Rugby: Back to basics as Blues seek consistency

Blues lock Ali Williams says countering the Cheetahs' tall lineout will be key to his side's success on Friday. Photo / Getty Images

The Blues are taking a back-to-basics approach to get their Super 14 rugby campaign back on track against the bottom-of-the-table Cheetahs in Auckland tomorrow night.

The Blues' results, like their form, has been inconsistent, with two wins and two defeats, including a last-up 35-31 loss to the unbeaten Sharks that left them fifth on the table.

Despite the long trip home from South Africa a few days earlier, the Auckland-based side made a brave attempt at coming from behind against the Sharks before ending up just short.

However, coach Pat Lam bemoaned the errors that hampered the Blues' effort at Eden Park.

"We have to do the basics well and that let us down against the Sharks," he said.

"We made far too many errors so we have to be accurate in what we do."

For the Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs, the trip to North Harbour Stadium will mark the fifth of six consecutive away matches that make up the start to their season.

Their run of four defeats so far maintains their disappointing record of being winless away from home since they joined the expanded Super 14 in 2006.

But Lam ruled out any complacency within the Blues' ranks, saying that the old cliche still rang true of any team being able to win on the day.

He was also wary of the Cheetahs' tall lineout, which he described as one of the best in the competition.

"They pinch a lot of ball so we have to very accurate with our ball," he said.

"We just want to step up in the whole set piece area to give us the launching pad to attack from."

Winger Rene Ranger returns from an eye socket injury, while Lam has opted to elevate draft utility Michael Hobbs to starting second five-eighth.

Lam said Hobbs had done well each time he had come off the bench to fill either of the inside back positions.

Hobbs also offered the Blues another option as first receiver in additional to first fifth-eighth Jimmy Gopperth.

"He'll work with Jimmy to give us a double pivot and give us two kickers in there," Lam said.

Lock Ali Williams agreed that countering the Cheetahs' lineout would be a key to success.

"All of us as a pack have to buy into the fact that they have a great lineout and we have to be at our best."

The experienced All Black said attacking the opposition's strength could also take away some of its potency, but there was no underestimating the Cheetahs' ability at lineout time.

Williams made his first appearance for the Blues last week since returning north from a championship-winning season with the Crusaders last year.

He had been kept out of the first three rounds because of a back problem.

He said it usually took him three or four games to be back up to speed in terms of match fitness.

At the moment, he, too, was concentrating on the basics in his personal game, like "ball in contact, lineouts, scrums - those simple cliche rugby terms".

- NZPA