Another Blues season finished early this week with a whimper, rather than a Semi-Final spot that looked a certainty after the first 3 weeks of this years Super 14.  After scoring back to back 50 point games in South Africa, the Blues were brought back to earth with a loss against the Sharks and then for the next month looked out of confidence, out of shape and out of form.  It wasn't until after the bye that they found some form against the Crusaders.  They finished on a high against the Hurricanes but overall another disappointing effort from the Blues.

So where did it go wrong this season? 

Lets start with coach David Nucifora.  The Blues sufferred a form slump mid-season after travelling back from South Africa, the Blues looked jaded, especially the forward pack after playing week in week out.  What did Nucifora do?  Nothing.  He just kept rolling out the same team hoping for a change in form.  Instead of rotating some of his squad (ala Robbie Deans) Nucifora persisted with the same team and game plan.  Injuries to Rokocoko, Nacewa and Evans didn't help but thats what a squad is supposed to cover for.

You can't blame Nucifora completely though, unfortunately it's not that simple.  Against the Force, Waratahs and Brumbies, the Blues players were aimless, lacking in confidence and form.  The players need to take the heat for those kind of performances and share the blame for a disappointing season.

So lets take a closer look at the Blues;

Forwards:

As a unit they worked well at times, especially at scrum time.  The lineout was again, so-so.  I'm not entirely sure whether it's Mealamu's throwing or just the timing as a unit.  It wasn't until they brought in Boric that the lineout started to have a consistent look to it. 

The scrum functioned very well and the highlight was against the Crusaders, where the Blues scrum dominated. 

Jerome Kaino and John Afoa were the pick of the Blues pack.  Kaino finished along with Kieran Read as the top Blindside flanker in NZ and Afoa would have to rate just behind Somerville as a tighthead.  Flavell had his moments, along with Woodcock and Braid while Nick Williams and Mealamu were disappointing.   

Also, hopefully the Blues board have written a letter along these lines.

Dear Ali,

Please come home.  David Uselessfora is gone (and so is Deans) so no reason for you to hang around the inbreds any longer.  Plus, Red really isn't your colour.

Blue for life!

Regards,
Andy Dalton and the Blues board

Backs:

When given time and space the Blues backs were scintillating, especially Anthony Tuitavake.  Nick Evans came with a big reputation but in my opinion, didn't quite live up to it.  The fact he finished the season at fullback reinforced that. 

Benson Stanley, Nacewa, Rudi Wulf and Tuitavake were the pick of the Blues backs.  Joe Rok started well but unfortunately injury curtailed his season.

The biggest disappointment would have to be Isaia Toeava.  He started off the season well but then faded and eventually dropped to the bench were he had limited impact.  Toeava would have to be the most frustrating player in NZ to watch.  At times is the dominant Centre we've been looking for, then makes the simplest of mistakes over and over again, then at times looks disinterested.   

Overall:

The Blues live and die by the breakdown, if they can control the breakdown and get quick ball, it buys Evans and Nacewa time to run their plays and use width and their pace outwide to punish teams.  If you stifle their ball and deny them time and space, they start throwing 50/50 passes and turnovers.

Teams quickly cottoned onto the fact that by competing at the breakdown  (both legally and illegally) and defending well, it negated to a large degree the Blues attack.

The turning point in the Blues season was the game against the Sharks.  The Sharks turned it into an arm-wrestle and gave the blue-print for the other teams to follow.  This was followed by the lame performances against the Force, Tahs and Brumbies, the 3 games which effectively killed the Blues season. 

MVP for the Blues goes to Jerome Kaino who should be rewarded with a recall to the All Blacks.  Honourable mentions to Anthony Tuitavake and Rudi Wulf.

Next season?:

The big plus for the Blues is the loss of Uselessfora.  Hopefully the Blues board see the error of their ways and appoint Pat Lam before we lose him too.

Nacewa, Evans, Flavell, Gus Collins and possibly Daniel Braid will be missing next season which the Blues will need to recruit from outside the region to fill, especially First Five.

Hopefully Lam will bring his NPC success to the Blues.