Super 14 Preview - Blues
Fellow Aucklanders, lend me your ears. This year, we are BACK! Yes, the frustrations of yesteryear … um, yesteryears … are over and we will once again take our rightful place at the top of the tree.
Perhaps I am being a tad optimistic, but there are more reasons to find the Blues improving for 2007, rather than staying stagnant or (God forbid) sliding even further backwards.
What happened last year? A tough draw, a disrupted squad through injuries, a new coach all added up to a bad start from which they did not recover. Reviewing last year, they had Justin Collins and Devine out for most of the season, while Flavell, McAlister, Braid, Atiga and Howlett were sidelined for more than a few games. That’s 7 players who will make a first-choice Blues XV. Chuck in injuries to Macdonald, Gibson and Witcombe and if you put on your rose-tinted glasses we may have a wee excuse why the Blues underachieved in 2006.
But 3 of the engine room are out thanks to Graham Henry – they won’t win enough ball, right? A reasonable point, but the starting tight 5 are all past/present All Blacks (Flavell will start at lock) – whether they deserve to be is open to debate, so I think the grunt up front will be competitive, certainly against other similarly depleted forward packs they meet in the first 7 weeks (Crusaders, Hurricanes and Highlanders). There is no disruption in the loosies and good cover, and it is the same out in the backs.
In some respects the versatile squad may be a curse – knowing who to put where. It looks like Nacewa will start at 10 and McAlister at 12 with Holwell in the stands as plan B. Good moves IMHO. Tuitavake started on the left wing in the final trial game so they may be looking to him to cover Rokocoko’s absence on gym duty. That was one dumb draft decision – letting David Smith go to the Canes. The other puzzling aspect of the squad is the lack of a back-up hooker during the first 7 weeks – planning to use prop Taumoepeau as the back-up rake. Reading that he picked up a rib injury the other day is not a great start to the season, and that needs to be watched. But that seems to be the only injury concern at the moment.
However the most exciting thing about the Blues is the lack of press about them. Can hardly find a thing, even in the Auckland Herald. That’s when its time to be worried about Auckland people, when they keep their mouths shut and spend more time on the practice paddock than getting their photo taken.
So, get past a tricky start perhaps 2 and 1 – Crusaders home and away to the Brumbies and Hurricanes – and we are on the road to glory. For the next 8 weeks after that, they have 6 home games, a Bye while the only away trip is a 60 minute jaunt down SH1 to Waikato Stadium.
There’s only one problem – the price. The only problem with the bookies using last year’s prices is the Blues are at last year’s price, $6 at the NZ TAB and about 7/1 at Betfair. It’s a little skinny – so on the off chance they drop 2 of the first 3 games – I’ll lump on them then when the rest of you think they are on their way to another disappointing season.
Prediction: 10-3 and a home semi. Possible winners. Laugh at me – go on. We’ll see who has the fatter wallet in May.
Player to watch: The weather. Their three worst performances last year (Canes – 2nd half, Tahs and Chiefs) were all in the wet. Not a team to be backing with the aqua falling.
Perhaps I am being a tad optimistic, but there are more reasons to find the Blues improving for 2007, rather than staying stagnant or (God forbid) sliding even further backwards.
What happened last year? A tough draw, a disrupted squad through injuries, a new coach all added up to a bad start from which they did not recover. Reviewing last year, they had Justin Collins and Devine out for most of the season, while Flavell, McAlister, Braid, Atiga and Howlett were sidelined for more than a few games. That’s 7 players who will make a first-choice Blues XV. Chuck in injuries to Macdonald, Gibson and Witcombe and if you put on your rose-tinted glasses we may have a wee excuse why the Blues underachieved in 2006.
But 3 of the engine room are out thanks to Graham Henry – they won’t win enough ball, right? A reasonable point, but the starting tight 5 are all past/present All Blacks (Flavell will start at lock) – whether they deserve to be is open to debate, so I think the grunt up front will be competitive, certainly against other similarly depleted forward packs they meet in the first 7 weeks (Crusaders, Hurricanes and Highlanders). There is no disruption in the loosies and good cover, and it is the same out in the backs.
In some respects the versatile squad may be a curse – knowing who to put where. It looks like Nacewa will start at 10 and McAlister at 12 with Holwell in the stands as plan B. Good moves IMHO. Tuitavake started on the left wing in the final trial game so they may be looking to him to cover Rokocoko’s absence on gym duty. That was one dumb draft decision – letting David Smith go to the Canes. The other puzzling aspect of the squad is the lack of a back-up hooker during the first 7 weeks – planning to use prop Taumoepeau as the back-up rake. Reading that he picked up a rib injury the other day is not a great start to the season, and that needs to be watched. But that seems to be the only injury concern at the moment.
However the most exciting thing about the Blues is the lack of press about them. Can hardly find a thing, even in the Auckland Herald. That’s when its time to be worried about Auckland people, when they keep their mouths shut and spend more time on the practice paddock than getting their photo taken.
So, get past a tricky start perhaps 2 and 1 – Crusaders home and away to the Brumbies and Hurricanes – and we are on the road to glory. For the next 8 weeks after that, they have 6 home games, a Bye while the only away trip is a 60 minute jaunt down SH1 to Waikato Stadium.
There’s only one problem – the price. The only problem with the bookies using last year’s prices is the Blues are at last year’s price, $6 at the NZ TAB and about 7/1 at Betfair. It’s a little skinny – so on the off chance they drop 2 of the first 3 games – I’ll lump on them then when the rest of you think they are on their way to another disappointing season.
Prediction: 10-3 and a home semi. Possible winners. Laugh at me – go on. We’ll see who has the fatter wallet in May.
Player to watch: The weather. Their three worst performances last year (Canes – 2nd half, Tahs and Chiefs) were all in the wet. Not a team to be backing with the aqua falling.
Labels: 2007S14
posted by Rob Crawford at 11:41 AM
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