Rugby: Super 14 mid-season report

The Blues' high-tempo game has reaped benefits for fans but not enough points on the table. Photo / Getty Images

It's the halfway point in the Super 14. Gregor Paul looks at the New Zealand franchises who could produce our worst result since 2001 - when no Kiwi teams made the playoffs - and analyses what they have to do.

BLUES
Can They Be Happy With Their Work?
In a truly strange mix, the Blues have over-achieved in terms of performance but under-achieved in terms of results.

Tactically they have taken risks but have been smart. Is it mad to run the ball from inside their own 22 when they do it so well? Against the Brumbies and Waratahs, the Blues frequently made it deep into opposition territory by keeping the ball alive.

The high tempo game is working well for them. It is a strategy that is aligned not only to the individual strengths of the players, but also to the law interpretations.

Unlike in previous seasons, their lack of competition points is not a consequence of pursuing a vague and disjointed game plan or, as they did for periods under David Nucifora, one that is not quite right for them.

The problem has been loose execution when it really matters. A Stephen Brett intercept in the first game gave the Hurricanes a soft run to the tape. A wild pass by Rudi Wulf in Christchurch allowed the Crusaders to take control when they had been on the ropes. A similarly wild pass by Taniela Moa handed the game to the Waratahs when it should have nailed shut their coffin.

Big mistakes with big consequences.

What Do They Have To Do Now?
Tactically, they carry on as is. They look the most deadly attacking team in the competition and their set-piece has been mostly efficient.

But the error rate has to drop. Concentration is clearly an issue under pressure. It's not just been wild passes - there has been some avoidable infringing at the tackled ball area. Impetuous decisions made by players who should know better. Discipline has to be tightened, as does the one-on-one tackling.

Secret Weapon: The backs have carried all the accolades for the way they have moved the ball and found space. But they have been greatly assisted by some class pick-and-drive that has kept momentum and forced opponents to man the breakdown.

Selection Issues: Will the introduction of Luke McAlister enhance or cramp Brett? And can McAlister guide Rene Ranger as well as Benson Stanley? The injury to Ali Williams has forced Anthony Boric and Kurtis Haiu to play a lot of minutes and there would have to be concerns one or both could tire by the time the team reaches South Africa - precisely the place the Blues will need their senior locks.

CHIEFS
Can They Be Happy With Their Work
Not now they have undone their achievement of winning their first three games away from home. The competition's notorious slow starters set themselves up perfectly with 14 points from their first three games.

Their set-piece has been inconsistent and fragile and there will be concerns that, until they can get that part of their game right, they won't push into the play-offs. The loss to the Reds was the hardest one to take, as the Chiefs were defeated by a side who did nothing more than stick to a basic recipe of ball retention and territory.

They haven't done a lot wrong - it's more a case of not quite winning the key battles for long enough. Still, this time last year they were looking at a similar number of wins to losses and they reached the final.

What Do They Have To Do Now?
Fix the set-piece. Last year it wobbled early then became a strength. The scrum in particular needs to be steadier.

They also need to settle on a midfield combination that brings Richard Kahui and the back three more into the contest. The beauty about the Chiefs is that they can play both expansive and tight football - whatever is required.

They have a run of home games coming where, depending on the weather, they will want to open things up, play with width and pace, score some tries, collect some points and build their confidence. The grinding comes at the tail end when the weather is packing in and the pressure is mounting. To play that pressure game, they need confidence and belief.

Selection Issues: What to do with Sione Lauaki? Clearly Ian Foster sees the former All Black as the preferred choice at No 8. When he's on, Lauaki can generate momentum and space. But he hasn't managed much form so far this campaign and the higher work-rate of Colin Bourke has given the Chiefs a better balance. The other problem with Lauaki, is not of his own making but, when he plays, too many others stand back and expect him to do all the hard battering yards on his own.

Somehow the Chiefs also need to involve Mike Delany. The Bay of Plenty first five became the second choice All Black behind Dan Carter last year. He's a sharp runner, the type of player who could spark the Chiefs into an extended run of form.

HURRICANES
Can They Be Happy With Their Work?
No. The Hurricanes have been loose without ever being endearing. They are loose both technically and tactically and coach Colin Cooper hasn't settled on his key combinations. When a team makes sweeping personnel changes from week to week, it signals there is creeping desperation.

The Hurricanes don't appear to know what type of rugby they are trying to play and one week they try go-for-broke running from everywhere, like the Blues, and the next they tighten up and kick for territory.

Against the Sharks they introduced Piri Weepu and Aaron Cruden after the break and looked an entirely different team. Big question though - why didn't those two start?

Adding to this tactical confusion has been poor execution. Attention to detail has been missing and it's doing the little things accurately that make all the difference. For a team that began the season with realistic hopes of at least making the top four, to reach round eight with five defeats is disastrous.

