Sharks' mauling death knell for Blues

Sharks 32 Blues 15

The Blues' latest defeat has dismantled their playoff hopes but improved their All Black selection chances.

That oddity has occurred because Graham Henry has decided to pick players for the opening tests against Ireland from those sides who miss the Super 14 semifinals.

Put a ring around the Blues as one final-four absentee after their loss yesterday.

With that failure, the Blues consolidated their place as the least successful New Zealand franchise alongside the Highlanders in the series.

Knocked by the heat and humidity in Durban after their lengthy travel, the Blues were then undone by the aggressive power of the Sharks pack.

The hosts maintained a forward onslaught and the visitors succumbed to the conditions, their lack of ball control and some defensive uncertainty.

The Blues began with a burst, wing Doug Howlett scoring in the first minute, but from that promise they withered as the Sharks increased the tempo and their efficiency.

"The Sharks pack just outplayed us and once they got the score ticking they were difficult to stop," Blues skipper Keven Mealamu said. "It was difficult to stop the Sharks' rolling maul, especially with big boys like Jon Smit and A.J. Venter in their ranks."

Those who argue that writing the Blues' Super 14 obituary is premature are correct. But it would need a shift in the planets' alignment, greater shocks than the Force drawing with the Crusaders, for the Blues to make the playoffs.

For the seventh time in the past eight seasons, the Blues will miss the Super semifinals.

After four defeats in their opening six games and no bonus points, the Blues recouped some of their reputation with three straight wins.

But there was plenty of patchy work even in those victories. Those erratic standards resurfaced yesterday in what will be the death knell for the franchise's 2006 ambitions.

The Cheetahs, Cats and Chiefs remain, but maximum-point victories against that trio will not deliver any playoff redemption.

Among the reviews and fallout from this latest season disappointment, there will be inquiries about multiple issues. But the initial questions will be which Blues players persuade Henry they should be chosen for test rugby in June.

Nine of this year's Blues squad were in the Grand Slam tour of Britain last year. Luke McAlister was an initial choice but withdrew through injury, and Saimone Taumoepeau was a late replacement.

Others were Joe Rokocoko, Doug Howlett, Ali Williams, John Afoa, Tony Woodcock, Mealamu and Angus Macdonald, who is out for this season after damaging his knee.

Their international salvation will depend on their contribution in the next few weeks.