THE BIG TACTICAL QUESTIONS
01 What do the Blues Want to be?
The question with the Blues is actually fundamental because we don’t know what sort of rugby they want to play under new coach Leon MacDonald.
Do they want to be expansive and creative? Do they want to tighten things a little more and play to a big pack that has obvious potential?
The Blues need an identifiable style – a way of playing that defines them and engages a fan base that has done it tough. And they need to stick with it for the entire season.
02 Making the Right Call at No 9
Are the Chiefs going to favour Brad Weber at halfback again ahead of the nationally higher ranked Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi?
They did last year and that worked for them...up to a point. They came off the boil at the business end of the season and maybe they needed the greater flow that Tahuriorangi creates with his Aaron Smith-style pass and run game, with Weber coming off the bench to probe the fringes harder.
03 Helping out Beauden
Can the Hurricanes do more to help Beauden Barrett manage the game? Last year, a little like the All Blacks, they seemed to throw the ball to Barrett and expect him to make something happen.
Everyone knew what was coming so defences blitzed him, shut him down and dented his confidence.
That was essentially why Ngani Laumape was dropped by the All Blacks – because they felt he didn’t do enough to help out Barrett or communicate clearly enough.
The Hurricanes have such a talented backline that they have to come up with a plan to use it better.
04 Finding the Power Play
A handful of years back it was Nemani Nadolo who gave the Crusaders bulk and presence on the wing and then for the last two years it was Seta Tamanivalu. But both have gone and for all the classy rugby the Crusaders played last year, they still needed a hit man on the flank to smash them forward and pose different questions. So how much will they miss Tamanivalu and can they create enough strategies to counter his loss?
05 Draining the Bank of All Blacks
The hardest thing for the Highlanders is avoiding draining their All Blacks. They are a different team when Aaron Smith and Ben Smith play and also when Liam Squire is on the field.
But the danger – and it happened last year – was they ran out of puff in the final stages as a result of overplaying their best men.
Can they stay in the competition while resting the likes of the Smiths, Squire, Luke Whitelock and Jackson Hemopo more than they have in previous years to ensure there is something left in the tank come June?