Rugby: Crusader challenge looms for Lam

The Blues' Jared Payne is tackled during their match against the Chiefs on Saturday. Photo / Richard Robinson

The free-falling Blues face a raft of losses as they contemplate their next Super Rugby clash with the competition's standard-bearers.

The Blues have fallen in three games on the bounce and will cede their conference lead if they cannot reverse that trend against the Crusaders on Saturday in Timaru.

For some time the Blues have looked in gradual decline and are reversing into the playoffs. The edge has gone in the pack, and an all-round lethargy has invaded the squad.

The chance of earning a free pass into the semifinals and the profits from a home gate look as likely as Stu Dickinson refereeing at the World Cup.

Coach Pat Lam settled on Luke McAlister to guide the Blues after their bye against the Chiefs at Eden Park.

The five-eighths kicked or shovelled the ball on and little progress was seen until Stephen Brett came from the bench for the last 10 minutes.

So where does Lam go this week with his pack, his backline pivot and other issues? Planning started yesterday, practice resumes today.

In the opening round of the revamped Super 15 in mid-February, the Blues stunned the Crusaders to turn a 19-6 deficit into victory.

They need a similar Houdini act for the repeat clash, but little they have shown in the last month suggests that will occur.

They appear to have run their race, as Jamie Joseph noted about his Highlanders. The Blues look "mentally buggered".

In patches the Blues are strong, but the cohesion has evaporated. They look inhibited.

"We quickly need to regroup, and obviously there is a big challenge ahead next week," Lam said in a master understatement.

"We have just got to get out of this. We have to make sure we get things right."

Lam promised reviews on the gameplan, performance then accountability. The version for public consumption will come on Thursday when the side is announced.

The Blues are lacking sting from fullback, five-eighths, lock and loosehead. The spine of the side at 8, 9 and 10 is stilted - the Blues are in quicksand without a shovel.

Nine wins, a loss and a draw has quickly spread to nine, four and a draw. The disease is spreading and there appears no cure.

Isaia Toeava, Daniel Braid and Tony Woodcock cannot don rescue robes this week in Timaru; a similar selection must find the cure.

Regular captain Keven Mealamu and Charlie Faumuina returning into the frontrow will help. They will rise to the inquisition from the Crusaders pack. But what of the backline? More rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic?

If they push their best back, Jared Payne, to fullback, they will lose his incision and voice at centre. However that may have to occur.

Brett is variable but he remains the best available option at first five-eighths to shunt McAlister and Benson Stanley into midfield for the confrontation with SBW and Robbie Fruean.

It was hard enough to believe the Blues beat the Crusaders in round one when Ranger was on fire for the comeback capped by Mealamu's late try.

It is even more difficult to see them clawing their way out of their current rut and on to the winner's rostrum again this weekend.

The Crusaders look like a side which could win the series. They carry that aura and authority. The Blues look like a side making up the numbers and anxious about their work.

That spells just one result on Saturday - but just remember February 19 at Eden Park and remember the Highlanders beat the Crusaders and the Cheetahs achieved the same feat.