Blues get tight for defining fortnight
This is the part of the season Blues skipper James Parsons really likes. The 5.30am airport musters, the long hauls, short turnarounds and season-defining games. The junctures that separate the pretenders from the contenders.
That’s exactly the period the Blues (6-5, 31pts), riding a threegame Super Rugby win streak after Friday’s 50-32 home demolition of the Cheetahs, enter now as they head into a challenging two-match stand that will not only test their staying power, but define their season.
After dragging sore bodies to Auckland Airport in the early hours yesterday, Tana Umaga and his men (minus crocked prop Pauliasi Manu and five-eighth Ihaia West, but with Sonny Bill Williams cleared of his concussion issues) flew for Cape Town where they will meet the Stormers early on Saturday, NZT, in the first of two matches that could make or break their season.
Then they’ll make another mad dash to return to New Zealand to host the Chiefs back at Eden Park less than seven days later, on Friday, May 26. They may well have to win both matches to stay in the playoff hunt as they seek to haul in the Highlanders for the final post-season spot out of the New Zealand conference.
‘‘I think it’s good for us,’’ said an upbeat Parsons after the eight-try dismantling of the Cheetahs.
‘‘We really like travelling because we’re tight together and we don’t separate. We don’t go home, we’re with each other. We’re talking rugby all the time, we’re thinking and analysing and we’re also having fun together outside of footy.
‘‘That’s massive for this group and it’s showing on the field. We had a great two weeks in Aussie, got the results and we’ve come back here at home and we weren’t as clinical as we’d like defensively but attack wise we showed we can score points.
‘‘We’re looking forward to the challenge. It’s week by week for us. We’ve got to get past the Stormers, then we can focus on the Chiefs back here at home.’’
After conceding three of the Cheetahs’ four tries via the lineoutdrive route, the Blues have a fair idea where they’ll be examined by the Stormers. ‘‘We know where they’re coming,’’ Parsons said. ‘‘We made a few adjustments this week that didn’t work, so we’ll probably go back to what we know and what’s worked for us in the past.’’
The Blues were guilty of two key things against that Cheetahs maul close to the line: they gave up the penalties to allow them to kick to the corners; then didn’t make the adjustments when the visitors shifted the point of the drive.
‘‘It wasn’t so much the maul, as it was the shift. We aided them with the way we were defending and hitting their initial hit really hard, then they’d just shear off. We’ve got to get bodies around the front and the back.’’
In the end it didn’t matter as the Blues scored eight tries to leave the visitors in their dust. It was a nice mix, too, of forward firepower and backline X-factor, with four of the eight touchdowns going to the men up front.
Steven Luatua had another big, physical game in the loose as he reminded Steve Hansen of his All Black options should the likes of Kieran Read, Jerome Kaino and Liam Squire struggle to make it back in time to face the Lions. Same with Akira Ioane. Same with lock Patty Tuipulotu who was outstanding in his return from a back injury. Same with Rieko Ioane and George Moala in a freewheeling back division.
Luatua says he’d love to face the Lions, despite his imminent departure for Bristol. ‘‘I don’t think anyone would say no ... but when the team is going well, then we all go well.’’
He also couldn’t help but chuckle when asked what he made of the sight of Akira putting Rieko away for tries in dazzling runs down the touchline.
‘‘I reckon it’s real funny how the older brother always hooks up the little brother, and it’s never the other way round. Then in camp Rieko never really gives him love. I thought Akira was outstanding, he took his opportunities, and he keeps hooking up little brother.’’
Parsons enjoyed the sight of his X-factor men cutting loose too, but added: ‘‘That’s the highlight reel stuff, but we’re also showing we can do the dirt work, us boys from 1-5 providing that platform.’’
We really like travelling because we’re tight together and we don’t separate. James Parsons