KEY POINTS:
It may have been constructed on shaky foundations but Troy Flavell believes the Blues' back-from-the-brink win over the Brumbies has set a solid base for the remainder of their Super 14 rugby campaign.
The Blues are gradually coming down from the high of last weekend's last minute 17-15
victory over the Brumbies -- a four-point reward that evidently meant plenty to the players given their reaction when Isa Nacewa nailed the match-winning conversion of Saimone Taumoepeau's try.
The entire squad swamped the pivot after the wide angled kick passed between the uprights, the reaction reminiscent of the scenes following their last Super rugby title success in 2003.
"There was a lot of hugging going around," the abrasive second rower and skipper acknowledged.
"It felt good and with that comes a lot of confidence especially for the younger guys.
"It sets us up platform-wise for the rest of the season."
Flavell was the first to admit the Blues' third successive win over the Brumbies was far from a flawless performance but the ability to keep their nerve when offered a late opportunity to salvage more than a bonus point would stand the side in good stead.
"In the 80th minute, guys managed to stay composed and show a lot of character and clinch the win. In the same circumstances last year we would probably have lost that game," he said.
"For a while there, it wasn't looking good and even though there was a bit of burglary there the guys will feed off it again this week."
Coach David Nucifora, who had particular cause to celebrate given his controversial exit from Canberra after winning the 2004 title, maintained he derived more pleasure from the team effort.
"For us to come from behind and play out the full game and have the composure to do what we did to close out that game -- that was the most satisfying thing.
"This team is starting to do things they haven't done in the past. To keep their heads, work their way back in in the last five minutes and then execute and score the try ... "
Nucifora said the coaching staff had drummed in the need for improved individual composure during the pre-season and those lessons were paying dividends.
"Composure comes with preparation," he said.
"If you believe and know what you've got to do when you're under pressure, you find it a lot easier to do it. We've worked hard on that."
However, one area he will be working harder on leading into Saturday night's third round clash with the Hurricanes in Wellington is discipline.
At one stage the penalty count was 10-2 in favour of the Brumbies and the indiscreet visitors could be thankful Julian Huxley was not his usual accurate self.
"It was a cause of concern. The number of penalties against us never let us get a rhythm in our game. We defended very well and we needed to," Nucifora admitted.
"Some of the decisions you could debate but at the end of the day (referee Jonathan) Kaplan saw them that way and we have to deal with it."
Meanwhile, Nucifora was looking forward to the clash with last year's beaten finalists, saying it represented the end point of the first stage of the campaign.
"When we looked at the draw and saw the first three (Crusaders, Brumbies, Hurricanes) we knew how difficult it was going to be.
"If we can get through Saturday night we have a string of home games.
"This is the last piece of the first block for us."
Nucifora expects to have a full complement to select from after midfielders Sam Tuitupou and Isaia Toeava were said to be recovering well from knocks sustained against the Crusaders.
- NZPA
