Hungry...for success: Piri Weepu
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What a difference a year makes. The Blues will enter this clash with the Crusaders full of confidence and looking to back up their win in Wellington.
Pre-season was clearly profitable at the Auckland outfit and the hurt of 2012 seems to have galvanised this young team that has bags full of potential. Case in point being how well Francis Saili, Steven Luatua, Frank Halai and Charles Piutau performed against the Canes. Ben Lam is also on their books.
It's fair to say the Hurricanes were shell-shocked by the Blues and now Sir Graham Henry and Sir John Kirwan crave a follow up effort in this big one.
"As games go, this is just under a Test match. Blues versus Crusaders is the game of the season so you've got to be ready for it because it should be. For us it's like a local derby," said head coach Kirwan at a Wednesday team announcement that unsurprisingly saw no changes made to his starting side.
Unlike last year, their senior players also seem to have taken responsibility as we saw a lean and hungry (excuse the pun) Piri Weepu in great form. Meanwhile, Rene Ranger was asked to lead the three-quarter line and while there were a couple of errors it was a solid effort in a youthful line-up.
But as one respected former player once said and the Blues are surely drilling into their mindset, "let's not fall in love with ourselves just yet".
The Crusaders will be their next assignment and unlike last year they have Dan Carter from the outset. He will meet the underrated Chris Noakes at 10.
Of course there is no Richie McCaw this season but in a growing list of high class open sides seemingly sprouting from trees down in Australasia, Matt Todd is a capable replacement to the great man. Todd will be looking to push Sam Cane all the way in the battle for McCaw's coveted All Black jersey.
The here and now though is all about Friday at Eden Park as youth takes on experience in what should be a cracking spectacle that could go either way.
Prediction: Will the Crusaders be underdone? Maybe a touch but we think the visitors to sneak it by 3!
The teams:
Blues: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Francis Saili, 11 George Moala, 10 Chris Noakes, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Luke Braid, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Ali Williams (c), 4 Culum Retallick, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 James Parsons, 1 Tom McCartney.
Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Angus Ta'avao, 18 Liaki Moli, 19 Brendon O'Connor, 20 Bryn Hall, 21 Baden Kerr, 22 Jackson Willison.
Crusaders: 15 Tom Taylor, 14 Adam Whitelock, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Israel Dagg, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Dominic Bird, 19 Luke Whitelock, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Tyler Bleyendaal, 22 Tom Marshall.
Date: Friday, March 1
Venue: Eden Park
Kick-off: 19.30 (06:30 GMT)
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Jonathon White (New Zealand), Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri (New Zealand)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand).
Comments
three6three6 says...
I suspect that we are going to see a few new stars identified by the All Blacks this year..... imagine an All Black backline that contains players the likes of Frank Halai and Tim Nanai-Williams....
I expect the Blues will be running the ball from everywhere and scoring as many tries as possible.... of course the hard work starts up front.
Posted 07:15 01st March 2013
three6three6 says...
The two matches played last weekend in New Zealand were extremely high quality matches.... it is easy to see why.... the quality of the players, the quality of the coaches and the various gaps that will appear in the All Blacks this year. Competition particularly at 2, 6, 7, 12, 13 & 14. There is also a very simply mantra - scoring four tries in each match (and securing bonus points) is the best approach to winning matches and advancing to the play off stages.
The Australian Conference could never hope to reach such levels on a consistent basis - matches between the Waratahs, Red and Brumbies are always likely to be of a high standard.... but the overall consistency in the New Zealand Conference is likely to be higher, simply because each team plays 8 very competitive matches (in the Conference) and there are no weak teams in their Conference.
Posted 05:14 01st March 2013
ABlack says...
Just under a test match but ahead of the 6N.....
Posted 20:29 28th February 2013
2eyedkiwi says...
@rugby_lord - I agree wih your prediction
@dutchwing - You may be correct, but the Crusaders have 10 past or present AB's on the park to Blues 5
Posted 18:26 28th February 2013
jmanngod says...
Super rugby test matches?.... Not the Aussie ones 3Nuts
Posted 18:05 28th February 2013
hobo says...
hungry.... for success
thats a bit mean PR... :)
Posted 12:40 28th February 2013
Trinats2 says...
I can see this being a very close game, after watching the Reds v Tahs last week. Chris Bollocks didn't play ANY advantage ( for any side) in the whole game. Wonder if he will let everything go this week !!!
Posted 11:10 28th February 2013
Trinats2 says...
Startledwombat:
I watched that game with Tonga and Georgia, fantastic defence by both teams !!!
Posted 11:01 28th February 2013
UBA05 says...
The old classic, on paper, great looking backline (for the blues) versus a great looking forwards+nine and ten (for the crusaders). Not to say the blues forward pack aren't decent and though the crusaders centres and outside backs dont seem "electrifying" they always get the job done.
The rugby head always has to go for the better forward pack.
Saders by 6
Posted 10:50 28th February 2013
DutchWing says...
Bluesare going to win: no All Blacks on the bench of the Crusaders
Posted 09:49 28th February 2013
Startledwombat says...
I agree with Trinats2. The Force vs Rebels game I went along to see was on a par with Tonga vs Georgia.
Posted 09:08 28th February 2013
Trinats2 says...
Don't think the Crusaders will have holes in their defence as big as the Grand Canyon ! shaders by 9
"As games go, this is just under a Test match." Are not all super rugby games just under a test match ???
Posted 07:39 28th February 2013
rugby_lord says...
Blues will win this by 3 - 7.
Posted 07:24 28th February 2013
PREEST says...
I cannot wait for this! Go Crusaders!! It's so promising to see all the young talent popping up around the country!
Posted 07:03 28th February 2013