Rugby: Blues might look to go West after cameo

Ihaia West gave the Blues more penetration against the Sharks. Photo / Getty Images

Ihaia West may have done enough against the Sharks to be handed his first start for the Blues this week when they take on the Hurricanes.

The elusive first-five made a positive impact in his 30-minute cameo in the 29-23 defeat - bringing the attacking line closer to the action which gave his side more direction and penetration.

It was a well-timed effort by West as he, Simon Hickey and Baden Kerr are battling to be retained by the franchise next year. It's possible all three could be contracted but the odds of that dropped over the weekend with confirmation the Blues have signed former Crusader Daniel Bowden.

A former Auckland Grammar School pupil, Bowden impressed with the Crusaders in 2010 before shifting to England. He was initially touted as an England test prospect but has given up on that - having decided to come home to the Blues via a season in Japan.

The Blues plan to use him more at second-five - where he has played most of his rugby in England - but he is a capable first-five.

It's probable, then, that the Blues will look to run with two specialist first-fives next year, with Bowden viewed as an insurance should they be hit with injuries.

For one of those spots, the Blues are hopeful of recruiting a relatively experienced No10 to build their team around. It might come down to a straight choice between Hickey, West and Kerr for the final place and the former may be feeling a bit of angst in that regard.

Hickey, who started at No10 against the Sharks, was guilty of dropping a little deep into the pocket and launching attacks too far behind the gainline. Too often the Blues were forced to shovel ball across the field, hoping the wider they went, the less defensive pressure they would encounter.

What actually happened, was that they were knocked down hard behind the advantage line on several occasions and couldn't build any momentum.

West's arrival certainly brought more out of Ma'a Nonu. The bruising All Black second-five couldn't escape the clutches of the Sharks defence for 60 minutes.

But when West came on, he created that little bit more space for Nonu; checked the Sharks' defence for that split second longer.

His goal-kicking was rock solid, too, and Blues coach John Kirwan noted the lift in quality when West came on.

"I thought Ihaia came on and gave us something a little different," said Kirwan.

"I felt [before West came on] we were passing too far back at times and they were able to put us under pressure. I wanted us to kick a little bit more behind them just to slow that line up.

"We need to be a little bit more direct. The Sharks slow you down at the ruck - they get their guy over the ball and then they have good line speed. To combat that, you need to push it in behind them and to be very direct in that channel.

"If you are slow in transition then they get up and knock us over the advantage line."

West's goal-kicking at North Harbour may have been the part of his game to most impress Kirwan. The 22-year-old has built a reputation as a great runner: agile, quick and conscious of space, he presents a threat with ball in hand.

Super Rugby, though, requires teams to keep the scoreboard moving and land kicks under pressure - something West did with a touchline conversion and long-range penalty which both enabled the Blues to get within six points of the lead.