Rugby: Time to reflect on the 'Meaning Of Life'

Pat Lam. Photo / Richard Robinson

Perhaps in their enduring misery, the Blues might adopt a new anthem.

Something like Always Look on the Bright Side of Life from Monty Python's Life of Brian, because after another stumble on Friday night, the Blues will nearly double their points tally this week.

In another of the peculiarities of the Super 15 series, the Blues will pick up four points for a bye this week as they ponder their frailties which have them glued to the bottom of the New Zealand conference. Their latest horror chapter against the Hurricanes has left the Blues with a miserable one win and four defeats this season and staring at their conference cronies haring off in the distance.

Blues apologists will point at the lengthening injury and suspension list for clues to the slump.

Others with a broader viewpoint will point to mediocre player scouting, erratic selections and watery discipline for the Blues' woes - a top-to-bottom franchise flaw.

Take your pick. The Blues were better than they have been against the Hurricanes, but in the washup their porous defence, lineout frailties and lack of attacking snap consigned them to another defeat.

The Hurricanes will view their 26-25 win as an Eden Park Heist, a rugby robbery helped by the Blues' inadequacies. But the Canes scored four tries to one, they hung in tenaciously while the Blues exhibited their inability to close out a game and put a chokerhold on it.

"We're going well but we've got to get our heads down, we were lucky to get a win," Canes five-eighths Beauden Barrett conceded.

Barrett drove the getaway car as he sliced through some flimsy late defence to find trailing skipper Conrad Smith with a deft offload for the fatal Hurricanes thrust.

The Blues could not comprehend their latest disaster. But when they consider they had an early 10-point lead and could only claim five more Lachie Munro penalties with their possession, they will see more of the picture.

Conceding four tries - even if a couple were fortunate - makes for a telling statistic.

Strong sides from the All Blacks down through teams like the Crusaders and Stormers have built their records on the back of unyielding defence and attitude. The Blues do not have that same unflinching carriage.

They would have had their edge dulled after returning from Africa and most of their better troops had not made that trek. There was enough impact from temporary skipper Daniel Braid, Chris Lowrey, new lock Liaki Moli and Tony Woodcock's return to bring some bite to the pack. They were strong at the scrum and breakdown, but battled with the other departments.

Behind them there was a ponderous approach. Piri Weepu was inactive at first five-eighths until he shifted into halfback, Ma'a Nonu was quiet, while Rudi Wulf was a beacon for his workrate and defence in his injury comeback.

There was further damage in the match with Alby Mathewson put into a moonboot, although x-rays have cleared him of any ankle fracture. Braid went off late with a shoulder problem, while Brad Mika suffered a poke in the eye and also had to retire.

They are all expected to recover for the side's next game against the Rebels in Melbourne on April 5 with captain Keven Mealamu likely to return from his calf injury and Rene Ranger from suspension.

Jerome Kaino and Isaia Toeava will be missing. Anthony Boric may be out as well while Luke Braid is serving his ban for punching.

Mathematically, the Blues could still give the playoffs a shake. Those convinced by that often see winged bacon on the horizon as there has been scant evidence of definitive progress.

The coaching and administrative staff will talk defiantly about picking up their game and sorting out the mess, but the damage has been done. The side's confidence and psyche has been dented as much as their progress.

Only one thing is certain about the Blues, they will get another four points at the start of July when they have their second bye.