Rugby: Collins' injury hits Blues' bid for pride

Justin Collins will not play after suffering a headache following training. Photo / Tania Webb

Blues v Crusaders
Eden Park, 7.35 tonight

The Crusaders can gain the most from tonight's clash at Eden Park, but there is still plenty on this Super 14 duel for the Blues.

Consider issues such as selection in the opening All Black squad or backup when that group is expanded, recalls for the Blues next season and the prospect of claimed in the draft by another franchise.

Then there is the not-so-small matter of individual and collective pride for the Blues, who have had a patchy season and yet could finish their campaign with bragging rights over the defending champions.

Whether the Blues will be able to get their playing temperatures to boil intensely enough and for long enough has been one of the many uncertain characteristics about their rollercoaster season. They have scored some glorious tries with dazzling individual brilliance or rattling good teamwork and conceded tries at an equally preposterous rate.

That frustrating pattern has delivered a similar messy run of results with the end of their campaign wobbling badly. They have recorded three straight defeats against the Reds, Hurricanes and Brumbies leading into this finale against the champions.

It is not an ideal scenario but a victory somehow against the traditional standard-bearers would offer a far better environment in which to discuss the campaign than a quartet of losses.

The after-effects of a head-knock yesterday forced Blues flanker Justin Collins to pull out of what was likely to be his last Super rugby match.

Collins, who has played 103 Super games, was concussed in the Blues' match against the Reds late last month.

Despite coming through training on Thursday, he later suffered headaches and was pulled from the game yesterday.

"It's tough on Justin. He is such a key figure and leader in our team and he desperately wanted to help his teammates take on the Crusaders at Eden Park," said coach Pat Lam.

Peter Saili will move into the No 6 jersey and newcomer Andrew van der Heijden will slot on to the bench.

The match will offer a departing memento for five-eighths Jimmy Gopperth and Tasesa Lavea, who are heading overseas.

Gopperth is leaving for Newcastle and Lavea for Clermont, after a Super 14 series where they started out job-sharing before Lavea's dodgy hamstring gave out on him once too often. That left Gopperth in command of his side's attack which he thinks is the best in the competition.

He has been refreshed by his spell with the Blues and their free-wheeling style.

"There is not much point in changing that now, but we have to barricade our defences more," Gopperth said of tonight's closing chapter for 2009.

Pride in defence has been a hallmark of the Crusaders throughout their celebrated history and again this season, they have conceded a miserly 21 tries, less than half the amount leaked by the Blues.

No side has claimed a four-try bonus point against the Crusaders this season, but that record will be well tested tonight if conditions allow. The Blues have only missed out on the four-try bonus point in four of their matches this season.

This looms as a match where the Crusaders will be prepared to soak up some punishment before they pick their strike moments or use their famed counter-attack.

It will be a game where their patience, advantage at the breakdown with Richie McCaw, Kieran Read and Co, and relentless teamwork will be a formidable challenge for the Blues desperation.

BLUES v CRUSADERS:

Blues

Rudi Wulf
Rene Ranger
Anthony Tuitavake
Isaia Toeava
Joe Rokocoko
Jimmy Gopperth
Chris Smylie
Jerome Kaino
Tom Chamberlain
Peter Saili
Kurtis Haiu
Jay Williams
John Afoa
Keven Mealamu (c)
Tony Woodcock

Reserves: Tom McCartney, Tevita Mailau, Dean Budd, Andrew van der Heijden, Grayson Hart, Jamie Helleur, Paul Williams.

Crusaders

Leon MacDonald
Jared Payne
Tim Bateman
Ryan Crotty
Adam Whitelock
Andy Ellis
Stephen Brett
Thomas Waldrom
Richie McCaw (c)
Kieran Read
Isaac Ross
Michael Paterson
Owen Franks
Jason Macdonald
Wyatt Crockett

Reserves: Daniel Perrin, Bronson Murray, Ross Filipo, George Whitelock, Kahn Fotuali'i, Sean Maitland, Hamish Gard.