The Blues escaped unscathed on the injury front from the defeat, though there was concern for Steven Luatua who left the field with what looked to be a bad shoulder injury in the first half. Those fears have since been alleviated and there is no need for Joe Edwards as a replacement.
"The doctor has reported that Steven will remain in South Africa. His left shoulder settled a lot overnight. Because he has no history of any issues with the shoulder and has good rotator cuff function, he is likely to be available for selection, although unlikely to train until Wednesday," said a Blues spokesman yesterday.
If Luatua doesn't come right, there is the option of promoting Akira Ioane to No 8, a young tyro yet to play ITM Cup who saw 10 minutes of action against the Chiefs. Or they could opt for a two-flanker game with Luke Braid and Brendan O'Connor starting. However, Luatua's presence, with Braid at No 7 and Kaino off the back of the scrum, appeals as the best balanced trio. After lock Hayden Triggs was sent off, Kaino had to fill in at second row, where he acquitted himself well, though not as prime a lineout target as Luatua. The Blues had to pack down with wings Ben Lam and Tevita Li on the side at times, but held on in the set-pieces.
Kaino acted as peacemaker in the Hayden Triggs-Duane Vermeulen fracas, but he has a lot of respect for the Springbok No 8, and congratulated him on his 100th Super game, beating him by a week.
His nine tackles against the Stormers were bettered by only the industrious O'Connor (12) and Hamish Northcott (11), and he made a couple of powerful surges, one when he was still at No 8. His 24m gained may not sound a lot, but if he can lift those numbers and force more turnovers, as he has done on the ground and in lineouts, the Blues can benefit against a Cheetahs outfit that had the bye last weekend.
Hooker Keven Mealamu should be available for selection against the Lions at Albany on March 7, where he will become the competition's most capped player, surpassing Nathan Sharpe's 162.
Jerome Kaino
• Born: April 6, 1983
• Super matches: 99
• Super debut: v Reds 2004
• Tries: 5
• All Blacks tests: 56
• ABs test debut: v Ireland 2006
• Tries: 9
Hammett not helped by Cardiff effort
Mark Hammett's murky rugby future with Cardiff Blues may be sealed overnight, but his side did not lift their game for their coach as they crashed to a 40-24 defeat to a Kiwi-laden Treviso in Guinness PRO12 rugby action over the weekend.
Cardiff, which included former Manu Samoa, Blues and North Harbour lock Filo Paulo in their line-up, languish in 10th spot, ahead of just the two struggling Italian sides.
Treviso fullback Jayden Hayward scored 20 points, including a try, for the victors, while former Blues and North Harbour No8 Matt Luamanu also crossed for a five-pointer. Former Blues loosie Dean Budd started at No7, while former Waikato five-eighths Sam Christie was in the No12 jersey.
Nick Williams' Ulster edged Grayson Hart's Edinburgh 20-17, while Hadleigh Parkes scored an important try to help Scarlets draw 25-all with Munster.
Connacht, featuring Tom McCartney and former Auckland flanker Jake Heenan, moved up to sixth with a 30-25 win away at Newport, home of the Dragons, who included former St Peter's College front-rower Boris Stankovich and Nick Crosswell at No 8.
Jimmy Gopperth's 14 points, including a try, were central to Leinster's 29-8 victory over Zebre.
In the French Top 14, Bordeaux-Begles won a mighty 28-23 victory, after being 20-9 down, over defending champions Toulon. Former Blues No 8 Peter Saili started, but it was fellow loose forward Hugh Chalmers who took the plaudits, scoring a key try and copping a yellow card.
Chalmers, a former Takapuna club lock and one-time sports journalist, may be nervously awaiting the arrival of Luke Braid in August, but these types of displays can only help his cause.
