Battle for All Blacks No 8 jersey hots up

Xavier Rush found playing tennis alongside Martina Navratilova more daunting than facing a huge Springbok pack. Picture / Fotopress

For someone who nailed the All Blacks No 8 jersey for much of the season, it must have been galling to be shunned for the end-of-year tour to Europe.

Especially when the selectors chose three players - Rodney So'oialo, Mose Tuiali'i and Steven Bates - for the expanded tour party.

Trying to get Xavier Rush to talk about the topic is easier than landing a 75m penalty goal. He laughs politely and then skirts the issues.

But the Blues captain does have a theory about his second sacking from the All Blacks and his chances of redemption.

"When it all happened it was a dent to my pride because you are dropped for that particular tour," Rush said.

"But I now realise it was probably the best thing for me long-term. I needed a rest; I needed a break from the game.

"You don't realise how worn out you get and I had probably been going for about three years without a decent off-season rest.

"I was able to do some decent rehab, get back into doing some proper weights and put on some condition so I could get through the season better."

Rush admitted he used to be dismissive of all the talk about burnout. He never considered he needed a break.

But after his enforced rest from the All Blacks' trip to Italy, Wales, France and England, he could feel the benefits.

During the summer he even managed to play an exhibition tennis match with Martina Navratilova as his partner against Carlos Spencer and Monica Seles.

Rush, who plays tennis socially, jumped at the "chance of a lifetime" to play alongside Navratilova but the closer the match came, the more his nerves increased.

He sneaked along to the ASB Tennis Centre in Auckland a couple of hours before the match to hit some balls.

"After the first few shots in the match I was okay but that sort of thing does take you out of your comfort zone.

"I can handle getting smacked on the rugby field - that is what I am used to; that is how I earn my wages - but this was something else with 5000 people looking on.

"I even saw Olo Brown in the crowd and wondered how much of a fool I was going to make of myself.

"It was okay, though. Martina was a true professional. She made you feel very relaxed."

So how relaxed was Rush about tomorrow, venturing down the Southern Motorway for the derby with the Chiefs?

The Blues could not afford to be complacent, "certainly not after the escape we had last week with the Reds. We need to play a lot better while the Chiefs are none from two and will be after our hide."

There is also the memory of last season when the Chiefs came to Eden Park and grabbed victory through a freakish last-minute Sione Lauaki try.

The Blues have been solid at setpieces but disappointing away from those areas. Their high error rate has meant they have been unable to break sides from multiple phaseplay.

They needed to take on board some of the composure former Brumbies coach and new technical assistant David Nucifora showed in his work with the forwards.

"He has just got a great temperament," Rush explained.

"I guess it is all to do with his experience but he never seems to panic or get jittery and he gives us some very constructive feedback."

Rush has put on some weight this year, deliberately, in a bid to cope better with the demands of what he hopes will be a season with Super 12 and international demands.

He found the surplus condition a bit tough to carry in the trial matches and opening of the Super 12 but reckons he is about at his optimum playing weight now.

He also feels ready for a personal assessment against Bates in tomorrow's game in Hamilton.

"It is a chance to do something, I guess," Rush said. "It adds some spice to pit your own game up against an All Black incumbent."