Do the Blues have clues?
Auckland club cut distractions as they seek first title for 18 long years
Having qualified for their first Super Rugby final in almost two decades is one major hurdle cleared for the Blues. Winning the inaugural transtasman title will require the greatest leap of all from this team.
All finals are different. One-off occasions bring pressure moments, expectation and unpredictability regular season matches can’t match.
When you represent a team that hasn’t claimed a title for 18 years, that burden of pressure is amplified tenfold.
With sponsors attending trainings and 22,000 tickets sold for tomorrow night’s final against the Highlanders at Eden Park, there’s a different feel to this week for the Blues.
Minimising those distractions and not getting swept up in the possibilities is just as important as what happens on the field for the Blues.
Under coach Leon MacDonald over the past three years, the Blues have attempted to break down inherent perceptions of a team that consistently fails to achieve.
The only way to truly shatter that glass ceiling, though, is to defeat the Highlanders.
“You can tell there’s a final,” MacDonald acknowledged after naming his team that features one starting change with Akira Ioane replacing the concussed Tom Robinson. “You don’t have to try motivate the guys to play well, it’s more about making sure we stay really clear on what we want to achieve and be accurate.
“There’s the external pressures, noise and the prize that changes. We’re clear on what’s important to get right and a lot of it is around our mindset. Ultimately it’s the performance that counts.”
MacDonald was reluctant to reminisce about 2003 and the last time the Blues made a Super Rugby final — perhaps because he was on the losing side after starting at fullback for the Crusaders. His experience of a finals week, though, could prove valuable.
“It would be fantastic to win but there’s a big hurdle in front of us. It’s new for us the finals; getting ahead of ourselves and talking about winning is not helping us. We haven’t done that all week, and we won’t be starting now,” he said.
Otere Black handed the Blues a
boost by recovering from the significant blow he suffered to his lower leg at training on Tuesday. Alongside dependable second fiveeighth TJ Faiane and lock Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, the off-contract Black could be preparing for his final game for the Blues which will add to motivation.
“He took full part in training without any signs, so we’re stoked.”
The news was not so positive for the influential loosie Robinson, however, after failing to recover from a head knock.
“He’s set an attitude with the way he hits rucks and gets around the park and he goes for 80 minutes. We’ll be asking all our players to play like Tom to get the result.
“We’ll miss Tom but I know Aki
is ready to step into those boots as is the rest of the forward pack.”
Ofa Tu’ungafasi won’t feature either and he appears in danger of missing the All Blacks’ three tests in July with MacDonald suggesting he needs minor knee surgery.
With seven All Blacks in their starting side, and one more on the bench, the Blues are heavily favoured to secure the transtasman crown.
Blues: Zarn Sullivan, Bryce Heem, Rieko Ioane, TJ Faiane, Mark Telea, Otere Black, Finlay Christie; Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papalii, Akira Ioane, Patrick Tuipulotu (c), Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Nepo Laulala, Kurt Eklund, Alex Hodgman. Reserves: Ray Niuia, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Marcel Renata, Josh Goodhue, Blake Gibson, Jonathan Ruru, Harry Plummer, AJ Lam.