Rugby: Plenty of talk, now Blues must deliver

The Blues' new halfback Alby Mathewson. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Pledges have been streaming out of the Blues. Coach Pat Lam and his staff have been promising a better deal, while injured lock Ali Williams is targeting a return from injury later this season.

Those who have made a habit of watching the Blues may scoff but more than 14,000 spectators have already paid to watch the outcome tonight of their opening Super 14 match against the Hurricanes at North Harbour Stadium.

Research suggests that interest is a mixture of belief, curiosity about two of the more exciting sides in the series, an absence of any worthwhile competing cricket series and a chance to see how the teams and referee Stu Dickinson will deal with the rule changes.

Any flippancy aside, this mid-summer start to the final series of Super 14 could set the tone for the New Zealand rivals. The Blues and their staff are on notice about results and the Hurricanes want to honour coach Colin Cooper's final year.

Both sides are stacked with All Blacks but it is a real guess whether they will yet be imbued with the same sort of attitude which oozes through those heading for the playoffs in May.

If the Blues can tap into the vocal venom delivered by new halfback Alby Mathewson and reproduce that fire on the field, they will give his old teammates a shake.

"Look at our team, it's stacked through with talent," he said.

"Hopefully, injuries aren't too much of an issue, but we believe we can win it."

Lam thinks the match might develop into a scoring shootout because of both sides' attacking instincts. Attitude on defence, he suggested, would make the difference.

The second-year coach said his opening selection had been anything but straightforward. A few injuries had kicked in and competition within his squad meant there was pressure on everyone to perform.

"It was particularly tough out in the back four because all those outside backs have been playing well and they are in good nick," he said.

A head knock suffered by Paul Williams had eliminated him from a couple of trainings this week so he had been the unlucky one to drop to the reserves.

Lam was sure every side had completed their theory and training work well. The next task was transferring that knowledge to North Harbour Stadium tonight in a game he expected to be more free-ranging because of the changes to ruck and scrum rulings.

He was hoping for some serious results from the new hub in his side, where Serge Lilo, Viliami Ma'afu, Mathewson and Stephen Brett were all making their Blues debut.

"That area was one where we really needed to improve and I am really pleased with the guys we have going out there," the coach said.

"We need to step up and what everyone needs to understand is that we have some great players and good teams that have been here. We need to step up to that standard and there is a responsibility that the Blues are looked at more seriously than they currently are."

Keeping the great offensive clout the Blues showed last year and ramping up their defensive qualities had been a priority.

"There are no excuses this year," said Lam.

He and his staff felt more content because they had much more time to select, prepare and plan for this campaign.

They had worked hard on the culture including the opening of an honours board to acknowledge those who had been involved in the 15 years of Blues history.