Wynne Gray: Chiefs clash chance for Blues to refine Weepu's backline role

Piri Weepu's keen instincts are sometime let down by place. Photo / Greg Bowker

Opinion

The guessing game continues with Piri Weepu.

He remains on the Blues bench tonight for their meeting with the Chiefs but there has been some tinkering with the All Black's duties.

At least it seems that way.

Promising first five-eighths Gareth Anscombe has been promoted to the reserves after missing out on the substitutes list for last week's opening match against the Crusaders.

Anscombe was in the wider training group last season, at the helm in the national under-20 side at the world championship and has played two seasons for Auckland in the national provincial championship.

This week's selection suggests - unless coach Pat Lam is playing some sort of double-bluff game - that Anscombe rather than Weepu will deputise for Michael Hobbs if the No 10 is subbed.

While Weepu came on for the last half an hour to fill that role against the Crusaders, it looks as though he and Alby Mathewson will share the halfback work for tonight's game in Hamilton.

It may be a tactic to help conserve some energy on the eve of the side travelling tomorrow to Sydney as they make their way to South Africa for two matches.

Or perhaps it signals a change of thinking from the Blues coaching staff as they appraise the form of their men and consider how to make the most of their playing roster.

They have Hobbs and Anscombe who can handle five-eighths, Mathewson at halfback and Weepu who is able to cover both positions.

If they feel Hobbs has got a strong rein on running the side and is calling the right plays for the team strategies, they may feel he offers the Blues a better balance.

That would leave them to start either Mathewson or Weepu at halfback with impact from the other for the tailend of matches.

Using that rotation might also have physical benefits deeper in the season as the Super 15 wends its way towards an August conclusion.

Much will depend on how Lam, his deputy Bryce Woodward and skills coach Jeff Wilson view their backline plans.

Hobbs and Anscombe have strong allround skills and speed to threaten if they play up on the advantage line in phaseplay. Making the right plays is their challenge.

Weepu reads games strongly, has good instincts and scans the field well, although his pace may not be consistently sharp.

Coaches need to roadtest their ideas in the heat of competition rather than on the training track, they need to have options so perhaps tonight is one of those opportunities.