Rugby: Blues need to hone fury but lose frenetic ways

A late-selection squeeze put Stephen Brett (pictured) and Daniel Kirkpatrick on the Blues roster. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The Blues and first five-eighths. For ages they were incompatible as coach Pat Lam and his crew scoured the globe and players-for-hire lists.

Local franchise talent was rejected for this season's Super 14. The search went to Europe and back, inquiries were made about Jonny Wilkinson, Juan Martin Hernandez, Daniel Carter, Mike Delany and Aaron Cruden.

The replies were always the same, in the negative, until late-selection squeezes in the New Zealand ballot put Stephen Brett and Daniel Kirkpatrick on the Blues roster.

Both were involved last week, joining a lengthy list of former Blues five-eighths still going round in the competition. Teammates Isaia Toeava and Luke McAlister have both had a shot in previous seasons.

Carlos Spencer turned out for a modest half-game with the Lions in South Africa while Michael Hobbs came on as a substitute with telling effect for the Highlanders and is likely to be retained when the team is named this morning for Friday's match at Carisbrook against the Blues.

Brett had a strong start to his Blues career until he and his colleagues tripped up in a second-half stutter against the Hurricanes.

There was too much frazzle with the attempted dazzle - instead of taking a few deep collective breaths, the Blues hyperventilated and lost their way.

They have to make amends and fast, otherwise the playoffs target will disappear quicksmart. Brett should again be sent out as the backline general, but with instructions, to him and the entire team, to vary their play, to consolidate on what they learned at Albany and to work steadily into the match.

Furious is fine, but not frenetic; intense is okay, but not irrational. It has to be a team mantra, too, especially at the breakdown where the Blues were penalised heavily at Albany.

New Zealand's leading referee Bryce Lawrence will control Friday's match after running the sideline last week.

He will be anxious to exert his authority so players, who have had trial games and last Friday's series opener, should be clued up enough not to irritate him, especially in the tackled ball zone.

It will be tough though, because the breakdown remains an awkward area to police. Players have had to change their techniques, both in carrying the ball and in dealing with a tackled opponent.

But there remains uncertainty about when a tackle is completed. Last week, Crusaders loosie George Whitelock was tipped up by the Highlanders and the tackler seemed to let him go to try to steal the ball, only for Whitelock to crawl ahead until team help arrived.

Referees' rulings remain subjective and difficult in such a fast game involving so many scenarios.

But it was satisfying to note a reduction in coaching from match officials. When players are warned by the referee, they will continue to infringe. They should be penalised for offside at rucks and pileups. No warnings, just whistle them until they are compliant.

Players who crib half a metre offside are as much a blight on the flow of a game as those who misbehave at the breakdown.

If necessary, referees can give the offenders reasons for their decisions, but only after they have found fault and penalised them.