Rugby: Lam is back on shaky ground

Pat Lam. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The Blues finished ninth then seventh in Pat Lam's first seasons in chargeQuizzed about the Blues' chances when starting his third season in command, Pat Lam thought they would give the series a good shake.

He had been asked when they would return to play the kind of rugby which gave them the Super rugby title in 2003.

Lam was not bold enough to say they would repeat those deeds but felt they would get near those results and standards.

The Blues are still top of the New Zealand conference and midway through this evening will still be there if they beat the
Crusaders.

If that unlikely scenario plays out, Lam's retention as coach and the team's finals' qualification will be assured.

On the other hand, four losses and fading into the finals is not the strongest ticket to be taking to future job interviews.

Qualifying for the extended six-team finals this year should be the minimum requirement for a Blues side which has rattled the playoffs cage only once since their last title in 2003.

Lam's first two seasons brought ninth then seventh place finishes.

He and the Blues looked as though they were heading for a similar outcome this season after mixed results in the opening four rounds. Lam was called to a high-level discussion with franchise officials, told to lift his game and get tougher with the players.

Otherwise the implication was clear.

Lam made a few calls, several tight results favoured the Blues and they squeezed out seven straight wins.

Now they are on the skids again.

No buzz about more board intervention but there was a "player honesty" session this week, one of the mea culpa sessions to mark another segment of the series.

While the Hurricanes' errors helped the Blues kickstart part two of their campaign, nothing hints that the Crusaders will be as generous for part four.