What Do They Have To Do Now?
Go for broke. The Hurricanes have just about played themselves out of contention. They can just about play themselves back in if they commit to a high risk game plan. That means picking Weepu at halfback and Cruden at first five. That means emulating the Blues and running from deep. They have the athletes and skills to play 80 minutes of fast and furious rugby.

That strategy loses its effectiveness, though, if it is not consistently applied. The Blues do it well because they don't give opponents any breathing space. When it's relentless, fatigue becomes a factor in the game and one-on-one tackles are suddenly missed and space opens up.

The Canes can do the same. They have rangy forwards such as Michael Paterson, Scott Waldrom and Victor Vito who can support the ball carriers in wide places. Ma'a Nonu also has to come to life. He's been erratic and ineffective. If he takes the ball standing still, he's no good. When Cruden was introduced against the Sharks, Nonu came on to the ball at pace and he's so much better when he's running into half gaps.

Selection Issues:
Coach Cooper has been keen to show he's not afraid of reputations and will make changes on form. Point made.

Now the team needs consistency and the pack needs to be stuffed with the most mobile players - Jeremy Thrush and Paterson at lock and there is an argument to shift Victor Vito to No 8 and play both Karl Lowe and Waldrom. A high-tempo game needs high tempo athletes with Weepu and Cruden providing the direction and Nonu, Smith, Tamati Ellison, Cory Jane and Andre Taylor the gas.

CRUSADERS
Can They Be Happy With Their Work?
One blip against the Reds aside, they will be pretty comfortable with the first half of their season. They showed plenty of courage to see off the Blues and Chiefs and they are renowned for the way they build a campaign to peak at the right time.

They have a run of three games coming against the Waratahs and Cheetahs at home and Force away that could push them to the verge of the playoffs. Their season will then hinge on their African venture, which is a tough one.

They face both the Bulls and Stormers. They have to win one of those two games if they are to secure a home semifinal.

If any side can derail the Bulls in Pretoria, it's the Crusaders. The pack has found its edge and Dan Carter has got better each week. Ryan Crotty and Robbie Fruean are a promising and maturing combination and the strike power has been constant from Jared Payne, Zac Guildford and Sean Maitland.

What Do They Have To Do Now?
Step up the intensity. They don't make a lot of mistakes and Carter can boom them into all the right places. Like the Chiefs, they can arm wrestle if they have to or play wide and fast.

But the hallmark of the title-winning Crusaders teams is the way they lift a gear in the back half of the campaign. When other teams are feeling tired or pressured, the Crusaders appear to play that bit quicker and harder. They don't give opportunities to opponents and they become that little bit more clinical and ruthless. That's what Todd Blackadder will want to see.

Selection Issues: The only areas of debate are at lock where Brad Thorn, Isaac Ross, Chris Jack and the hugely promising Sam Whitelock are competing for two jerseys. It's a nice problem to have and Blackadder knows he can select horses for courses and not fear how it will impact upon the set-piece.

The coach will also have to decide whether the back row of Kieran Read, Richie McCaw and George Whitelock is the right one or whether Whitelock has to step out, shift McCaw back to his treasured No 7 jersey and use Thomas Waldrom at No 8.

HIGHLANDERS
Can They Be Happy With Their Work?
Not at all. This should have been the year the Highlanders took a step forward. There is ample quality in their side and plenty of experience, too. Last year they pushed a lot of teams close but couldn't quite hole out. That was perhaps due to a lack of belief and confidence. But this year has been no different. They still don't have that conviction in the final quarter.

They had the Crusaders under pressure but didn't seem too concerned about finding the jugular. The Blues copped a massive lucky break with a freak try and it sunk the Highlanders' hearts.

In the evolution of any side, there comes a point where they have to find a way through a tough game and realise they can win. So far, the Highlanders haven't made that breakthrough.

The truly frustrating part for coach Glenn Moore is that his side has played effective, structured football in sporadic bursts. When they counter-attack and back themselves to find space and support the ball carrier, they are a good side. They just haven't done enough of that or executed it as well as they should in the closing stages.

What Do They Have To Do Now?
They have to guts it out and try to scramble some wins. They are fortunate that they are playing the Western Force in Queenstown this week - a game in which they could cut loose, score some tries and secure a comfortable win.

If they manage that, then they need to build on it and have the confidence they can play the same way against the likes of the Hurricanes, Waratahs and Brumbies who are next on the Highlanders' itinerary.

Selection Issues: They have reached the point in their season when they need consistency at first five. If they have faith in Robbie Robinson, then give him the rest of the campaign. If nothing else, it will serve him and the team well for next season.

There would have to be some concern about their tight five fading again as they did last year. Tom Donnelly is unlikely to feature again this campaign due to an ankle injury which is putting pressure on Josh Bekhuis and Hayden Triggs. There hasn't been much rotation in the front row and there is a danger this capable unit could be run off the park in the closing stages.