Rugby: Ranger set for return to playoffs

Rene Ranger. Photo / Greg Bowker

Destructive Blues wing Rene Ranger is in line for a timely return to the Super 15 playoffs as goalkicking supersub Lachie Munro deals with a painful rib injury.

The Blues collected a clutch of new injuries in their elimination victory against the Waratahs, though only lock Anthony Boric's foot problem and perhaps Munro's damage will eliminate them from Saturday's knockout semifinal in Brisbane against the Reds.

"We think Ranger will be good to go after his hamstring injury," Blues coach Pat Lam said.

"He has begun running again and was building up nicely late last week to about 90 per cent capacity so we are optimistic he will be right to be involved. That would be a bonus after the run we've had."

Boric suffered a mid-foot sprain late against the Waratahs and has been ruled out of the rest of the Super 15 and his season, like the similarly afflicted Tony Woodcock, is in limbo until he undergoes specialist scans.

Utility forward Chris Lowrey will play at lock alongside Ali Williams, but the Blues are struggling to find an experienced fit lock to sit on the bench.

Left wing Munro was blindsided late in-goal, by Waratahs captain Phil Waugh, as he scored the Blues opening try before scoring four from five attempts at goal. He complained of pain after the match and is likely to have a scan on his ribs today.

Sifting the playing resources will get another inspection today with Peter Saili, Benson Stanley, Jared Payne and Joe Rokocoko all struggling with some weekend damage.

While Lam said he would love to have fullback Isaia Toeava back from his hip injury for the playoffs there was no chance for Brisbane and only an outside hope if the Blues qualified for the tournament final.

No surprises so far. The Super 15 playoffs have gone according to the ratings as the lowest qualifiers, the Sharks and Waratahs, dropped out of the 2011 title race at the weekend.

Now their conquerors, the Crusaders and Blues are staring down tournament exits unless they overcome varying levels of travel difficulties and the more fancied Stormers and Reds.

Tournament history, this year's events and squad strength suggests the Crusaders can defy the odds against the Stormers in Cape Town while the Blues will fancy a repeat chance of knobbling the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday.

"That is the beauty of this match, we get a second crack at them," Blues coach Pat Lam said yesterday.

"It will probably be a sellout at Suncorp, we were there about a month ago so we know what it is like to play there.

"This is a second chance for us, the place will be familiar and we are not going there to give them the start we did last time."

After half an hour in that match the Reds led 24-0 before the Blues clawed their way back before eventually losing 37-31.

The Crusaders have left on their trip to play the Stormers in Cape Town in search of their eighth Super rugby crown.

Meanwhile the Blues remain in Auckland tuning up their ideas in search of a shot at their fourth title. They leave for Brisbane on Thursday to play the top qualifying Reds who have made the semifinals twice but never gone any further in the history of the tournament.

The Stormers have played in three semifinals and were beaten finalists last year to the Bulls.

While the Blues are wading through their medical bulletins today, the Reds expect to have their flamboyant wing Digby Ioane and flanker Beau Robinson back from serious injury for this match.

"We have to make sure we shut down Will Genia and Quade Cooper because they are the heart and soul of that Reds team," Lam said. "There is a lot of belief in that side and that pair control a great deal of that."