Blues succumb to pre-season lethargy

Even the scoreboard attendant was in pre-season mode last night at Whangarei as the Blues hosted the Waratahs.

The twilight start may have interrupted his regular dining routine or it may have been the shock of the Waratahs scoring first.

Whatever, the assistant thought Mat Rogers had kicked a penalty rather than the conversion of Adam Freier's try in the fourth minute, even though the Waratahs had retreated to the halfway line.

Confusion for the 5200 crowd continued for some minutes until the ground announcer chivvied the attendant to log the converted try.

In what has become the Waratah way, the visitors looked much more organised than their opponents at this stage of the season

But the Blues will remind their supporters they have only been joined by their All Blacks in recent weeks and they can but improve from the workout last night.

The Blues were fortunate to be only one early try adrift after their defences were opened up with dangerous runs from Rogers and Daniel Vickerman.

Indeed, the Blues looked to rebound in some style when Joe Rokocoko scored the first of his two tries as he finished off a sweeping movement.

But the lack of communication within the Blues which cost them the opening try cost them another when Luke McAlister had a kick charged down and Lauchlan MacKay scored.

It was an uneasy match for McAlister, whose goalkicking was astray and who looked uncertain until he moved from centre to first five-eighths when Tasesa Lavea was spelled.

"We were pretty lethargic in the first half and I felt our lineout was under pressure. We turned the ball over 30 times," said Blues coach Peter Sloane.

It had been a sluggish start to the game although he was pleased the team settled in the second half.

"But there is no leeway from here - it is only seven more days."

Midfielder Sam Tuitupou was most impressive, breaking the advantage line and crunching his opponents in defence. But there was a general lack of fluency in the backs.

Both packs slogged away in the humid conditions, with the Blues scrum looking controlled. But the Waratahs appeared to have the edge in the lineouts.

Highlanders coach Greg Cooper was in Whangarei to see what the Blues would have to offer next Friday in Dunedin, when the final Super 12 season gets under way.

He will not be overawed by the prospect.