The Blues will be without their powerhouse All Black prop Ofa Tuungafasi for what is effectively a Super Rugby Trans-Tasman semifinal against the Western Force at Eden Park on Saturday night.
Otherwise its pretty much all hands on deck for what might be the franchises biggest match in a decade maybe longer. The Blues havent played a Super Rugby final since 2003s victory over the Crusaders, and havent featured in an actual semifinal since 2011s defeat to the Reds in Brisbane.
But after Saturday nights fourth straight Super Rugby Trans-Tasman victory, over the Queenslanders at Suncorp Stadium, the competitions great under-achievers nailed almost permanently to the bottom rung of the New Zealand conference have put themselves on the cusp of something rather special.
A bonus point win at Eden Park over the winless Force will seal the Blues’ spot in the championship.
Depending on what happens elsewhere (and New Zealand teams have won 18 of the 20 matches against Aussie opponents over this competition) the Blues may only need a victory in their round-robin closer to clinch a spot in the final, and host it.
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No bonus point would leave them vulnerable to being caught if either or both the Crusaders and Highlanders nailed massive victories. The Blues (19) are a point clear of both the Highlanders and Crusaders (18) and have the better points difference — +109 to +82 and +71 respectively..
The Auks will host the final if they secure a bonus point victory over the Force on Saturday night. Thats a given. And, whatever the scenario, the Blues will know exactly the task required when they run out at Eden Park on Saturday, with the Highlanders meeting the Brumbies in Canberra on Friday night and the Saders in action against the Rebels at Leichardt on Saturday afternoon.
Even without Tuungafasi, who will sit out his second match in three weeks while he manages a knee issue, the Blues should have the quality and firepower to get the job done. The Force have been as combative as heck in Trans-Tasman, but are still 0-4, after going down to the Chiefs (by one), the Highlanders (by 10), the Hurricanes (by 37) and last weekend the Crusaders (by eight).
Tuungafasi told Stuff he was comfortable with the decision made on Monday for him to sit the match out while he continues to get his right knee in full working order.
Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
Assistant coach Tom Coventry admits the Blues haven’t dealt well with high expectations in the past.
Theres been a bit of wear and tear over the years, and with the travel to and from Brisbane, theres a little bit of fluid in the joint, and it got a bit sore Sunday and Monday, he said, fresh off a gym session while his team-mates trained on Tuesday.
Physically its good for the body to rest, but it will be tough mentally watching. I would love to be out there running around. But Ill do whats best for the team, and me just good enough … I dont think thats fair.
We back our depth. I watched from the sideline against the Brumbies and the boys got up and played really well. Ive got full confidence in them this week as well.
Blues forwards coach Tom Coventry was comfortable there was still enough quality up front with three All Blacks and the experienced Marcel Renata to get the job done, but made it clear they were doing their best to dampen down the hype of their first final in 18 years being within touching distance.
I know its a cliche, but we have been really concentrating on one match at a time, he told Stuff after Tuesdays training hitout. I dont think weve been very good with expectation. There have been a lot of expectations around this team, from the media, from the public and our fans, and I dont think thats something weve dealt with very well, managing those expectations.
Its going through the process of looking at the opposition, the merits they bring, and trying to find a way of breaking a team down and taking nothing for granted. Its what youve got to do every week, whether its a test match or a club game.
And Coventry was adamant the Force, featuring Kiwi veterans Richard Kahui and Jerenmy Thrush, presented a potential banana skin this week, never mind that they havent won a match since their April 23 Super AU home victory over the Reds.
We havent got ahead of ourselves, and we havent talked about anything other than playing the Force, he told Stuff. Theyre a bloody good team, theyre hard to beat, and no one has been able to really get on top them, apart from that slip in Napier. Theyve been there or thereabouts right through, theyve got some good players and some good experience too.
Expect the Blues accordingly to send out something resembling their best available for this pivotal contest. Nepo Laulala should slot in at starting tighthead, and possibly Hoskins Sotutu could return at No 8. The backline has been pretty settled through this campaign.
When your first final in 18 years is within touching distance, you dont mess with the formula thats got you this close.