The Blues haven't won a Super Rugby match against Kiwi opposition since 2016. Photo / Photosport
The Blues haven't won a Super Rugby match against Kiwi opposition since 2016. Photo / Photosport
The Blues have played 14 derby matches since their last New Zealand conference victory – an unsuccessful streak that runs nearly two and a half seasons.
Their sole victory was Tana Umaga's first competition game in charge in 2016 – a 33-31 win over the Highlanders at Eden Park on February 26. Of the side that started that match, only James Parsons, Ofa Tu'ungafasi and Patrick Tuipulotu will start against the Highlanders at Eden Park tomorrow.
Since that glorious summer's day two years ago, they have lost 13 matches against Kiwi teams; their best result a 16-all draw against the Chiefs at Eden Park in their final conference match of last season.
It is a run full of near misses and hard-luck stories, but the bottom line is the Blues haven't been good enough to get across the line since Umaga's first game in charge and, given their current form and injury issues, it's difficult to see that changing in their next challenge against the Highlanders.
It doesn't get any easier after this for the Blues as they have still to play the Hurricanes and Crusaders, the two top teams in the New Zealand conference, home and away.
Interestingly, there are few blowouts in terms of their defeats. The widest margin is 15 points – against the Crusaders in 2016 and the Chiefs last year.
Ten of the losses have come by seven points or fewer, including all three of this season's; they lost by seven points to the Highlanders in Dunedin in round one and by six and two to the Chiefs.
The Blues should have done far better in their first match against an injury-hit Chiefs at Eden Park in round two and Umaga's men had a long lead in the return match at Waikato Stadium a fortnight ago, only to concede it and the match with a penalty try in the final 10 minutes.
Why the shocking streak? It probably has its origins in the Blues' decision making and skill execution under pressure and the ability of the Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders and Highlanders, all of whom have won titles in the past five years, to punish mistakes.
For whatever reason, the Blues for all of their improvement away from home under Umaga compared with his predecessor John Kirwan, don't have the same killer instinct.
They have turned letting opposition teams off the hook into an art form and yet Umaga must tread a fine line in terms of his message to his players.
"Executing on the field is the key thing for these guys," Umaga said this week. "Some young guys have had to step up in terms of leadership.
"The other side of it is they're worried about making mistakes. We all make mistakes, we understand that, but if we're not trying you're not going to test yourself.
"We want them to express themselves. This is their opportunity on the big stage and these local derbies are probably the biggest stages in the country."
Blues coach Tana Umaga. Photo / Photosport
Loose forward Akira Ioane, one Blues player who is thriving this year due to his constant selection at No8, where he has played every minute of every match, scoring a remarkable seven tries and beating 42 would-be defenders, believes the key to success is simple.
"Don't try too hard – that's when we tend to make a lot of errors," Ioane said. "We just have to make sure we get a good start and nail our roles throughout."
In the Blues' favour is the fact that they go into the Highlanders match with the knowledge they did last weekend what they couldn't last year and that's beat the Sunwolves in Tokyo. Against them is a horror injury run of 18 players incapacitated by injury and a losing streak against New Zealand teams which is becoming epic in its scale.
"You've got to get confidence from your wins and performances," Umaga said. "We've got to make sure we take something from that second-half performance [against Sunwolves] and carry that across. Yep, there are injuries and new players getting involved, it's been a short week, but that's how it is."
Blues streak v NZ teams 2016 Blues 33 Highlanders 31 (w) Crusaders 28 Blues 13 (L) Blues 19 Hurricanes 23 (L) Chiefs 29 Blues 23 (L) Blues 21 Crusaders 26 (L) Hurricanes 37 Blues 27 (L)
2017 Chiefs 41 Blues 26 (L) Blues 12 Highlanders 16 (L) Crusaders 33 Blues 24 (L) Highlanders 26 Blues 20 (L) Blues 24 Hurricanes 28 (L) Blues 16 Chiefs 16 (D)
2018 Highlanders 41 Blues 34 (L) Blues 21 Chiefs 27 (L) Chiefs 21 Blues 19 (L)
Derby matches to come: V Highlanders, Eden Park, tomorrow V Hurricanes, Eden Park V Crusaders, Eden Park V Hurricanes, Wellington V Crusaders, Christchurch
