Same old Blues for Nucifora

Blues 19 Hurricanes 37


The Blues have had structure and control in their lives for the last eight weeks - except for a crucial 40-minute period at Eden Park on Friday night.

What a bummer for new Blues coach David Nucifora that his young side melted down at precisely the time he wanted them to turn the screw. The Australian has made personnel and organisational changes at the franchise but it was the same old failings that undid the Blues in their opening Super 14 match.

At 16-3 up after 40 minutes, the Blues had the Hurricanes hugging the ropes. During the break, Nucifora charged his troops with continuing their momentum to squeeze the life out of the 'Canes. Instead, they came out and fell over.

They slipped off tackles, got clumsy at the set piece and started chasing shadows. It is not possible to get away with drifting into a mental void at this level and it led to a four-try blitz in 14 minutes that enabled the Hurricanes to post a bonus-point 37-19 victory.

"It was not really acceptable to be up 16-3 and lose by that scoreline," said Nucifora. "Our control from set piece was not good enough."

Games are won and lost up front and there is no question the Blues' heavy brigade didn't deliver an 80-minute shift.

There were periods of quality when they drove the ball superbly, particularly from clean lineout takes. The aggression and body positions were first rate and if they can provide a more sustained effort, the Blues will be all right.

But the real issues appeared to lie a little further back where there was a lack of control at the base of the scrum through to the inside backs.

Angus Macdonald is a rangy, useful athlete. He is, however, still feeling his way into the No 8 role and was caught out a few times by a rampant Hurricanes back row.

With the inexperienced John Senio operating behind Macdonald, there was too much confusion in that crucial area.

Nucifora felt much of that would have been relieved if there had been more solidity from the front five. Maybe that's true but the frailty of that 8, 9, 10 axis must be addressed.

Returning Nick Williams to his more familiar role at No 8 would be a solution, while starting the more experienced Steve Devine at halfback would also bring more composure.

Serious thought also has to be given to reworking the midfield combination. It will become apparent that Luke McAlister is the dominant, creative force in the Blues backline. Against the Hurricanes, he twice brilliantly stepped past Tana Umaga.

Just like Carlos Spencer before him, McAlister makes the odd mistake but he also makes so many positive things happen around him.

Giving him the No 10 jersey would allow him to exert more of an influence on proceedings.

Tasesa Lavea enjoyed a reasonably strong game at first-five, making the decisive break to create Ben Atiga's try in the first half.

It would be hard to fault him but McAlister is an exceptional talent and has a proven combination with Harbour team-mates Rua Tipoki and Anthony Tuitavake.

Whatever combination Nucifora settles on for this week's clash against the Highlanders, it will have been made after a thorough assessment of Friday's performance.

He said: "Honesty is important and we need to be more accurate. We're all bitterly disappointed but we showed enough glimpses of good football in that first half against a good side. We have to learn from poor judgment. We know we're a better side than that."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY