do that and there is a bit of strategy that has to go in to do that and I want my key guys to look at it from the wide view.

"Some of it is decisions, some of it is our execution which is poor but some of the options we used against the Stormers went right against what we talked about and that is the part that is frustrating," Lam said.

Toeava's absence was a significant loss and the coach conceded he and deputies Bryce Woodward and Liam Barry needed to retune the Blues' plans for the run to the playoffs.

"The pack is producing most of the time but some of the things that we are doing, we don't have the same strikepower without Ice [Toeava]. He gave us a lot from the back in what he starts or organises but we don't have that now so we have to deal with it," Lam said.

"We have to look at the personnel, look at the strengths we've got and if anyone is coming back.

"Our strength is still in our forward pack and I thought they were outstanding against the Stormers.

"We stopped the maul except for that last one, we competed in the lineouts and gave them a lot of trouble there, we scrummed them well, we carried well but in the last couple of weeks our backs have not been as effective as they have [previously] been."

Lam said the axis of Alby Mathewson, Stephen Brett and Luke McAlister would be assessed to judge its production and whether it needed any alteration. It was great to be able to do that sort of analysis knowing the Blues would get four points for their bye this weekend.

The Crusaders had a bye left as well and their game with the Reds this weekend in Brisbane would have huge qualifying implications as the playoffs drew nearer.

"If the Reds win that gives us some breathing space and if the Crusaders win then the pressure is on us against the Chiefs when we play again. Either way we just have to win," he said.