Rugby: Forceful Highlanders could put final nail in an abysmal season

Liam Coltman of the Highlanders is tackled during the round 17 Super Rugby match between the Hurricanes and the Highlanders. Photo / Getty Images

Whichever way you look at it, the Blues are limping towards one of the worst seasons in their history.

They weren't disgraced during Saturday's 34-11 loss to the Crusaders at Eden Park, despite taking the field with an extremely young team because of a terrible injury toll and coach John Kirwan's decision to select developing players rather than his strongest outfit.

But, after a bright opening 10 minutes in which they were up 6-0, there was an inevitability about the way the visitors took control.

The Blues have won only three matches this season - against the Brumbies, Force and Bulls, all at Eden Park. Their previous worst campaign was in 2012 when they won four of 16 matches.

Ominously, their next assignment is against the Highlanders who are in fifth on the table and in with a chance of overtaking the Chiefs to go fourth.

To make matters worse for the Blues, they will probably be without prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi who knocked himself out trying to tackle Dominic Bird on Saturday, plus Francis Saili and Frank Halai, the two former All Blacks not selected by Kirwan, who unfortunately for them were injured playing for their clubs.

Kirwan overlooked the pair because they are leaving for overseas clubs and neither was a certainty for Friday night's match against the Highlanders at Eden Park, but both are unlikely to be available as Midfielder Saili was concussed playing for Marist, and wing Halai injured a knee playing for Pukekohe.

The continued dysfunction of the Blues board and stalemate over Kirwan's future is likely to again be the backdrop for the team's final match of the year. It is a festering issue which, even if the Blues win on Friday, will probably qualify the season as the franchise's worst.

One individual who won't be around next year is Blues midfielder Pita Ahki, who has signed with the Hurricanes with a view to filling one of the holes left by the impending departures of Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith.