Patience running out after Blues' humiliating defeat

Crusaders 41
Blues 19

Reputations will not save the Blues when the next side is chosen to host the Super 12 champions, the Brumbies.

Coach Peter Sloane made that promise yesterday after reviewing the video, statistics and his own reaction to the comprehensive 41-19 defeat inflicted by the Crusaders.

After keeping faith with the bulk of his side for four rounds of the series, Sloane said his patience had run out.

To what extent will not be discovered until after Easter because the Blues have a bye before resuming against the Brumbies at Eden Park.

After a moderate opening victory against the Highlanders, the Blues escaped with a late win against the Reds before sliding to a clumsy defeat against the Chiefs and repeating that dross against the Crusaders.

They conceded five tries in the first half and looked at a woeful 34-0 halftime deficit. Three of those Crusaders tries came from lineout steals and another from a turnover as the Blues giftwrapped victory for the visitors.

The pattern continued after the break when an unmarked Caleb Ralph scored from a quick throw-in after the Crusaders punished their arch rivals with another turnover counter-attack.

That concession was perhaps the most embarrassing on an evening when the Blues were humiliated.

"We were just not switched on," Sloane said yesterday, "and those sorts of moments like the throw-in really hurt you as a coach."

With each outing the 2005 Blues are starting to resemble the 2004 Blues. A new coaching group has made little impact, they have been unable to blend a collection of individuals into anything close to the framework the Crusaders bring to their rugby.

The comparison offered on Saturday night was startling.

The Crusaders were organised, composed and ruthless. They played with precision, width and speed, they attacked the set pieces and defended with a ferocity which put the Blues into reverse or created valuable turnover ball.

The Crusaders were as dominant and compelling as Elsu had been the previous night at the Interdominions.

Like the rest of the field at Alexandra Park, the Blues were not in the same league as their opponents.

Some of it was a lack of skill, some a lack of ability, and there was also a fair chunk of dumb rugby.

"We spent a lot of time on the game plan and organisation during the week," Sloane said.

"Certain things were carried out, others were not, but most of all the players did not read it [the game] when they were out there.

"If it is not healing we have to look at our options within the 28 players."

Analysis of the crushing defeat meant Sloane, and assistants David Nucifora and Joe Schmidt, had no option but to make changes.

"Everyone can understand that," Sloane added. "It does not matter if they are experienced or new players and it has got to be fixed."

The squad had bought into the new systems and at times had used those well but there was also an alarming lack of basic skills.

"We have seen that in the last few weeks - things like passing which does not hit the mark - and it is putting people under pressure.

"There is frustration there, for sure, with some of the high-profile players not hitting their straps yet.

"There are a lot of simple fundamental mistakes being made by some of the so-called quality players. At times we got rattled and we have done that too often this year," he said.

Late in the game the problem Blues backline was rearranged with Tasesa Lavea at first five-eighths, Carlos Spencer at fullback, Mils Muliaina at centre and Isa Nacewa on the wing.

Whether that grouping is suited to start a game is debatable. In the mix are the regular worries about whether Ben Atiga will be fit, blindside flanker Jerome Kaino's return from suspension and wing Rudi Wulf's coming back from the RWC sevens.

But Sloane and Co have to talk the talk this time; they have to make things happen.

The midfield combo of Sam Tuitupou and Luke McAlister is dysfunctional, Doug Howlett's confidence is low, worse still Muliaina's is draining away while Spencer has been very conservative.

The loose forwards lack presence. There is a distinct lack of venom and spark about the Blues.

Most disconcertingly, the series has yet to reach half way.

Highlanders 43
Sharks 7

Ben Blair bagged a hat-trick of tries as the Highlanders produced the surprise result of the weekend, thrashing the Sharks in Durban yesterday.

The visitors had already nailed a bonus point by half-time, at which point they led 28-0.

It was an excellent way to start their Super 12 road trip, even if the bottom-placed Sharks were woeful. It was their fourth loss in as many games.

Fullback Blair also kicked five conversions and a penalty, scoring 28 points in all, to steer the visitors to their second win in four matches.

The Highlanders' rasping backline struck hard and often and the Sharks' defence was in tatters for most of the match.

Tries by halfback Jimmy Cowan and Blair put the Highlanders 14-0 ahead in the opening 10 minutes. They earned their bonus point for scoring their fourth try as early as the 19th minute when centre Seilala Mapusua touched down.

The Sharks scored their first points in the 46th minute when lock Charl van Rensburg crashed over from close range.

Blair scored his third try a minute later and capped his contribution to the scoreline with a shot at goal after 66 minutes. Lock James Ryan scored the Highlanders' sixth try with a minute left.

Bulls 21
Hurricanes 12

The Bulls scored their first win of the season in downing the Hurricanes at Wellington's Westpac Stadium.

Committed defence from the South Africans prevented a late rally by the hosts as the Hurricanes crashed to their first defeat.

Both sides scored two tries in the second half after a lacklustre tryless opening 40 minutes, but it was a moment of madness from Hurricanes first five-eighth Jimmy Gopperth that saw the Bulls seal the game 15 minutes from time. Gopperth attempted to run the ball out deep within their dead ball zone, but was crunched under the posts and stripped of possession which saw second five-eighth Etienne Botha dot down.

A conversion from replacement first five-eighth Kennedy Tsimba gave the visitors a 21-5 lead. Hurricanes prop Joe McDonnell barrelled over a try in quick response, but the charge was too late.

Coming out after the break 9-0 ahead, the Bulls scored the first try of the match in the 55th minute through winger Akona Ndungane.

Winger Hosea Gear quickly replied for the Hurricanes when Ma'a Nonu took a quick penalty tap in the Bulls 22, drew three players, then flicked the ball to Gear who scored in the corner.

Hurricanes skipper Tana Umaga said the Bulls' urgency and desperation proved the difference between the sides.

"They wanted it more than us and they stuck to their game plan."

Waratahs 25
Stormers 10

The Waratahs made it four wins from as many starts against the Stormers, putting behind them the racial row involving lock Justin Harrison.

Committed defence enabled them to nullify a near-test-strength Stormers backline.

The absence of Harrison, who voluntarily stood down after admitting to racially abusing Cats winger Chumani Booi last weekend, did not hurt the Waratahs lineout.

They comfortably won their own throws and pinched eight of the Stormers' as they scored three tries to one.

"It's been a difficult week but I like to think we managed to separate the issues that happened," said coach Ewen McKenzie.

He praised the barnstorming display by centre Nathan Grey, who was initially accused of the racial sledge which Harrison later claimed.

Grey and centre partner Morgan Turinui, who scored two tries, outshone the Stormers Springbok pairing of De Wet Barry and Marius Joubert.

Likewise, man-of-the-match, flanker Phil Waugh, got the better of Springbok star Schalk Burger at the battle of the breakdown.

Turinui zipped between Barry and Joubert for the only try of the first half which ended with the Waratahs holding an 8-3 advantage.

Waugh added the second try in the 55th minute when he took a tap penalty and barged over the line. Turinui rounded off a slick team move in the 65th minute to score his fifth try of the campaign.

The Stormers' only try came from captain and halfback Neil de Kock in the last minute.

Brumbies 34
Cats 29

Matt Giteau scored 24 points as the Brumbies beat the Cats in a thriller at Johannesburg yesterday.

First five-eighth Giteau, playing his first game for more than a month due to a hand injury, gave a near-flawless display scoring two tries, landing four conversions and slotting two penalties.

The win lifted the Brumbies to second on the standings on 18 points one behind the Waratahs.

It was the Cats' third successive defeat at home and left them languishing three places from the bottom with a daunting five away games to come.

The Brumbies scored four tries with fullback Sam Norton-Knight and centre Joel Wilson adding to Giteau's efforts.

The Cats only managed two tries, the first a superb solo effort from centre Jaque Fourie and the second a good team effort rounded off by fullback Conrad Jantjes.

First five-eighth Andre Pretorius added 16 points from four penalties and two conversions.