Mealamu to skip the start of Super Rugby
KEVEN MEALAMU’S absence for the first three Super Rugby rounds shouldn’t cause the Blues too many headaches. Those are more likely come from their inexperienced backline.
One-test All Blacks hooker James Parsons stepped up for the Blues last year and will get first crack with Mealamu taking a cautious approach and enjoying an early-season conditioning window.
To preserve his dodgy calves and ensure his 35-year-old frame is in the best possible shape, the test centurion will miss the Blues’ opening match against the Chiefs and trip to South Africa with an aim of returning in round four.
‘‘I’m looking to play the game when the boys get back from Africa,’’ Mealamu said yesterday as Super Rugby kicked off its annual launch with a spot of archery at Auckland’s College Rifles club.
‘‘It’s a good chance to get a bit of extra conditioning under the belt. I feel like I’ve arrived in really good nick but on that trip over there [to South Africa] in the past couple of years I’ve picked up an injury.’’
Despite calls to the contrary, Mealamu’s importance to the national cause has been clear in recent seasons. The All Blacks desperately attempted to tutor an emerging hooker to support Dane Coles and the experienced veteran. Just as they settled on Nathan Harris last year, the Chiefs’ rake was injured in his second test, leaving the position wide open again for the World Cup.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen will, therefore, sweat on Mealamu’s fitness throughout this season, just as he will a host of All Blacks.
‘‘For now a lot of the players will have that in the back of their heads,’’ Mealamu said. ‘‘There’s so much rugby between now and then. With no June [international] series this year Super Rugby is going to be a big grind. Arriving in top shape is going to be important to make sure you can play well until the end of the year.’’
Once again the Blues boast, on paper at least, what appears a strong forward pack. They, like all Kiwi Super Rugby teams, must find two weeks rest for each of their All Blacks but Tony Woodcock, Charlie Faumuina, Steven Luatua, Jerome Kaino, Patrick Tuipulotu, Mealamu and Parsons will form the core of their pack.
Outside those figures Luke Braid and new second-row recruit Josh Bekhuis –a direct replacement for Tom Donnelly – will be the constant glue.
But it’s the green backline where major question marks arise. Firepower and attacking flair are valuable; composure is more important. Here Jimmy Cowan and Daniel Bowden must impart their calming heads, on and off the field.
The Blues will miss Ma’a Nonu’s guidance and rely heavily on young men to come of age.
‘‘I was talking to Dan Bowden and he’s the oldest player at 28.’’ Mealamu said.
‘‘We’re young in the backs but we need those guys to draw on that experience they’ve had over the last couple of years. We’ve got Charles Piutau who has been around a while and Frank Halai. We need them to take the next step in their careers where they not only play well but lead those other men around them.
‘‘We’ve got a settled side but we need to bring that consistency to what we do. When I look back to last year there were a couple of games that cost us our season. If we can consistently turn up we’ll be in the hunt but we don’t want to just talk about it.
‘‘We want to show what we’re about.’’
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