Blues ponder best use of Spencer brilliance

By WYNNE GRAY

BLUES 37 CHIEFS 30

As influential as Carlos Spencer was at fullback against the Chiefs on Saturday, the Blues selectors are unsure whether his positional switch will be permanent.

They do not want him to become a yo-yo choice between first five-eighths and fullback, and want more time to digest what is best for Spencer and the Blues.

What they will not be able to halt, however, will be public discussion and comment about the skills and future of Spencer, who All Black coach John Mitchell last year spoke of as an option at fullback.

Spencer is seen as the barometer for the Blues, the catalyst for success or the cause of their failures, someone who polarises rugby opinion.

"Chopping and changing won't help him and we do not want to do that," backline coach Grant Fox said yesterday. "He made a good fist of fullback and now we have to review the tapes, the players available to us and assess if Carlos, at fullback, is a longer-term proposition for us.

"Our hand was forced this week. Carlos could play with almost any number on his back and it leaves us with a good problem. It gives us choices and will depend on whether we get others like Rupeni [Caucaunibuca] back."

A decision will not be far away because the Blues play the unbeaten Waratahs at Albany on Friday.

Spencer produced most of the buzz in the crowd of 28,000 who went to Eden Park to see the Blues and Chiefs split eight tries, but with the Blues' better goalkicking proving decisive to help them to reactivate their Super 12 run.

While the Chiefs took two bonus points, they will be anxious about their inability to close out any of the close matches they have had this season.

Much of their worry against the Blues was about shutting down Spencer, whose attacking forays from fullback were so potent.

His pace, elusive agility, timing and ability to link with his supports were significant factors in the Blues' return to the victory podium.

Spencer picked his time and targets in the Chiefs' defensive line with such effect that he created four tries. It was a damaging display, one to fuel the arguments of those who feel he is better when he is removed from first five-eighths.

Fox, who has worked more than anyone with Spencer in recent seasons, is not easily convinced. On Saturday, he said, Spencer often worked as the pivot in just the way he did as first five-eighths.

"He was at first receiver at lot, we had front-foot ball, quick ball which we struggled to get in the last two games," Fox said. "That made it easier for Carlos to use, like he did in our trial games and against the Hurricanes when our forwards produced that possession.

"Some call Carlos mercurial, but he is like any player with real talent who will do damage with possession going forward."

Fox said Spencer had been restricted at five-eighths in the last two games by poor possession, something the coaching staff recognised, even though the public and media might not.

"I get annoyed when people rush their judgments and do not look at the bigger picture to see why he is not so influential."

Had Spencer been wearing the No 10 on his jersey on Saturday he would have made many of the same runs he did wearing jersey 15.

There had been talk last season that Spencer was unable to play to instructions or within defined patterns, but Fox strongly disputed those suggestions.

He said Spencer was a team player, someone who put the good of the team ahead of any personal agendas as he showed by playing fullback.

In response, the Blues staff had to balance what was going to benefit Spencer's career.

"We do not want to compromise that," Fox said.

"Our hand was forced for this game by injuries and unavailable players."

Caucaunibuca is still rated a 50-50 chance to play on Friday as he recovers from the cracked bone in his leg, Vula Maimuri is battling hand and shoulder problems, and halfback Mark Robinson will have to be assessed after stitches to a facial wound.

For about two-thirds of the game, coach Peter Sloane was encouraged, but he thought his side should have put the Chiefs away earlier.

Too much aerial ping-pong, too much individualism and not enough energy to the ball were the coach's judgments about the downside of the Blues' game.

The scrum had been strong, lineouts adequate, but the Blues had to raise their standards several notches.

"We made it hard, didn't we?" Sloane said. "We are not learning certain parts of the game."