KEY POINTS:
It was curious timing. Captain Troy Flavell and wing David Smith confirmed their departures from the Blues just days before their sudden-death Super 14 match with the Hurricanes.
Tighthead prop Neemia Tialata has also made an exit - from the Hurricanes front row for the match - but he had no choice when a Sanzar hearing banned him for a dangerous tackle against the Force.
"The player had been lifted to a vertical position before being brought to the ground, which presented an unacceptable level of risk of injury to the tackled player," judicial head Chris Morris said when his delayed decision was released.
Debate about the player defections diverted some focus away from Friday's match at Eden Park which will start the weekend's qualifying shuffle for the playoffs. A point should ensure the Hurricanes make the final four while the Blues need a bonus-point victory and help from other results to sneak into the semifinals. With all their focus on Friday, it was unusual that the Blues announced the player exits after revelations of Tialata's suspension.
The media releases may have come because both Flavell and Smith have hinted about moves or there may have been pressure from new employers. Whatever. The bottom line is that Flavell returns to Japan, this time to Mitsubishi, while Smith transfers after the Air New Zealand Cup on a two-year deal to Wellington.
Flavell has spent more than a decade in top-grade rugby, captained the Blues for the past two seasons and played 22 tests for the All Blacks.
"I'll certainly miss the squad and my rugby life here. However, at 31, it's time to move on and as is the nature of this game, my departure provides an opportunity for somebody else," said Flavell, who yesterday visited members of the New Zealand wheelchair rugby team.
Smith was a draft pick for the Hurricanes last year and has been chosen for the Blues in the tail of this year's series after Joe Rokocoko was injured and Anthony Tuitavake shifted to centre.
The Blues are likely to name an unchanged side for Friday's match after successive wins against the Reds and Highlanders repaired a costly slump. They may contemplate finding room for Isaia Toeava, perhaps in place of Smith, to boost their backline for this must-win game.
Tialata's absence from the Hurricanes robs us of the chance to compare his work and scrummaging with All Blacks and Blues loosehead prop Tony Woodcock while there was still no word about Jerry Collins' recovery from a rib injury.
The forced front row rearrangement for the Hurricanes should have John Schwalger at loosehead and Tim Fairbrother switching to tighthead, changes which will not be felt as much as if the Blues lost one of their senior props.
Eden Park officials said ticket sales were encouraging and if the trend continued, they expected a crowd of about 30,000 for the final round.
The Crusaders cannot be ousted as top qualifier and may end up hosting a South African side in the semifinals. If that occurs, that match will end up as the second semifinal and will be played next Saturday.
