Rugby: Hobbs clears path to No 10

The Cheetahs are one of the weaker South African franchises and could make way for the Southern Kings. Photo / Getty Images

A tidy 50 minutes against the Highlanders which ended with a neat solo try was enough to leave Michael Hobbs as the man most likely to be handed first crack in the Blues No 10 jersey.

The 24-year-old Hobbs has battled back from what appeared to be a career-ending back problem. He missed most of last season - even flying to the US for surgery and rehabilitation. At times he thought he would never play again but now he's in a jersey where a few of the previous occupants might have had sections of Eden Park wishing they would never play again.

Of all the positions in Super Rugby, none has had such a high profile or turbulent recent history as the Blues No 10 jersey.

Carlos Spencer set a ludicrously high benchmark - playing nine highly memorable seasons. With Spencer running the show, the Blues won three titles - 1996, 1997 and 2003. Since he left for Northampton in 2005, things have turned decidedly custard-like.

Tasesa Lavea didn't have the zip and thrust required.

Isa Nacewa had his moments but was more useful in other roles. Jimmy Gopperth was never going to be more than solid while Nick Evans would agree he was never close to his best for the Blues in 2008.

Luke McAlister was better at 12 and Stephen Brett, big-hearted and occasionally classy, couldn't keep the errors out.

It's quite handy that Hobbs has been through major adversity just to claim the jersey. It is also quite handy he knows the history and expected pressure.

"I came up here as a No 10 although I can play 12 if needed there," he says. "But if you look at the make-up of our squad, Benson Stanley is a quality 12 and Ma'a Nonu is world class so it's going to be pretty tough for me to knock out either of those two. So I came up focusing on the No 10 jersey.

"Carlos left some big shoes to fill and no one has consistently held the spot since him. That's a challenge for Gareth [Anscombe], Piri [Weepu] and I - whoever goes out there - to put the boys in good positions. There is so much talent in this team that if we can do that - play in the right areas - and have good communication then we should do really well."

Coach Pat Lam felt the combination of Alby Mathewson at halfback and Hobbs at 10 worked best in 80 helter-skelter minutes at Unitec on Friday. They appeared to have an instinctive partnership and damaged the Highlanders with their ability to find space close to the breakdown.

Weepu played the second half at halfback and looked some way off top condition. He's likely to be worked off the bench over the next few weeks.

The most likely outcome is that Mathewson and Hobbs will start against the Crusaders this Friday and the Chiefs the following week.

The squad go to South Africa to play the Bulls and Stormers. They meet the Hurricanes just four days after they arrive home.