KEY POINTS:
It was not the way Troy Flavell envisaged his second season as Blues captain.
He had put in an extra month conditioning because he was not required at the World Cup, he was in good shape, refreshed and ready to make the most of a new series.
But
when he woke after his squad's first practice game under the experimental law changes, his foot was painful and swollen. He hadn't been too concerned after the game but after meeting the Blues medics, Flavell was soon being sent for scans and treatment.
There was no structural damage but Flavell spent several weeks in a moonboot amidst doubt whether he would recover to lead the Blues into the start of Super 14 combat.
The 31-year-old was frustrated and the coaching staff were twitchy. They had already lost the All Black locking experience of Ali Williams to the Crusaders, Greg Rawlinson to the UK, Angus Macdonald to Japan and the threat of Flavell's absence was not the news they needed before the series.
Anthony Boric, Kurtis Haiu and Bryn Evans promised in the middle row but they had L-plates on compared to their hard-nut skipper who had played more than a decade of top-class rugby.
So it was nervous times for everyone this week at the Blues headquarters as Flavell resumed running before he was given the all-clear to lead his side onto Eden Park tomorrow against the Chiefs.
"I have been biting at the bit; this series has been a long time coming and then when I had the hiccup with my foot it was not a good time," Flavell conceded.
The injury consumed his days and he did his best to hide his fluctuating emotions but it had been an ordeal.
He had not lost too much condition in his layoff, though Flavell conceded his lungs would be burning and he would be using plenty of adrenaline to get through the Super 14 opener against the Blues' old rivals.
"Mentally we have to turn up," he said. "Whoever gets their heads around this game will do the best."
The Blues have toughed it out in rugged conditioning sessions at Bethells Beach and up Mt Eden, determined that they would make up for the exodus of a core group of experienced players by at least being ultra-fit.
"It has been a heck of a summer, really hot, but that has allowed us to train under fatigue in extreme conditions and that should have us in pretty good shape for what lies ahead," Flavell explained.
In the absence of the All Blacks Cotton Wool Club last year, Flavell captained the Blues from lock. He missed one round-robin game against the Chiefs because of a groin strain but led the side in 13 other matches until their 34-18 semifinal defeat against the Sharks in Durban.
"I was jaded by then, I had played a lot of rugby and probably needed a bit of a rest. But it had been a good run, we got to the semifinals though we were running out of gas.
"We were happy with our performance and where we ended up was about fair.
"Our initial aim this season is to make the top four again and go from there."
Flavell's rugby philosophy is pretty uncomplicated. Do the basics soundly, then run and tackle harder and faster than your opponents. At 120kg he has the physique to impress and one, with the law variations, which is suited to playing lock and then roaming around the park as a ball-carrying threat.
Strong performances from the Blues skipper will be central to their fortunes. He is a follow-me style leader whose forceful character galvanised the side last season. It also thrust him into All Black contention but he is not letting his thoughts stray ahead of the Super 14 to that possibility again, not when he was bypassed for the World Cup squad after being in the domestic and Tri-Nations groups.
Flavell may not wish to discuss his All Black chances but he must be a strong contender to link up with former Blues teammate Ali Williams when the first national squad is revealed mid-year.
