Rugby: Bye gives Blues time to get back on track

The Highlanders proved in Dunedin that the Waratahs are beatable - even after taking a healthy lead. Photo / Getty Images

Waratahs next up when Kirwan’s side attempt to overcome their horror start.

The Blues' players are now on a bye week which represents a few days off to get away from what is becoming a train-wreck of a season, but their next assignment, in Sydney against the defending champion Waratahs, is likely to be their toughest yet.

For that match on Saturday, March 28 they are likely to be without several of their best players - Charlie Faumuina, Charles Piutau and James Parsons - as the Blues fall into line with orders from above for easing the workload of All Blacks during World Cup year.

As coach John Kirwan said during the week when reflecting on skipper Jerome Kaino's absence from the 30-23 defeat to the Hurricanes on Friday due to concussion: "It never rains but it pours".

One piece of good news as Kirwan considers a difficult juggling act is that Steven Luatua will be available. A report at the weekend said the big loose forward would also be rested but Kirwan yesterday confirmed he would play.

No 8 Luatua and prop Faumuina were two of the Blues' best in the loss in Palmerston North, a match in which Kirwan's team again made life difficult for themselves. It began with the opening scrum in the Hurricanes' danger zone, a perfect platform on which to attack off, only for first-five Ihaia West to inexplicably go for a low-percentage grubber kick behind the defence.

Bouncing back from a horror start in which they were 10-0 down after 16 minutes thanks to a penalty and a converted TJ Perenara try, they took the lead after converted tries to Lolagi Visinia and Frank Halai, only to concede the advantage three minutes after the halftime hooter when Matt Proctor scored following a remarkable Hurricanes' attack which clearly is not lacking for confidence.

Later, Kaino had the misfortune to be interviewed on the sideline when Julian Savea scored the first of his two tries, the second of which, with five minutes remaining, effectively shut the door on a possible Blues' upset.

Afterwards Kirwan again rued a lack of luck for his team. "We just can't win a trick," he said. "So we've got to keep working hard. The courage and commitment's there from the guys and it'll turn round.

"We are working incredibly hard. The guys deserve more than what they're getting. We've got a bonus point out of the last four games. We just need to nail some of the execution under pressure. But, like I said, I'm just incredibly proud of their courage and commitment under fire."

Blues supporters get a week off from a ride which is this season more downward spiral than the franchise's traditional rollercoaster. The Highlanders proved in Dunedin that the Waratahs are beatable - even after taking a healthy lead. The Waratahs' next match is against a Brumbies team travelling fairly well. It's likely to be physical. Kirwan might be hoping they knock lumps off each other before the Blues fly in under the radar.