Blues coach: We’re playing smarter
It took them a while, but the Blues managed to get their heads round their true identity in the nick of time to end an agonising 18-year wait for a spot in a Super Rugby final.
The Blues will host the Highlanders in Saturday’s final of Super Rugby TransTasman at Eden Park (7.05pm kickoff) after those two and the Crusaders all finished qualifying play 5-0 on 23 competition points. The Red and Blacks were squeezed out on points difference.
So that leaves the Blues playing their first final since the 2003 triumph over the Crusaders at Eden Park, and the Highlanders in the big dance for the first time since they lifted their inaugural title in Wellington in 2015..
For the loaded Blues, in particular, it has been a mission of redemption in Trans-Tasman after they were spectacularly disappointing in Aotearoa, going 4-4 and missing a spot in the final by a single point.
With their powerful pack – boasting eight players who wore the All Blacks jersey in 2020 – and talented backline, that was a finish well short of anyone’s expectations, let alone their own.
But, to their credit, the Blues have made the necessary adjustments and come back much stronger against the Aussies.
‘‘We’ve played smarter rugby,’’ reflected coach Leon MacDonald after Saturday’s 31-21 victory over the Western Force to clinch top spot. ‘‘We’ve been prepared to put the miracle plays away and to work harder for longer.
‘‘Our intensity in defence has been better as well.’’
MacDonald also noted the ‘‘impact’’ of having skipper Patrick Tuipulotu back from a long stint out with neck and shoulder issues. He’s added a hard, physical edge to an already wellperforming second-row unit.
The Blues will be sweating on the fitness of two important forwards this week in Tom Robinson (head knock) and Dalton Papalii (hip). Forwards coach
Tom Coventry lists both, alongside grafters Eklund and Gerard CowleyTuioti, as intrinsic to this Blues turnaround.
‘‘Dalton has been marvellous,’’ Coventry said. ‘‘He’s a workhorse, and is getting through a ton of stats. His tackle count and ability over the ball is first-rate … he’s taken every step in the right direction to replace (the injured) Sam [Cane]. There are some good 7s in our game but he’d be right at the top of the tree.’’
Robinson, too, has been impressive as a grafting No 6, and would be sorely missed for the final, even if the Blues have an excellent replacement on hand in Akira Ioane.
‘‘He leads with passion and enthusiasm … loves the club, loves the game, and it comes through strongly,’’ Coventry said. ‘‘He makes a lot of tackles, and is playing really well on the edge. ‘‘He knocks people down, then gets back up on his feet looking for somebody else to go after. That’s pretty infectious for a team-mate.’’