Rugby: Putting Blues back in black

Stephen Brett looks to be heading to the Blues while staying with Canterbury in the Air New Zealand Cup. Photo / Getty Images

It's been a frantic week for the Blues as they desperately try to retain key players and attract others in their efforts to build a title-winning team for next season. Gregor Paul looks at four key areas where attention has been focused.

1 Securing Woodcock and Boric

After a nervous few days of waiting, the Blues have reason to celebrate, with Anthony Boric agreeing terms to stay with North Harbour.

Tony Woodcock, currently in France, has an offer on the table from Harbour that he's expected to sign on his return.

Retaining Boric and Woodcock has been a key goal for the franchise and one that became unnecessarily tense.

After both players said they wanted to stay with Harbour, the cash-strapped union said it didn't have the money to pay for two players who would barely feature.

North Harbour asked for financial assistance from the Blues to contract both players which was a little slow in coming.

While the Blues were dithering, Waikato made Boric a significant offer to transfer to Hamilton and become available for the Chiefs. The Mooloos also made Woodcock an offer, as have Wellington, who are still looking to bolster their front row options now that Jamie Mackintosh is staying with the Highlanders.

Boric had to decide whether the Blues were the right vehicle for him to fulfil his All Black aspirations. Although Waikato are understood to have tabled a better monetary offer, the issue for Boric was about which side would best push his test claims.

Injury prevented him from playing any tests this season and Issac Ross took some big steps forward. Bryn Evans is also hovering nearby and Boric needed to be sure that staying with the Blues is going to help him climb the international pecking order.

The Chiefs made this year's final and played some stunning football along the way, have a balanced squad, a proven coach and winning culture. The Blues, while loaded with potential, still lack quality in some positions and have made the playoffs only once since 2003.

His vote of confidence in the Blues and their coaching set-up is a massive boost for a franchise that has been under pressure for months.

The Chiefs, who are short of quality tight forwards, would dearly love to snare Woodcock, as would the Hurricanes.

The fact Woodcock has rival offers to consider has forced him to think about the benefits of staying with Harbour (and therefore the Blues) against what might be gained by heading elsewhere.

Woodcock's All Black place is virtually guaranteed wherever he plays his Super Rugby. He needs to decide whether he wants or needs to take on a fresh challenge. Is he prepared to relocate his family and try something different?

The chances of him staying loyal to Harbour are high and the importance of retaining both players can't be overstated.

With both men on board, the Blues have a first choice tight five of Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, John Afoa, Ali Williams and Boric. That's a platform from which they can win a championship.

2 The Brett and Mathewson Show

Alby Mathewson and Stephen Brett are likely to be unveiled as the men to solve two-thirds of the vexed 8-9-10 axis. Since Carlos Spencer and Xavier Rush left in 2005, the Blues have struggled for fluidity and cohesion from their halfbacks and No 8.

The Blues' efforts to find a top-class No 10 have been well chronicled, with Jonny Wilkinson, Juan Martin Hernandez, Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden and Mike Delany all approached.

Brett, having previously been reluctant to shift away from the over-subscribed Crusaders, is now believed to have been convinced of the merits of shifting to Auckland to play Super rugby for the Blues, then returning to play provincially for Canterbury.

The Crusaders have Dan Carter and Colin Slade as their options at first five, leaving little room for Brett. He can play at fullback or second five but, if he wants to push his claims as an international first five, he'll need to wear the No 10 jersey.

A move north will be fully endorsed by the All Black selectors, with Graham Henry saying in July that: "Obviously Dan is secure but for guys to move on in the game and see how good they're going to be, sometimes young guys when they're blocked have to make good decisions about what they do. Loyalty is one thing but it can be misplaced. They might be moved past and then it becomes too late."

Halfback Mathewson has confirmed that he's looking at playing for the Blues and is believed to have all but agreed to do so. With Piri Weepu - also targeted by Auckland - committed to the Hurricanes, Mathewson's amount of game time was uncertain.

He played more than expected this year because Weepu was used a lot at first five. However, with Cruden in the Hurricanes squad next year, Weepu will be used exclusively at halfback.

Both Mathewson and Brett have been on the edge of the All Blacks and appear to be a pairing who could connect and explode into life if they are given consistent game time.

3 Arrested Development

Much has been made of the fact that, with the biggest player base in the country, the Blues have been scouring the country to fill gaps in their squad.

Player development has been signalled as a major issue by NZRU chief executive Steve Tew, with an offer of help made.

But Auckland have moved faster than many realise on that front and revamped their selection criteria for Academy candidates three years ago.

A recent survey by the New Zealand Rugby Players Association found that Auckland have the highest percentage of Academy players enrolled at university or involved in meaningful study or employment.

Up until 2005, Auckland's schoolboy and age-grade selectors were focused on the biggest, strongest, fastest athletes. The intelligence gathered on an individual's work ethic, home life, academic achievements and character was neither detailed nor sophisticated.

The system is now more balanced in terms of the selection criteria and the players emerging through the programmes are likely to be stronger leaders and better equipped.

One of the obvious failings of the Blues in recent seasons has been that too many players have lacked good judgement under pressure and have gone missing in tough times.

While the Blues have obvious gaps now, they are hopeful that, in the next few years, their improved systems will be delivering self-reliant footballers who more easily make the step from provincial rugby to Super 14.

4 Spring Cleanout

Pat Lam, with one campaign under his belt, is now more in tune with the type of players and characters he will need to succeed.

As a consequence, it's expected there will be a major cleanout of personnel from last season. The likes of Justin Collins, Tasesa Lavea and Jimmy Gopperth have retired or moved overseas, rendering necessary changes.

But Lam is believed to be ready to ditch a few players he believes to be chronic under-performers - players who have come through the local development programmes but not quite reached the mark.

Those likely to be under threat include Jay Williams, Taniela Moa, Kurtis Haiu, Charlie Faumuina and Onosai Auva'a.

Lam can protect only 24 players and the fate of some of those under threat will be determined by how they play over the next few weeks and how successful the Blues are in attracting players from outside the region.

It is thought that, as well as Mathewson and Brett, two more players might be prepared to switch allegiance to the Blues on provincial loan-back deals.

One of the major differences between this year and last is that Lam has been afforded a greater preparation window. Last year, he was appointed to the job in June but had to stay on with Auckland until mid-August, leaving him little time to select his squad.

With more time and better knowledge of what's required to cut it in Super rugby, Lam's protected 24 may well include some surprise choices. Harbour lock James King has shown the aerial skills and mobility to be a presence at Super 14 level, while Harbour prop Mike Reid has impressed, too.