Rugby: Big guns rolled in for Chiefs contest

Tana Umaga. Photo / Getty Images

The midfield temperature went up a few notches as the Blues and Chiefs unveiled their heavy artillery for tomorrow's bragging rights derby at Eden Park.

The Chiefs hit first, choosing former All Black hardman Tana Umaga in the middle of a classy backline before the Blues announced their former test rep Benson Stanley would anchor their midfield cause.

Stanley's return after injury has pushed Luke McAlister into the primary role of backline director for just the third time this season.

Video: Lam on McAlister's move to first-five

The Blues used their bye week to reassess their push through the last three Super 15 pool matches and how best to deal with the Chiefs' attacking threat through the inside channels.

They chose to bench Stephen Brett and park McAlister in close.

"There was no question Benson Stanley had to come back for his defence against a Chiefs team that will come down with all the runners they've picked in their backline," coach Pat Lam said.

"We worked through who was going to deliver the game plan we wanted from the start and that's Luke."

Lam said he was not under any instructions from the All Black selectors to try McAlister at first five-eighths. He was in regular contact with the selectors but they left him to do what he felt was best for the Blues.

That meant a few backline alterations and two in the pack, with Tom McCartney moving from prop into hooker for resting skipper Keven Mealamu and Tevita Mailau coming into loosehead prop.

Chiefs coach Ian Foster has recalled opensider Tanerau Latimer, props Ben May and Nathan White with Umaga who has been out of action for weeks with an Achilles tendon strain.

"The Blues will be well motivated as they seek to nail a playoff place and the fact they lost their last home game," Foster said.

"For us, knowing we are out of the playoffs is disappointing but having a traditional game like this now is ideal."

Lam and his staff have been trying to identify why they began slowly against the Reds and finished limply against the Stormers in defeats which arrested their progress.

"When we play as a team we are pretty close to unstoppable," he said.

Problems came when they went away from their patterns and started working as individuals. When that happened the Blues were "awful, simple as that". Too often players switched off and lost concentration.

There was nothing better than derby games like one with the Chiefs to retool players' concentration.

Teams with the best collective ethos usually triumphed. The Blues had been working hard to rebuild that unity and purpose in their training and had enough senior experienced players who were a key to that example.

The Blues felt they had sorted out their remedial work, they were refreshed and content about their buildup for what would be a huge contest against a Chiefs side with nothing to lose.

"All games are must-win," Lam said about the programme ahead. "There is no complacency, our focus is on a win after two losses."

BLUES
Lachie Munro, Joe Rokocoko, Jared Payne, Benson Stanley, Rene Ranger,
Luke McAlister, Alby Mathewson, Peter Saili, Luke Braid, Jerome Kaino (c), Ali Williams, Anthony Boric, John Afoa, Tom McCartney, Tevita Mailau.

Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Charlie Faumuina, Chris Lowrey, Sean Polwart, Chris Smylie, Stephen Brett, Sherwin Stowers.

CHIEFS
Mils Muliaina (c), Lelia Masaga, Richard Kahui, Tana Umaga, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Stephen Donald, Brendon Leonard, Fritz Lee, Tanerau Latimer, Liam Messam, Romana Graham, Craig Clarke, Nathan White, Hika Elliot, Ben May.

Reserves: Aled de Malmanche, Toby Smith, Culum Retallick, Matt Vant Leven, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Mike Delany, Dwayne Sweeney.