Rugby: Recycling ball is key for Lam's forwards

Blues first-five Stephen Brett. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Reds v Blues
Brisbane, 9.40, tonight

The rested or the restless - the arguments will continue until the Reds and Blues square off tonight for a place in the Super 15 final.

Both showed doses of panache and fragility when the Reds held on for their round-robin victory seven weeks ago.

The sporting ledger is balanced in assessing whether either has made strides or sunk since that contest.

Scrum advantage should sit with the Blues, whose test experience is well ahead of their forward foes. If they're to win this game, their pack has to put a tourniquet on the Reds and never slacken.

Denying the Reds quality ball from the setpiece and breakdown will limit their strikes, restrict their choices and elevate their anxiety.

Kicking the ball out is not an option because the Reds have a lineout advantage of more targets after Anthony Boric's injury absence.

So ball-in-hand, recycling and support play must be the Blues' dictums to increase the Reds' frustration.

When the Blues go to the boot, they should have dual intentions. Reds fullback Jono Lance is a rookie at this level and needs his temperament and decisions fully tested.

Up-and-unders to wings Digby Ioane or Rod Davies must have hang-time and a strong chase to take those defenders out of play instead of letting them initiate counter-attacks.

There's strike power and flair across each back four and a shade more Reds tackling certainty against the attack of Luke McAlister.

If the front and back divisions square off, the outcome will swing on the performance of each team's core. Their spine will be a telling element if they share possession and face each other strongly from the start.

Mark them down, tot up the ratings for the No 8, halfback and first five eighths. Peter Saili, Alby Mathewson and Stephen Brett against Radike Samo, Will Genia and Quade Cooper.

That doesn't suggest dominance from the Blues; equality perhaps, if all things go well, but not superiority.

Experience, authority, flair, grit, control, direction, serenity, even hairstyles - the Reds seem to have most of the bases covered in the nerve centre.

Forget the sides' histories. Neither has troubled the playoffs for a while and the only stat worth reproducing might be that home teams have dominated Super rugby finals.

Since the Crusaders won away in 2000, no side has done that in 32 matches. The Reds had last week off, the Blues toiled to victory against the Waratahs and lost lock Boric.

The Blues are in playing mode but needed some rest and panelbeating after the physical inquest from the Waratahs, while the Reds went through their training drills.

They've had two weeks to think about this match, a fortnight to dwell on their chances of becoming the first Reds side to graduate to the final.

Their predecessors tried three times, in 1996, 1999, and 2001, and each time came up short. Those facts will have been circulating in the Brisbane media this week.

What effect does that have on the Reds? Coach Ewen McKenzie has been doing his best to hose down questions and divert attention from that historical horror. But like the All Blacks and their World Cup troubles, the theme is inescapable.

If the Reds win, they'll host a full-house final at Suncorp; if it's the Blues, they'll be heading for the decider in Cape Town or Wellington.

REDS v BLUES

Reds

Jono Lance
Rod Davies
Anthony Faingaa
Ben Tapuai
Digby Ioane
Quade Cooper
Will Genia
Radike Samo
Beau Robinson
S. Higginbotham
James Horwill (c)
Rob Simmons
Greg Holmes
Saia Faingaa
Ben Daley

Reserves: James Hanson, Guy Shepherdson, Adam Wallace-Harrison, Jake Schatz, Liam Gill, Ian Prior, Will Chambers.

Blues

Jared Payne
Joe Rokocoko
Benson Stanley
Luke McAlister
Lachie Munro
Stephen Brett
Alby Mathewson
Peter Saili
Luke Braid
Jerome Kaino
Ali Williams
Chris Lowrey
John Afoa
Keven Mealamu (c)
Charlie Faumuina.

Reserves: Tom McCartney, Tevita Mailau, James King, Daniel Braid, Chris Smylie, Rene Ranger, Sherwin Stowers.