Blues brace for real rugby
MacDonald not anticipating any radical rule changes in Super Rugby Aotearoa
The Blues do not expect any weird and whacky laws to filter into the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition but Leon MacDonald is preparing for significant longer-term change to the future of the New Zealand game.
World Rugby’s medical group has proposed scrapping scrum resets and upright tackles, and suggested teams should change their jerseys, headgear and wash their hands at halftime to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
One leading coach who sent the full report to the Herald described the recommendations as laughable, particularly given 10-15 scrums would still take place during each match. Mauls and rucks all involve the same face-to-face contact involved in upright tackles, too.
Blues coach MacDonald brushed aside the possibility these measures would be a part of Super Rugby Aotearoa, kicking off on June 13.
“If you’re going to play the game, you’ve got to do it properly,” said MacDonald as the Blues progress towards their return against the Hurricanes at Eden Park, with an internal hit-out set down for the end of next week.
“We’re taking good precautions.
We’ve changed our meeting room so we can have the appropriate spacing, and wherever possible, we’ll adhere to the safety recommendations, but once you get on the grass and start tackling, you’ve got to be ready to play. It’s a tough competition we’re going into, so we’ve got to be contact-ready.
“It’s business as usual for us. We probably would’ve had a directive by now if there was going to be no scrums. We’re expecting everything to look like rugby when we resume.”
MacDonald confirmed the five rotating New Zealand referees would place a strong emphasis on enforcing the breakdown and oftenflaunted offside laws.
“They’re the same rules we’ve always had but they’re going to be a lot stricter. Offside has been a focus point for us anyway, so if we don’t get that right, we’re going to find out the hard way.”
While not at the coalface of the Super Rugby Aratipu review, MacDonald reiterated expectations that the initial 10-week, eight game local derby competition will next year broaden out to include Australia and possibly a Pacific Islands side, with potential crossover games involving Japanese teams.
“Everyone is rethinking everything at the moment and now is the time. It’s a chance for everyone to chuck out the old set of rules and look at what the future looks like.
“I’m sure NZ Rugby will be doing that. Some of it might be forced through border restrictions. What the next 12 months looks like, who
knows? It depends if we’re stuck in our bubble for a while.
“The obvious and simple solution is something pretty local with Australia potentially and maybe someone else pretty close by.
“We’re trying not to dwell on the what ifs and maybes. We’ve being doing that for eight weeks in the lockdown, and now we’ve got some certainty with a start date.”
Traditional struggles against New Zealand opposition tempers expectations around the Blues somewhat, though there is a sense they have turned a corner after winning five of their first seven games this season — a run which included their away victory over the Hurricanes.
Physically and mentally, all players and coaches will be pushed to the brink.
“It’s going to be pretty close to test match intensity week after week, so if you’ve got aspirations to become an All Black, this is a bit of a taste of what that’s going to be like. It’s going to test us and see where we’re at as a group.”
The Blues’ trump card now is Beauden Barrett. Fresh off his Bronco fitness test record, the All Blacks playmaker looked sharp at his new side’s Alexandra Park base.
MacDonald is clearly enthused at the prospect of unleashing Barrett’s attacking brilliance for the first time.
“He’s a student of the game. He does his homework. He’s thorough. He likes to know his role and everyone around him. His preparation is meticulous. The way he prepares his body and kicks — he’s a real pro. He knows what he needs to do to perform.
“Ma’a [ Nonu] was like that last year for us. Beauden spends as much time in the books as he does on the grass. The young guys are learning from that, so you can’t put a figure on that mental shift.”
We’re expecting everything to look like rugby when we resume.
Blues coach Leon MacDonald