Blues need repeat performance

DANIEL BRAID says it will take more of the same from the Blues tomorrow morning against the Stormers for the team to pick up their second straight win in South Africa.

It was a momentous bounce back from the Blues last weekend, to turn around a woeful performance against the Chiefs and beat the Bulls 29-23 in Pretoria.

That win largely came from taking the game to the Bulls at the breakdown and being more aggressive at the tackle and flanker Braid says they’ll need to do more of the same in Cape Town.

‘‘They’re quite similar teams, they have strong, driving forwards,’’ Braid said.

‘‘So we really have to match that up with them and have that same attitude and mentality we had against the Bulls, obviously we’ll do a couple of things differently, but we really have to front up.

‘‘We got a lot of confidence from a good win against the Bulls and how we played.

‘‘But we’ve still only got one win out of three games and it’s a big ask to beat the Stormers here in Cape Town.’’

If the Blues do manage to beat the Stormers, memories of that disastrous start to the season will be largely forgotten and they’ll be right back in the hunt for a playoff spot.’’ But they will have to compete over the rest of the season without Jerome Kaino, who is out for six months with a shoulder injury.

His absence has led to Chris Lowrey moving to No 8 and the Braid brothers, Daniel and Luke, starting on the flanks.

It is a rarity for the Braids to be on the field at the same time.

They are both openside specialists, play for different provinces and, although they were both at the Blues last season, Daniel was injured for most of the campaign.

‘‘It is a big blow with Jerome being out,’’ Daniel said.

‘‘He’s one of the best loose forwards in the world and to lose a guy like that over such a long season is really going to test the depth of the side.

‘‘Other guys are going to have to step into that leadership role in the team as well as his playing role.

‘‘But I thought Chris Lowrey stepped into that role on the weekend, he was a guy who’d put the big hits in, that would carry strong and he had an excellent game against the Bulls.

‘‘Also, it was a good start with me and Luke playing on the field at the same time and great to be given that opportunity.

‘‘Our lineout is still going to go OK with the two No 7s there and I’m quite excited about being on the field at the same time as him again.’’