Rugby: Pack leaders desperate to rekindle fire

Jerome Kaino. Photo / Getty Images

Introspection has been a shared theme for the Blues and Stormers as they edge towards tonight's Super 15 duel at Eden Park.

Both lead their conferences but the finals are only five games away and their runs have stalled. The Blues lost last week and the Stormers have ticked the loss column in successive matches.

The chasing groups are hovering and a further defeat tonight for the Blues or Stormers will hack even more into that one-time advantage.

The think-tanks and soul-searching have been ramped up, the Blues have sat down for group discussions with the All Black selectors this week as they search for the magic to restore their winning edge. The Wise Men offered their ideas for team and individual impetus, the evidence will be on display tonight.

The Stormers have lost a clutch of injured test stars with Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers and Peter Grant all absent from the backline while CJ van der Linde resumes in the frontrow.

They still have Gio Aplon, Conrad Jantjes and Bryan Habana, though, which means firepower from the back if they get some space.

"The Blues are playing great rugby and top their conference at the moment," Stormers coach Allister Coetzee said. "It's going to be a big game and despite the injury concerns we are focused, motivated and excited as a team."

The Blues have benched one of their All Blacks, Rene Ranger, but his impact is likely to be needed in a second-half chase for points or to shut the game down.

There is a theory the Stormers can't chase a game, that their lack of adventurous variety counts against them when they try to play catch-up. They have a clutch of rugged forwards, a physical loose trio led by Schalk Burger, the lineout lighthouse Andries Bekker and a serviceable front row.

If they get a roll on, if they get their rolling maul into gear, the Blues will need to be sharp to escape the penalising whistle of Steve Walsh.

The Blues have to turn their foes round, kick into space to leave the Stormers' defensive line uncertain whether they should rush or retreat. Step up Stephen Brett and Luke McAlister - if that duo get enough possession they have to use it profitably.

There will also be a mantra about taking the points - something Burger may rue when he looks back on several games - and an emphasis on discipline and eliminating the sort of nonsense Ali Williams brought in Brisbane.

Backline organiser Jared Payne has moved back to centre to give some more "voice" to the side while Jerome Kaino will add some gristle to the pack, where a versatile Tom McCartney should be a useful starting prop and bring some more mobility to the pack.

Defence will be a big call, though.

"We all know it was horrendous in the first 30 minutes up there [Brisbane] so there has been a concerted effort, a collective effort that we nail that and we need to," coach Pat Lam said.

Combating the breakdown and rolling maul were also two significant areas the Blues worked on this week while new faces Sherwin Stowers and Lachie Munro have been showered with testing high kicks in practice.

"It is massive for all the guys who come in, they know whether it is Sherwin or Kevvie [Mealamu], that it is an opportunity, a privilege to get out there and when you look at what happened to Kurtis [Haiu] it is an understanding that you never know when your last game is going to be," said Lam.

"It puts things into perspective. You go out there and play like it is your last game because it possibly could be."

Eden Park, tonight, 7.30

BLUES
Lachie Munro
Joe Rokocoko
Jared Payne
Luke McAlister
Sherwin Stowers
Stephen Brett
Alby Mathewson
Peter Saili
Luke Braid
Jerome Kaino
Ali Williams
Anthony Boric
John Afoa
Keven Mealamu (c)
Tom McCartney

STORMERS
Conrad Jantjes
Gio Aplon
Johann Sadie
Juan de Jongh
Bryan Habana
Lionel Cronje
Ricky Januarie
Duane Vermeulen
Francois Louw
Schalk Burger (c)
Andries Bekker
Rynhardt Elstadt
CJ van der Linde
Deon Fourie
Wicus Blaauw

Blues: Pauliasi Manu, Tevita Mailau, Chris Lowrey, Sean Polwart, Chris Smylie, Winston Stanley, Rene Ranger.

Stormers: Tiaan Liebenberg, Brok Harris, Steven Kitshoff, Anton Van Zyl, Dewaldt Duvenage, Danie Poolman, Nick Koster.