Benson Stanley has gelled with Stephen Brett at the Blues, but he is still set to lose his place
Benson Stanley brings a definite presence to the Blues midfield - and it doesn't cramp the style of Stephen Brett.
The quietly-spoken Stanley is all about straight running lines and defensive thrust and organisation. He doesn't harbour pretensions of being a second receiver.
That approach has not only worked well for the team, it has also been integral in allowing Brett to settle. The former Crusader has been given the room he needs to be chief playmaker.
Brett's role is clear, Stanley's role is clear and the combination has been effective. Brett will always have his critics. Even his best games contain errors that can be costly. But that's who he is and how he plays and the Blues are without question a better side with Brett than they were without him.
They have shown a better understanding of the game plan and a greater awareness and ability to play in the right areas of the field.
So far, so good - except lurking in the background is Luke McAlister. The North Harbour man is expected to shake his calf problem in the next couple of weeks and duly present the Blues coaching staff with a selection headache.
McAlister will have to be given game time once he's fit and it is time that will come at the expense of Stanley. It's possible that Stanley, depending on form and injuries elsewhere could shuffle to centre, to accommodate McAlister.
But the critical outcome will be breaking the Brett-Stanley axis. The world knows McAlister can play football. He can step, break the line, kick and handle first receiver. His talents are many and obvious but will he gel with Brett as effectively as Stanley?
There is a similarity to the way they play and a sense that Brett is the type of player better suited to being solely in charge of the game plan.
"I just do my role," says Stanley. "I play my role each week and whatever decisions the coaches make, they are the best for the team. It's up to me to deal with that if Luke comes back in and plays at 12 and push harder at training."
There's an irony to the current situation. In previous seasons, Stanley has been under pressure to involve himself more as a playmaking second five as the Blues have lacked control and decision-making from their No 10s.
Now that they have a genuine playmaker in Brett, it has allowed Stanley to focus on setting the defensive line speed and working those players outside him into the game. It suits Stanley to have a player like Brett at first five but he accepts that he can't be absolved of all play-making responsibility.
"I am reasonably comfortable but it's not something that comes naturally," he says of operating as a strategic influence. "It's a work-on for me and for the team - getting our communication up.
"By nature this area hasn't produced big-talking teams. We are really trying to change that. I am not sure why that is. You grow up and you don't talk too much during First XV. There is probably a lot of rubbish talked but game-wise we don't really talk about the right sort of things.
"I have grown up playing wider and coming in as opposed to going the other way. I haven't grown up playing five eighth so it's hard. It is something for me to work on - my ability to direct play when one of the drivers is taken out."
Stanley is by no means the only player in the Blues backline who is not a natural game controller. The side is stacked with ball runners and explosive line-breakers such as Isaia Toeava, Rene Ranger and Joe Rokocoko.
What the arrival of Brett and halfback Alby Mathewson has given the Blues is a better platform to launch these strike men.
"Alby and Stevie are good players and they understand what we are trying to achieve," says Stanley. "In that way we are getting good drive about how and where we want to play the game. They are combining well and we are getting what we need from them
"We are moving to try to play what's in front of us. I know that is pretty generic and everyone is trying to move that way but the issue is, I guess, everyone sees the game differently. We get a lot of criticism for being unstructured but we don't really see it that way.
"There are a few fundamentals you can't get too far away from. Territory and playing at the right end of the field is one of those. You want to be going forward as well. If your forwards are going backwards you are out of the game.
"That's all crucial and then it is about manipulating the space. It is about being patient and building pressure and not letting teams off the hook."
With Stanley committed to the New Zealand Rugby Union until 2011 and McAlister until 2012, the Blues have options in how they structure their midfield. What the future holds for Stanley beyond next year, he says he's not sure.
He's Wallaby-eligible having been born in Australia and lived there until he was five.
"Half my family live over there, including my mum. There is a connection there but I haven't looked too far down that avenue."
