Blues victory hollow as doubts remain

Doug Howlett runs in a try last night. Picture / Fotopress

If only the Sharks weren't quite so awful, then there might not have been reason to get so depressed by the performance of the Blues last night.

Only moderately depressed mind. There was plenty of energy, intensity some snappy interplay and three late tries from the home side. But too much ball was coughed up in contact, too many simple two-on-ones spurned. There was also a misplaced confidence in repeatedly turning down the chance to kick for goal.

Admittedly these calls were made while Luke McAlister was having his bloody hooter seen to on the sideline but they were right in front of the poles. A challenge that make-shift goal-kicker Tasesa Lavea should have been entrusted to accomplish.

A ticking scoreboard does wonders at deflating opponents. There seemed real folly in that bravado when Adrian Jacobs scampered in at the corner early in the second half to make the score 13-12 to the Sharks.

It became a staggering act of stupidity, however, to turn down relatively simple pots at goal and then try to hammer over a 50m drop kick as McAlister attempted to do.

The inability to score points made for an unnecessarily nervy second 40 minutes where the Blues, despite their superiority, were only two points ahead until Joe Rokocoko's late try put the game out of reach.

All these little failings made it hard to escape the feeling the Blues needed a lesson in anatomy, as they were never really sure where they might find the Sharks' jugular.

It's never a convincing look when a team dominates territory and possession. It reeks of complacency.

Quiet satisfaction will have to suffice, then. It's hard to feel any other way when you pop five points in the bag. But real hunters don't brag about their haul when they have been shooting fish in a barrel.

Especially when it took them more than 70 minutes to work out how to shoot them.

And the staggering thing is that next season there will be even more of this lame, insipid rugby to endure. No doubt the fourth estate will spend much of the next few weeks bemoaning the looming addition of a fifth South African franchise. It will be for good reason. Not to marvel at their hulking physiques but to be quite staggered by their stunning lack of skill and pea-brains.

How the Springboks remain a credible force is one of rugby's great mysteries. The Cats and Sharks have been abject these last two weeks.

Which is a fairly damning indictment of the Blues, who huffed and puffed against both.

As is so often the way with these low-skill, disappointing encounters, last night became an exercise in identifying individuals who managed to enhance their reputation.

Probably no one played better than Ben Atiga. The 21-year-old has struggled with a dodgy hamstring all season but looked to be operating in top gear. He has a wonderful step which he used to devastating effect in the build-up to Tasesa Lavea's opening try after just three minutes.

The youngster may have failed to fully convince the wider rugby public of his talent, with many still confused as to how he earned an All Black cap at the World Cup.

But those who have worked with him, rave about him and earlier this year Sir Clive Woodward said the Aucklander had impressed him.

The greater space created by Atiga was most enjoyed by Doug Howlett who seemed more confident and looked for work off his wing last night.

No one, though, worked harder than the skipper who had easily his best game of the season. A poor decision to take contact rather than pass to the unmarked Rokocoko late in the first half will still be sitting uneasily on Xavier Rush's conscience this morning. But that aside he was a big influence, especially around the fringes. He may also feel he atoned for his earlier error when he burst into open space late in the game, beat three tackles and offloaded to Mils Muliaina.

The late flurry left everyone feeling good and with the Blues off to South Africa this morning that little extra confidence may just be vital.

Blues 36
(M. Muliaina (2), T. Lavea, J. Rokocoko, D. Howlett tries; L McAlister 4 cons, pen).

Sharks 13
(A. Jacobs try; C. Barnard con, pen).

- HERALD ON SUNDAY