Rugby: Blues out for revenge

The Blues handed the Cheetahs their only win in 2010. Photo / Getty Images

The Blues will have revenge on their minds when they host Super rugby strugglers the Cheetahs in Whangarei tomorrow.

Their 36-32 defeat to the South Africans last May - a result that effectively ended their semifinal hopes - remains fresh in the memory.

"We owe them big time," coach Pat Lam said.

Fourteen of the Blues' 22-strong squad named yesterday played in that match in Bloemfontein against opponents who were sitting second bottom.

To avoid a repeat result, Lam was looking for an improved mental approach from his team.

"We went out there and our attitude was not spot on, and we got taken apart," he said.

"That pretty much ended our season. We just know we have to front up attitude-wise. If we do that, then we've got a good chance of winning."

With four wins, a draw and a loss, the Blues are second in the New Zealand conference and occupy one of the six playoff spots in the overall table.

The Cheetahs are last of the competition's 15 teams, after just one win from six matches.

They are also coming off a 41-8 drubbing at the hands of the Queensland Reds last weekend.

However, Lam saw plenty of warning signs with the Cheetahs and pointed to the shock 23-3 victory they pulled off over the Waratahs the week before.

"They'll be pretty committed,'' he said.

"They could easily have won all their games bar last week, if you look closely. What they did to the Waratahs, they did to us last year."

Lam has made one injury-related change to his starting 15, with All Black flanker Jerome Kaino being rested because of a neck problem.

Lam said Kaino, who has been replaced by Chris Lowrey, had been struggling with the injury over the past three to four weeks.

He described it as "not too serious" but niggly, with the player cramping up in the neck area.

"We've managed him during the week and it's got to the point now where it's not worth the risk," he said.

"Probably rest is the best thing at the moment."

The Blues have a bye next week, and Lam was hopeful Kaino would be back to face the Waratahs in the round after that.

There is also one change on the bench, with North Harbour lock James King in line to make his debut.

King has been called up for Filo Paulo, who fractured an eye socket in training this week.

There are five changes to the Cheetahs' starting 15, including Springbok Ashley Johnson making way at No 8 for Davon Raubenheimer, who will get his first run of the season.

Two other changes were forced by injury, with test flanker Heinrich Brussow (ribs) and winger Philip Snyman (ankle) both unavailable.

- NZPA