Umaga challenges battered Blues

Amidst the gloom there has been a ray of light for Tana Umaga.

Now the Blues coach, who looks set to be given the keys to the kingdom to continue his salvage operation, would love nothing more than for his team to put an exclamation point on a largely positive week at Eden Park tomorrow night.

Umaga’s boss on Tuesday all but anointed him as the man to take the Blues forward, despite three years under his stewardship treading water at the bottom of the New Zealand conference. Change hasn’t worked, so let’s stick with what we’re building, was the gist of a staunch message of support from Blues CEO Michael Redman, echoing Steve Tew’s 2007 reappointment of Graham Henry, Steve Hansen et al with the All Blacks.

Umaga must have been chuffed with that, because it will allow him to plough on with his planning, recruitment and culture cultivation with certainty, and clarity. It should also make for a smooth re-negotiation process as that next deal is hammered out over the next week or two.

But still there is a Super Rugby season to, if not save, at least imbue with some pride and hope, starting Saturday night against a dangerous looking Jaguares outfit at Eden Park.

Of course, this being the Blues nothing is easy.

This week Umaga has lost an All Black lock (Patrick Tuipulotu, to illness) and his only fit second five-eighth (TJ Faiane, to an ankle sprain), as his his list of injured or infirm continues to hover around the 18 mark. Five of those are season-ending.

He was set to get a trio back to balance the ledger in the form of skipper Augustine Pulu at halfback and Gerard Cowley-Tuioti to form a fresh second-row pair with Josh Goodhue, also returning from a one-week shoulder hiatus.

Pulu has been bracketed with Jonathan Ruru, with an assessment to be made this morning. Same at No 7 where Kara Pryor’s sore thigh from last Friday’s 34-16 defeat to the Highlanders will be assessed. No bench has been named yet either.

‘‘It is what is,’’ shrugged Umaga. ‘‘It’s not ideal. We’ve got guys coming back which is the positive, but they only seem to be replacing players we’re losing. It’s a physical game and we’re definitely seeing that this season.’’

The upshot is Umaga has once again had to spin his revolving selection door and spit out a new unproven lineup. Stephen Perofeta returns to first five after the fullback experiment against the Highlanders failed, Matt Duffie gets a crack at 15, Rieko Ioane moves into second five-eighths, and last week’s try-scoring debutant off the bench, Tumua Manu, is given his first start on the left wing.

That’s a raw group, but one the coach had few options with when it came to selecting.

‘‘I’m trying to keep things really simple around what they need to do, because that’s all we can do with the time we have,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s about executing and implementing our plan, and also backing ourselves and having the confidence to do that. It’s tough. In our situation your confidence takes a big hit and it shackles you down.

‘‘We’ve got to release those shackles and get out and express ourselves. It’s simple rugby done really well.’’

Of course, this being the Blues, nothing will come easy. At least they’re not playing a Kiwi foe, but the Jaguares hit town having won back to back in Australia (over the Rebels and Brumbies) and no doubt fancying their chances of adding a pretty manageable Kiwi scalp to their list.

The home pack has also taken a hit. With Tuipulotu and Ofa Tu’ungafasi (knee) marked absent they are shorn two very important physical presences. North Harbour prop Sione Mafileo gets his first start on the tighthead side, and Goodhue and Cowley-Tuioti their first crack as a secondrow combo.

At 2-6, with just 12 points, and playoff hopes clinging to life support, this is mustwin territory for the Blues. There can simply be no excuses, even though the list is a long one.