Oz need a win — it won’t be Blues
From the top down the Blues are in a rut and disconnected from their region through performance. Who are they and what are they doing, are questions which can be lobbed in all directions at the struggling group with answers as lean as this year’s victory tally.
On that evidence they are being eyed as the first victim for an Australian side in 38 matches when they play the Waratahs tonight in Sydney.
My instincts tell me differently. The Waratahs lead the Aussie section but they were wiped by the Lions when the most complete South African side visited a fortnight ago.
Defeat sent the Tahs into extra navel-gazing before they sat out their bye last round and watched halfback Wynne Gray
Nick Phipps make an ass of himself at his stag do.
They all need to make amends and will be fresh but they have yet to feel the sting and pace of any New Zealand sides, while the Blues have regained three of the main men, Jerome Kaino, Patrick Tuipulotu and Augustine Pulu, for this trip across the Tasman.
The game has been shifted from the regular city venue to Manly’s sandpit at Brookvale Oval because of the A-league grand final and there is wide suspicion the surface and scrums will not be compatible, a situation which will add to referee Jaco Peyper’s adjudication list.
The Blues have fallen short in a number of areas and who knows what their plan will be and whether the players will absorb and deliver on that detail. They do have a batch of more seasoned players and they finish on the plus side when you square them off against their opponents.
Half of the Tahs side bring some venom, from Israel Folau returning from injury to fullback through Kurtley Beale and Bernard Foley, but the only class forward is Michael Hooper.
He is a dynamic bundle of enterprise and skill but all too often his value is isolated and the Blues will sense their chances when Hooper is kept out of the play. They will also have seen how the Lions used their lineout expertise and driving mauls to dismantle the Tahs and should have soaked up lessons from their loss to the Jaguares on how to defend and use that type of attack.
This is a big exam for Pulu as the captain and director at halfback. His timing and delivery has to give Stephen Perofeta the chances to control the tempo and free Reiko Ioane who is again being asked to play closer to the collisions where he’ll focus Beale’s every attention.
Pulu can also dent the line with his power running and if he finds that balance with accurate support from his teammates, the Blues can keep the NZ run going against the cuzzies.
Little from the Australian sides suggests they have made significant advances on the frayed production which sent them into a Super rugby tailspin last season. The Reds have brought some new talent through and shown flashes of the way Brad Thorn wants them to play, the Rebels have hinted then blinked while the Tahs and Brumbies bring productive uncertainty.
It’s the same with the Blues where they bring stretches of promise but can’t find ways to link the gaps. If Umaga offers them more freedom in exchange for more accurate work from the forwards they can bring back a duty-free result from Sydney. NZ NBL, today, Nelson Giants v Southland Sharks, Trafalgar Centre 7pm; tomorrow Super City Rangers v Wellington Saints, Trusts Arena 3pm; Thursday, Sharks v Manawatu Jets, ILT Stadium Southland 7pm; Friday, Saints v Hawks Bay Hawks, TSB Arena 7pm; Taranaki Mountainairs v Giants, TSB Stadium 7pm.
Northern Regional League (all games 3pm today unless stated; home team first), men’s premier, Three Kings United v Bay Olympic; Manukau United v Hamilton Wanderers; Waitakere City v Glenfield Rovers; Onehunga Sports v Eastern Suburbs; Birkenhead United v East Coast bays; Western Springs v Central United 5.15pm.
Intercity, catch-up games, men, Wednesday, East Coast Bays v North Harbour Indians, Harbour 1 7pm; Friday, Howick Pakuranga v Takapuna, Harbour 1 7.30pm.
Today, NRL, Warriors v Wests Tigers, Mt Smart Stadium 7.30pm. Auckland club, today 2.30pm (home team first), Fox Memorial, round five, Mt Albert v Richmond; Howick v Glenora; Papakura v Marist; Pt Chev v Northcote; Mangere East v Otahuhu. Sharman Cup, round three, Otara v Bay Roskill; Northern Brothers v Manukau; Te Atatu v Pakuranga; New Lynn v Mt Wellington; Manurewa v Ellerslie; Franklin Storm v Hibiscus Coast; Ponsonby v Papatoetoe; Waitemata bye.
ANZ Premiership, tomorrow, Northern Mystics v Southern Steel
11.15am; Central Pulse v Waikato/ Bay of Plenty Magic 1.15pm; Northern Stars v Mainland Tactix
3.15pm, all games Fly Palmy Arena, Palmerston North. Auckland Premier, all games Auckland Netball Centre, Thursday, week four, 6.15pm, Panmure 3 v University Ice; College Rifles 1 v Southern Cavaliers Black; Ponsonby v Eastern 2. 7.40pm, Collegiate 1 v Panmure 1; Team Jakal 2 v Eastern Premier Seniors; Eastern 1 v Carlton 1. 9.05pm, Team Jakal 1 v College Rifles 2; Panmure
2 v Collegiate 2.
Super Rugby, today, Hurricanes v Lions, Westpac Stadium 7.35pm. Club (all games 2.45pm today; home team first), Auckland, premier, pool A, Waitemata v Grammar TEC; Suburbs v Mt Wellington; Papatoetoe v Te Papapa; Manukau Rovers v College Rifles. Pool B, Waitakere City v East Tamaki; Eden v Otahuhu; Pakuranga United v Marist; University v Ponsonby. Counties Manukau, McNamara Cup, round nine, Ardmore Marist v Patumahoe; Manurewa v Waiuku (Pat Walsh Day); Papakura v Karaka; Pukekohe v Onewhero; Bombay bye. North Harbour, premier one, round six, Massey v East Coast Bays; Marist University v Northcote; Glenfield v Mahurangi; Silverdale v Kumeu 3pm; North Shore v Takapuna.
NZ National League (all games Rotorua Aquatic centre), from 9am today, 11.30am tomorrow.
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