Rugby: Kirwan taking big gamble with Bowden at No10

Daniel Bowden is the latest in a long line of No10s. Photo / NZME.

John Kirwan's decision to replace first-five Ihaia West with Dan Bowden for tonight's match against the defending champion Waratahs could be seen as either a pragmatic move or a desperate last throw of the dice.

In reality, it's probably both. West, a good ball runner when on his game, looked promising in his debut season last year at the Blues - especially when coming into a match already in full flow. However, this season as a starting No10 he has struggled to set the agenda for a team unable to consistently break down opposition defences despite the undoubted firepower outside him in Charles Piutau, Frank Halai and Lolagi Visinia.

West's decision making is his biggest problem, something highlighted in the Blues' last loss against the Hurricanes in Palmerston North when, from an attacking scrum in the opening minutes, he chose a low-percentage option of a grubber kick behind the defence. It wasn't the obvious one and maybe that was the point of it, but the threat was too easily snuffed out and the Hurricanes quickly put enormous pressure on the Blues before the visitors began their ultimately doomed fightback.

Now it's Bowden's turn for the hot-seat, a problem position for the Blues for many years as their long-suffering supporters know only too well. When was the last time they had a world class first-five? Carlos Spencer, who played his last game for the Blues in 2005? Their rebuffed approaches to other quality No10s have now become legend - Jonny Wilkinson and Dan Carter among them.

So, Bowden, fit again after a foot injury in a pre-season match, is the latest in a long line of No10s effectively tried and discarded at the Blues. Benji Marshall, Chris Noakes and Simon Hickey were all tried last year but came up short. Baden Kerr would have been given a go too if it wasn't for some terrible luck with a hand injury which refused to settle.

One of the non-negotiable facets in winning a Super Rugby title is a world-class No10. The Blues won't win it this year after losing all five of their matches this season, but Kirwan had to try something different and he has that in Bowden, an experienced player who at 28 probably won't be too fazed by the pressure and attention, even at Sydney's Allianz Stadium.

Bowden was a very skilful and consistent performer for the Crusaders in his last stint in the competition in 2010. It remains to be seen whether he still has that talent after four years playing in England and Japan, but, whatever happens tonight, it's surely time for Kirwan to put his faith in one player and back him for the rest of the season. Kirwan won't be expecting miracles from Bowden, who will be lacking in match fitness and will probably be replaced in the second half, but Bowden must be the man now. West might be one for the future, but now isn't the time to build towards that. As skipper Jerome Kaino said this week, the Blues are playing in a results-based industry and a mid-year review which will surely decide Kirwan's future is edging ever closer.

Does a man who forced himself on to the All Blacks' radar in 2010 before moving overseas hold the key for the Blues despite a complete lack of recent game time? Kirwan dearly hopes so. It could be his final gamble.