Wynne Gray: Blues are on the right track - Lam

Anthony Boric. Photo / Getty Images

Work this out. The Blues have lost four on the bounce but believe they are getting their mojo back.

They returned to work yesterday, convinced they were back on the right path to qualify and perform well in the Super 15 finals. Variations on those Pollyanna-ish speeches have been heard since Pat Lam's men fell to the Reds more than a month ago, but there was a rise in the team spirit after their latest rousing contest with the Crusaders.

Coach Lam and lock Anthony Boric spoke about the lift they got from the latest performance, one which left the Blues very leg-weary, after grinding through the heavy surface at Timaru, but buoyant about reversing their ropey results chart against the Highlanders at Eden Park on Friday.

"If we bring our attitude from the weekend we will be hard to stop," Boric suggested. "We made errors, but if we bring that intensity that is where we need to be each week. We have to make sure we freshen up."

Boric, who was involved in an all-All Black locking struggle on Saturday, felt the Blues had turned a psychological corner. He felt they had turned in on themselves late in the series, played with a little bit of fear and thought too much about winning instead of playing as they had in the middle stages of the tournament when the results came.

The fear of failure had seeped into their systems and inhibited their expression and usual ball movement, Boric said.

"I guess we threw everything at it and did not think too much and just let the instincts take over ... "

The Blues need one point from this final pool game to confirm their finals qualification. They will announce their side tomorrow, with wing Rene Ranger's hamstring strain ruling him out for four weeks, while Tony Woodcock and Isaia Toeava remain non-starters probably with Daniel Braid.

Ranger's exit will prompt more backline shuffles with Sherwin Stowers, Lachie Munro and Winston Stanley up for selection considera-
tion.

Using Luke McAlister again at fullback would come in for debate.

"We are really pleased we've got our mojo back, our excitement back and we just need to bring some accuracy now and take that into this match," Lam said.

The team would have one strong training session today but most of their preparation would be in the gym, pool or classroom to help conserve their energy. Lam did not buy into a theory that the Blues had given so much against the Crusaders that they would be flat this Friday.

"Not at all. If anything the boys came off that field pretty frustrated at some of the soft tries that we gave, but there is a real buzz, that excitement. Mojo is a common word, but there is a real sense of enjoyment if you like or excitement about where we are at," he said.

The coach was also bullish about the form he had seen from Ali Williams.

The All Black lock's leg injuries were now a non-issue and he was now doing extra training and work on his game.

"We are getting close to seeing him as he was before his injury. Look at his character and his work, he is driven to be the best he can and to get his spot back. He has made a nice climb up the hill from the bottom."

The Blues had made mental errors at Timaru, Lam said, but had dealt with those lapses and were ready for redemption this week.