Rugby: Blues fallout could snaffle assistants

Pat Lam. Photo / Getty Images

Rookie Blues coach Pat Lam could be forced to ditch his assistants as the fallout from the failed Super 14 campaign intensifies.

A series of taut meetings between Lam and Blues chief executive Andy Dalton has seen the pair fail to reach consensus about the direction the Blues should take ahead of next year's campaign. Dalton emphasised the meetings had been "positive" and did not indicate a split between coach and CEO.

Following a difficult rookie season where the side was plagued by injuries, pressure has been placed upon Lam to dump his assistants, Shane Howarth and Mike Casey.

In recently completed player reviews of the season, Lam received positive feedback from the squad but, when asked whether his assistants had received the same seal of approval, Dalton stopped well short of offering a ringing endorsement.

"They're very supportive of Pat but at this stage it's too early to get into any more detail than that. There's some good stuff that's come out of there and I might add that they've put their hand up saying they need to work harder too.

"But there's a whole lot more that I won't get into the detail of at this stage."

Players' Association boss Rob Nichol said there was no question of the sort of player power issues the Blues had experienced in the past being at play here: "There is a process ongoing. I'm aware the players pointed the finger at themselves and likewise they think that within the whole environment there is an opportunity to improve."

While the New Zealand Rugby Union would have to approve any changes to the coaching staff, it is normal practice for the national body to support the recommendation of the franchise.

Lam is fiercely resistant to the idea as he retains implicit faith in Howarth, with whom he has worked professionally since 2004 and been friends with since his mid-teens.

Lam has also made it be known in the past - most particularly when he accepted the temporary role of coach of the Pacific Islanders in 2006 - that if he is going to be held accountable for a side's performance he must have the freedom to select his own management team.

A situation where he has to accept assistants he hasn't picked himself is unacceptable to Lam. That point has apparently been made to Dalton.

Dalton and Lam met at least twice last week and another issue near the top of the agenda was how best to strengthen the quality of the playing squad.

Lam, who played and coached in Britain for six years, is a believer in the free market. He wants to build a culture where, if the right calibre of individual is not available within the region, he identifies players he believes could strengthen the squad and then empowers the chief executive to 'buy' them.

With 22,000 players in Auckland, almost 7000 in North Harbour and a further 8000 in Northland, Dalton's preference is to stay loyal to those who come through the local system.

The Auckland franchise desperately need an overhaul at the all-important No 8-9-10 axis if they are to be serious contenders but the limit of their ambition so far appears to be the signing of Highlanders five-eighth Daniel Bowden.

Lam was reportedly keen on securing the services of World Cup-winning five-eighth Jonny Wilkinson but the Englishman chose instead to take up a deal at Toulon.

The inefficiency of the Blues' contracting power has been highlighted by the Brumbies, now shaping as a serious challenger for future titles, who identified similar weaknesses in their squad and by the end of their campaign had signed Mat Giteau, Josh Valentine and Rocky Elsom.

In regard to the tension between himself and Lam, Dalton said: "We've had a disappointing season, we're working hard on looking at areas we can improve on. It will be bumpy, there'll be some discomfort for everybody and so there should be, given that we're not where we need to be.

"There's a lot of work in that so we meet regularly, every day at the moment.

"I have a huge amount of time and respect for Pat. We're both working very hard to review the '09 season. It was a disappointing effort and there is going to be some hard questions asked of everybody, including Pat, including me."

The Herald on Sunday rang Lam to clarify aspects of this story but he did not want to comment. Earlier in the week, when talking on a different issue, he admitted his frustration at having to blood 17 new players this season.