Do you think Nucifora is being smart, thumbing his nose at Graham Henry's tactics by ignoring his returning All Blacks? Or are the Blues right to keep a "winning formula" on the field? >> Send us your views>> Read your views
KEY POINTS:
Loss of momentum and complacency. Blues captain Troy Flavell identified those twin sporting evils as the greatest snags for his side to overcome tonight against the Waratahs.
Anyone suggesting Flavell was being unnecessarily pessimistic about his second-placed side hosting the second bottom team, need only look at someof the earlier results in this year's Super 14.
Warnings for the Blues tonight at Eden Park can be displayed with the Crusaders ugly defeat against the Lions and the Hurricanes starting their current three game slump with a loss to an untidy Stormers team.
High-rollers can always stumble against the two-bit punters.
On the evidence of the series so far, the Blues should not stumble against a creaking Waratahs side who are battling on a variety of fronts. The loss of leadership and openside impact from Phil Waugh, the lack of attacking edge through midfield, the growing error rates - they all eat away at confidence.
The descending spiral of doubt delivers the high number of handling errors and turnovers which clipped the Waratahs' chances last week against the Stormers.
Once the Blues found their tempo they have been on an upward curve, mixing the basics with the inventive through the first half of the competition. They have been fortunate with injury and built a framework which was not always apparent last season,
It is a successful blend which may even persuade the Australian Rugby Union to discuss the Wallaby coaching credentials of David Nucifora, to succeed John Connolly after this year's World Cup. An off-contract Nucifora is interested but not distracted enough to lose his Super 14 focus halfway through the campaign.
His Blues team have produced much of the concentrated, organised sting which was absent last year. Flavell's leadership has added another dimension to his game and been an influential component.
He has warned about the bye interrupting the impetus developed so far. That issue has been well chewed over this week by the Blues who want to continue the 2007 record which shows no side beaten after a bye.
They also know, as deputies for the reconditioned All Blacks, that a repeat sound performance and win will continue to make it difficult for Nucifora to replace them in the next round.
One of the fascinating sub-plots in the series is that Nucifora has ignored several of his protected All Blacks in favour of those who have done the business in their absence.
Waratahs' coach Ewen McKenzie has not had that luxury or success since an opening victory against the Lions. Four losses and a draw since is a tatty record, one which threatens to worsen as the Waratahs meet their first New Zealand side tonight.
Sympathy will not run out on to Eden Park with the Blues.
They will like their chances at the set piece and driving mauls and believe they can hurt the visitors' defence through turnovers from Daniel Braid, Angus MacDonald, Jerome Kaino and co.
Backline combinations honed by matchplay has promoted the inside axis of Isa Nacewa and Luke McAlister while the evasive speed of Isaia Toeava are ingredients to test the multimillion-dollar claims of Lote Tuqiri.
And out on the wing, though his workrate rarely leaves him there, Doug Howlett will be a strong bet to score and set the record for most tries in the series' history.
The caution has come from the Blues but the warnings look headed the way of the Waratahs.
