Blues have iffy forward pack, great backline

No matter the calibre of players in the Blues, it would be foolish to have inflated ideas about the side's chances in the last season of Super 12.

The performances of the Blues last year do not warrant excessive optimism while many of the group were equally mediocre when they turned out for their provinces.

North Harbour's sixth-place finish in the NPC and Auckland's seventh position reinforced what a messy year it was for the Blues.

Since last December, the staff at the Blues have been working on erasing those memories and gearing up for a decent challenge at the title. While Peter Sloane retains the rank of coach in his fourth season with the franchise, most interest will be on what impact his new assistants, David Nucifora and Joe Schmidt, can bring.

The toughest task lies with Sloane and Nucifora, who are charged with developing, guiding and blending a pack to go the distance in the gruelling competition.

There is plenty of raw talent. But compared to some of the other sides, there is not quite the grizzled, rugged, experienced core group of forwards.

Captain Xavier Rush and hooker Keven Mealamu supply the grit and there is all sorts of ability around them but do they have the tenacity to produce solid performances every week?

If there is a patchy response then the gifts of the talented backline will not flourish.

Take the props, for example. John Afoa is a young tighthead of enormous potential who could emulate the impact shown by his predecessor Kees Meeuws.

But even Sloane acknowledged it was asking too much of the 21-year-old to lead the scrum every week. Tongan prop Taufa'ao Filise was the backup draft answer after his steady work for Bay of Plenty.

On the other side of the scrum Saimone Taumoepeau had a rapid rise to test duty on the evidence of his NPC scrummaging but only makes his Super 12 debut tonight while the other test prop Tony Woodcock is injured.

Are Ali Williams, Greg Rawlinson and Bradley Mika dependable in the second row; can they be part of a serviceable tight five? The first inquisition tonight against the Highlanders should offer some answers.

If the tight five gel and work as hard as flankers Angus Macdonald and Daniel Braid, then the Blues will have made some useful progress.

There will also be a serious amount of prayer that Carlos Spencer's foot injury does not worsen.

While Tasesa Lavea and Luke McAlister are nominated as the alternate first five-eighths, neither yet can run a backline or direct a game near the standards set by Spencer.

Sloane as much as Spencer was sweating on the results of scans on the five-eighths' painful foot problem and there will be ongoing concern that the injury could develop into a stress fracture.

If the side can achieve some forward parity, then the backline has the potential to outclass most defences.

Sam Tuitupou will get over the gain line regularly in midfield and if the loose forwards do their job, the back three of Doug Howlett, Joe Rokocoko and Mils Muliaina should convert.

When he coached Bay of Plenty, Schmidt was able to introduce some smart backline moves which should deliver even greater impact from the Blues.

When he recovers from a hamstring strain, Ben Atiga may be favoured to play centre unless McAlister makes a sharp start. The fascination will be if or when Muliaina is tried in the No 13 jersey, which he donned with distinction for the Blues several years ago.

The change may be tempting but the Blues know they must be consistent each week and the coaches know they can rely on Muliaina at fullback for that production.

The Blues have been favoured with five home games in their opening seven matches but if there are early stumbles the second half of the competition will look even more difficult.

Early injuries to Howlett, Tony Woodcock, Atiga and Jerome Kaino have increased the heat on the rest of the squad, while reserve halfback Steve Devine has recovered from major knee surgery but will only be eased into the fray.

He ruptured his knee during the last Super 12 and has been cleared for selection but admitted he was not yet comfortable with several aspects of his game. When he finally is, the Blues' arsenal will be even stronger.

VITAL STATS

Titles: 1996, 1997, 2003.

Finals: 4

Worst finish: 11th in 2001

Biggest win: 60-7 v Hurricanes, 2002

Biggest loss: 51-13 v Reds, 1996

Backs

Mils Muliaina (Auckland)

Isa Nacewa (Auckland)

Doug Howlett (Auckland)

Joe Rokocoko (Auckland)

Rudi Wulf (North Harbour)

Ben Atiga (Auckland)

Sam Tuitupou (Auckland)

Luke McAlister (Harbour)

Carlos Spencer (Auckland)

Tasesa Lavea (Auckland)

David Gibson (Auckland)

Steve Devine (Auckland)

Forwards

Xavier Rush (capt, Auckland)

Nick Williams (Harbour)

Tom Harding (Harbour)

Daniel Braid (Auckland)

Justin Collins (Auckland)

Jerome Kaino (Auckland)

Angus Macdonald (Auckland)

Bradley Mika (Auckland)

Ali Williams (Auckland)

Greg Rawlinson (Harbour)

Tony Woodcock (Harbour)

Taufa'ao Filise (BoP)

Saimone Taumoepeau (Auckland)

John Afoa (Auckland)

Derren Witcombe (Auckland)

Keven Mealamu (Auckland)