Rugby: Blues set to square ledger with Tahs

Pat Lam. File photo / Kenny Rodger

Pat Lam and his Blues selections have yet to find a winning formula against the Waratahs.

They have been gazumped in their two duels but they sense success at Eden Park tomorrow as their stable selection meets a Tahs group who have been disrupted by injury.

"We are on a good roll and we can get better but, at the moment, the guys are performing," Lam said.

"We have put ourselves in a good position, we've had the bye, had the recovery, so now it is about performing week-in week-out now."

The Blues have lost test loosehead Tony Woodcock because of a calf injury but have reclaimed blindside flanker Jerome Kaino in a bonus get against a Tahs loose forward group without regular skipper Phil Waugh and Wycliff Palu.

But Lam is wary after losses to the visitors in both his matches in charge and a spotty Blues record going back even further.

"In this segment we have got six crucial games and each one is important and starting with this week this is a big test match for us," he said.

"We have not beaten them for a while and last year was a heart-breaker and even at Eden Park the year before it was a close loss so this is four versus five for us. On a congested table, with one loss you can end up right down the bottom."

The Waratahs have retained outgoing Wallaby Kurtley Beale at five-eighths as Berrick Barnes continues to recover from concussion, while Daniel Halangahu slots into midfield for the injured Tom Carter.

Beale confirmed he is heading for the Rebels next year with the Waratahs unwilling to get into an extended bidding war to retain the 22-year-old, who has earned 51 caps in his five-year stint.

"We're about trying to build a squad here, it's not about any one individual player, it's about being financially responsible and we've got a salary cap that we need to operate in, so that's the playing field that we work on," coach Chris Hickey said.

Teenage wing Tom Kingston will make his debut in place of the injured Atieli Pakalani, who played for Auckland last season in the ITM Cup.

Lam was precise and blunt in his game requirements.

"A win," he answered. "Performance and a win would be ideal but at the end of the day, a win."

The bye had come at a good time for the Blues. They had been able to freshen some players and get them past some niggles and Lam had noticed some high energy and excitement this week at training.

Eden Park, 7.35pm tomorrow

BLUES
Isaia Toeava
Joe Rokocoko
Jared Payne
Luke McAlister
Rene Ranger
Stephen Brett
Alby Mathewson
Peter Saili
Luke Braid
Jerome Kaino
Anthony Boric
Kurtis Haiu
John Afoa
Keven Mealamu (c)
Tevita Mailau

WARATAHS
Lachie Turner
Tom Kingston
Ryan Cross
Daniel Halangahu
Drew Mitchell
Kurtley Beale
Luke Burgess
Ben Mowen
Pat McCutcheon
Dave Dennis
Kane Douglas
Dean Mumm (c)
Sekope Kepu
Tatafu Polota-Nau
Benn Robinson

Blues: Tom McCartney, Pauliasi Manu, Filo Paulo, Chris Lowrey, Chris Smylie, Lachie Munro, Benson Stanley.

Waratahs: John Ulugia, Al Baxter, Pat O'Connor, Sitaleki Timani, Chris Allcock, Brendan McKibbin, Sosene Anesi.