Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa: How Blues halfback Finlay Christie had to learn how to pass again

Finlay Christie knows all about the perils of living among giants.

For the second season in succession the diminutive Blues halfback made a late start to Super Rugby after coming off the bench in last week's loss to the Crusaders at Eden Park.
The reason for his belated appearance in the Blues' third match of the season? A nagging neck injury that has forced him to learn to pass again.

Christie first suffered the blow to his neck during a collision while playing for Tasman in 2019. Bulging discs led to numbness in his left arm, which stripped him of strength and ultimately forced him to reshape his passing action off his non-favoured side.

For any halfback, that's akin to learning to walk again.

Two years on, Christie is still dealing with the same neck issue. Two cortisone injections last year, one thus far this season, freed up his neck and arm enough for him to take the field, but these unfortunate setbacks have stunted his development and the chance to nail his spot at the Blues.

"I pulled my calf in the first preseason game which was minor but I've got a bit of a buggered neck that's been flaring up," Christie explains. "It got quite bad after Mitre 10 so I took a while to comeback.

"I had that neck injury at the start of last year so I missed the pre-Covid season and got out there after lockdown and managed to string some games together which was good."

Finlay Christie is learning how to pass again. Photo / Photosport

When he finally got on the field mid-last year Christie turned heads for the Blues. His support play, speed to the base and crisp delivery installed him as the Blues' first-choice halfback ahead of Jonathan Ruru and Sam Nock.

"If you can get quick service and be up there in support you're doing a few right things. Those are some key details in my game. I always try get quick ball to the backs, especially with the backline we've got. If you give them time and space they can be deadly."

At his best, Christie is a potential game-changer for the Blues – the closest nine they have to Aaron Smith.

The Scottish-born, Saint Kentigern schooled 25-year-old played 23 games for the Chiefs (nine) and Hurricanes (14) before joining former Tasman-turned-Blues coach Leon MacDonald in Auckland. And it's here he could truly impress – if his body allows.

"The move up here was always about opportunity. When I was at the Chiefs Tawera Kerr-Barlow was there and TJ Perenara was at the Canes so they played a lot of minutes which made it tough to get on. I was happy last year to get more minutes later in the season."

Blues halfback Finlay Christie in action against the Crusaders. Photo / Photosport

Christie's standout form for the Blues during 2020's inaugural Super Rugby Aotearoa season was duly rewarded with a spot in the South Island squad alongside All Blacks halfback Brad Weber for the North v South clash. That selection - Christie was preferred on the bench to one-test All Black Mitchell Drummond - suggested he was firmly on the national radar, only for his neck issue to force him to again start this season on the back foot.

"It was out of the blue - I wasn't expecting to be in the South squad but it was an awesome occasion to be part of," Christie said of the revived inter-island match. "It was a great experience and I took a lot away from that."

Expected to be injected off the bench against the Chiefs in Hamilton this weekend, with the more combative Ruru holding down the starting spot for now, it seems only a matter of time before Christie regains the Blues' No 9 jersey.

"It was good to be back out there last week and get 20 or so minutes off the bench, so hopefully do the same again this week and build into it. The last year-and-a-half has been good here so I'm looking forward to more games this season.

"I'm keen to try remain injury-free and push for that starting role. If I can string games together I know I can start playing consistent footy. That's my goal – get the body right and push for that nine spot."