Rugby: Fat lot of use on the bench

Piri Weepu had an unusually long off season after helping the All Blacks win the World Cup but now the Blues need him to regain his fitness. Photo / Getty Images

Given the Blues have made attention to detail a core part of this year's campaign, there will be some confusion and possibly annoyance among senior players that not everyone is beginning the season in prime physical order.

Chief offender is Piri Weepu who, despite having had an unusually long off season to hammer through the hard work with a view to reporting back fitter, faster and stronger, began the campaign on the bench because he's nowhere near ready to last 80 minutes.

There is a bit of the loveable rogue about Weepu - a cult figure who does things his way and justifies it all by delivering when it really matters, although he missed a match-winning drop goal for the Blues against the Crusaders on Friday.

There is a line, though, even for those whose nature wins them leniency and affection. Hailed by the Blues as a star signing with the ability to steer them to their first title in nine years, Weepu's demotion to the bench is viewed by coach Pat Lam as a fitting penance.

"A lot of these guys have had a long break and a lot of them have enjoyed themselves since the World Cup and that is fine," said Lam. "For us, we knew that [All Blacks returning in poor physical condition] was a possibility because we had everyone else [in the squad] five or six weeks before Christmas and these guys [All Blacks] were coming in late.

"So for me, it is all about competition and who performs - regardless of names and what they have done. Piri is determined to get himself into better shape and the same with some of the other guys who aren't quite there. But the acid comes on from the guys who are in good shape and performing and that is what you want."

The issue runs a little deeper, however, and not everyone in the squad will necessarily believe a stint on the bench fully addresses the situation. Attitude, desire and professionalism can be divisive issues when there is suspicion that not everyone adheres to these values as strictly as they should.

Rugby remains the ultimate team game where individuals sacrifice personal glory for collective success; there is an ethos of everyone being in it together.

An entire culture can be eroded when there is a sense of individuals doing their own thing and the World Cup All Blacks at the Blues would be within their rights to feel let down that Weepu is some way off being able to effectively use his undoubted skills and tactical vision.

He'll get there - because he always does - but there will be a level of discomfort in the meantime.

His fellow All Blacks don't want to doubt his commitment or professionalism but, at the same time, they don't particularly want to feel they are endorsing a rogue element and tacitly agreeing to a split culture where there are different rules for different players.

Adding to the fragility of the dynamic is the obvious hunger that exists within the senior playing core group to end the title drought - finally.

The Blues came close last year but have taken little solace.

A play-off spot won't be enough in 2012. The mentality this season is edgier; less forgiving and less tolerant.

As a 50-plus test All Black, Weepu has been signed to add to the culture and enhance the Blues' prospects of winning the championship.

The likes of Jerome Kaino, Keven Mealamu, Anthony Boric and Ali Williams have bled for the cause and are understandably a bit protective of what they have built these last few years.

Those who arrive anew are expected to aspire to lift, not lower standards. No one, except maybe Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett, will take much satisfaction seeing Weepu on the bench.

Hammett, without ever being explicit, clearly didn't like the culture he encountered at the Hurricanes last year.

For a man steeped in the ways of the Crusaders, the attitudes of many of the senior players troubled him.

Andrew Hore and Ma'a Nonu were identified as the biggest concerns and both were told to move elsewhere.

A shadow of sorts was cast on Weepu. It was never entirely clear whether the Hurricanes really wanted him to stay or not.

The Blues pounced and, rightly, felt they had landed a big catch.

Weepu can seamlessly switch between halfback and first five and he can kick for goal well under pressure.

He has an instinctive rugby brain and obvious tactical nous, but that aversion to training and inability to maintain his basic conditioning ... that's a problem the Blues have to fix.

Weepu has signed for only one year and, should he decide to come back, the Blues have to lay down stringent fitness benchmarks that he has to reach.

The Blues franchise is on the verge of something special - of once again being an aspirational team that kids in the greater Auckland region and Northland want to play for.

If they want it to stay that way, Weepu's conditioning needs to be confronted.