Rugby: Braid back in blue and looming as key figure

Daniel Braid. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Openside flanker Daniel Braid brings skill and sense to the Blues.

Those commodities were invaluable to the Reds when Braid spent time across the ditch and he has brought that experience home for another crack at the Super 15 crown.

During his overseas spell Braid was able to look at the Blues dispassionately to get a better gauge of their strengths and frailties.

His messages to the squad have been unequivocal.

"The ball-carrying ability of this team is outstanding but it is about controlling that," Braid said.

"We have to make sure we do not get carried away because you control the game if you have the ball.

"If you get over-eager, force a pass or whatever and turn the ball over, then you are in trouble and defending for a long time.

"The secret is all about managing the exuberance of this team really and being pragmatic about what we do with the ball."

Braid and the Blues meet their first challenge tonight against one of the more disciplined sides in the competition - the Crusaders.

Braid will not be able to gauge his performance against Richie McCaw as the All Black openside captain is recovering from foot surgery, but he will measure his work against the promising Matt Todd instead.

Braid's return to the Blues completes an eventful journey which involved initial plans for some work with the Reds en route to a three-year deal in Wales.

An Achilles tendon operation scuppered the Welsh contract but Braid's return to New Zealand last year pushed him back into the All Blacks frame and perhaps a second World Cup campaign.

"I have settled in quite well now," he said. "But it will be good to get out and play a proper game for the Blues again where my career started.

"It was a bit strange during the ITM Cup getting back into it.

"It is a big change-around, I never thought I would be back here so quickly. I thought I'd play a lot in Europe but the Achilles tear and losing that contract was really a blessing in disguise."

Playing under the new rules for the Reds and soaking up coaching ideas from Ewen McKenzie helped freshen his career.

"And signing on again here and being able to have another crack at a World Cup in your own country is the ultimate, I think," he said.

Had he noticed much change in New Zealand rugby?

"Not really, especially here with the Blues with the players and some of the schemes I had helped set up.

"This competition is very aerobic, the pace is right up there and I think it creates a very entertaining game."

Braid played a great deal of rugby for Auckland under coach Pat Lam but this is their first year together at a higher level.

"I expect more of the same, in Southern Hemisphere rugby," said Braid.

"We have pace, intensity and huge impacts throughout the competition. It is a tough game now and you have to be very fit.

"If we hold the ball for long enough with the talent in this side we are going to make linebreaks and score tries."

Like all opensiders, Braid thirsts for turnovers but warned patience was the key.

Those nuggets of possession were often created by sides holding their form and keeping their defensive systems for as long as possible.

"Refs are going to be looking at offside lines and infringements from defenders so it is about picking a time to get in and go for a turnover," he said.

Many of those came after dominant tackles from someone like Jerome Kaino so it was often a case of working off the blindsider's shoulder.

"You can get twitchy at the breakdown, thinking about attacking the ball but you have to be patient.

"Usually teams get tired towards the end of each half where techniques start to fail a bit, and ball-carriers go to the ground early and you get your chance to go in."

Braid soaked up his time alongside McCaw on the All Blacks' tour to Europe late last year. He spent much of the trip training but using their tactics was a boon.

After a little time off, he got back into serious training, pushed by the knowledge that younger brother Luke was after his place in the Blues if his form or fitness dropped.

"Naturally he wants my jersey. We do plenty of work together. He is as competitive as me."

And so is Todd and every other No 7 in the land.