Rugby: Lam keeps chain of command taut

Jerome Kaino. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Pragmatism won out over reputation for Blues coach Pat Lam as he rewarded players who have worked through the bulk of the Super 15 preparation for the side's crackling series start against the Crusaders tomorrow at Eden Park.

Skipper Keven Mealamu is the understandable exception with his slim rugby involvement since the All Blacks World Cup success. But the Blues need his experience and leadership as part of the team spine they are trying to develop.

In time, All Black halfback Piri Weepu should be in that backbone but with a late start to the year like Crusaders stalwarts Richie McCaw and Daniel Carter, and an ankle injury, Weepu had not yet reached enough fitness to start and will cover halfback and five-eighths from the bench.

Lam wants a leadership chain from front to back and as part of that philosophy has switched All Black blindside regular Jerome Kaino to No 8 to improve that command line from hooker to fullback. The men filling those roles are Mealamu, Ali Williams, Kaino, Alby Mathewson, Michael Hobbs and Isaia Toeava.

"Two years ago [Crusaders skipper] Kieran Read was playing blindside too and they moved him," Lam said.

"It is a leadership role and for me Jerome is a key guy, a leader and he played No 8 a lot for me when he first came through at Auckland and there is no problem shifting him there. I wanted some real leadership there at 2, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 15, it is good for our structure."

Strong off-season work from Mathewson and Hobbs meant they were the logical half-five-eighths combination, one which is mirrored in the Crusaders where All Black half Andy Ellis is partnered by rising five-eighths talent Tyler Bleyendaal.

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has kept All Black prop Owen Franks on the bench and the Blues will have to match that tight five impact when he is introduced.

So they will start with hooker-prop Tom McCartney at loosehead with props Tevita Mailau and Pauliasi Manu on the bench as backup.

McCartney has experience as prop but more at lower levels although his physique and fitness mean Lam has no qualms about his ability to handle the switch.

"It is his big chance to shine. In some big games last year Tom went to loosehead prop and there are not many who can do that and do it well. It is not just the scrummaging side, his conditioning, work ethic and attitude mean he can go out there."

Blackadder has also persevered with All Black fullback Israel Dagg on the wing where he will duel with David Raikuna who is the solitary Blues player making his debut tomorrow.

Hobbs and wing Rudi Wulf return to the starting lineup after injury and offshore stalled their careers with the Blues while former All Black Brad Mika has made the reserves after missing all of last season because of knee and Achilles tendon damage. Wider training group back Hadleigh Parkes is on the bench because of injuries to George Moala, Lachie Munro and Ma'a Nonu's late return from Japan.

Meeting the Crusaders, said Lam, was always difficult. They always displayed great teamwork and while the Blues won the corresponding game 24-22 last year, the Crusaders finished ahead on the points table.

"So you don't lose the series in the first week but it is always about momentum," said Lam. "Whether we catch them or not, comes down to it on the day but we are confident in what we are doing and that is most important that we go as a team."

The Crusaders would carry the emotional support of their earthquake-riven city but both sides were professional and tomorrow should be a great opener for the 2012 season.

"We are comfortable that we have ticked the boxes and now we have to go out and put it on the field on Friday night," Lam said.

BLUES
Eden Park, 7.35pm tomorrow
Isaia Toeava
David Raikuna
Rene Ranger
Benson Stanley
Rudi Wulf
Michael Hobbs
Alby Mathewson
Jerome Kaino
Daniel Braid
Chris Lowrey
Ali Williams
Anthony Boric
Charlie Faumuina
Keven Mealamu (c)
Tom McCartney
Blues: Pauliasi Manu, Tevita Mailau, Brad Mika, Luke Braid, Piri Weepu, Hadleigh Parkes, Sherwin Stowers.

CRUSADERS

Tom Marshall
Sean Maitland
Robbie Fruean
Ryan Crotty
Israel Dagg
Tyler Bleyendaal
Andy Ellis
Kieran Read (c)
Matt Todd
George Whitelock
Sam Whitelock
Tom Donnelly
Ben Franks
Q. MacDonald
Wyatt Crockett
Crusaders: Corey Flynn, Owen Franks, Luke Romano, Luke Whitelock, Willi Heinz, Adam Whitelock, Patrick Osborne.

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