Semi finalists in 2007, how will these fellas go in this, the 2008 season?

For starters, they have the makings of a very exciting backline, with the case probably of who to leave out, rather than who to pick for the back seven spots.

They have lost some experience and class in Luke McAlister, but gained some too with Nick Evans coming home from the Highlanders.

The loss of Howlett might be felt more, as his work rate on the field was immense, and work ethic off the field was pretty special too.  Perhaps a chance for Rokocoko to shine at Super level for a change - if anyone has under performed for the Blues over the years it is the Rock.

I also think that Danny Lee will be a boon for the Blues too - experience in vital positions can't hurt, and he has combined with Evans in the past at Otago.

The forwards will miss Whitcombe, retired due to injury, but perhaps Nucifora wull decide to play his All Black hooker Kevin Mealamu a bit more this season...

A little light in the locking department with the loss of All Blacks Greg Rawlinson and Ali Williams, but perhaps this will be offset by the new rules a touch, which might see the big clunkers that the Boers trot out run off their feet.  So they will be a smaller second row than most (if picking the expected pair), but their front row with two All Black test players, and a fringe All Black should not be found wanting, and their loose trio should be spectacular too.  Williams and Rawlinson will be missed though - not that Nucifora would know that...!!

There are a few new players on the block for the Blues this season, some I have no idea about, as I watched sod all NPC last season, but others I have a little idea about, so I'll talk about them, and ignore the rest, or pretend to know about them, thanks to the Blues official website, which is pretty good to tell the truth, easy to navigate and all that, which is exactly what you want (Blues website)!

Anyway, the new players, we'll start with the tough buggers, a prop - Bronson Murray from Northland.  I remember when this guy first broke into the first class scene a year or five ago (five, wowsers, seems like just a year or two) against North Harbour (2002), and seemed destined for big things after his 2003 New Zealand Colts season.  He started out at as a loosehead prop, but now is plying his trade on the tighthead side.  Weighing in at 117kgs, he is a big enough unit to make a go of this.  First season at Super 14 level, and with 63 Northland games behind him, could be a surprise package for the Blues should injury strike in the propping ranks.

Honestly, the rest, well Bryn Evans has also been around the traps for a while, starting out with Hawke's Bay in 2003, and now has racked up 42 games for the Bay.  Not a giant for a lock a 1.96m, but a hard working lock who has earned his spot at the top level.  Proof that Hawke's Bay playing in first division, or premier or whatever you call it these days is good for their players - he and veteran halfback being two drafted to the Blues, along with four others who will ply their trade in the 2008 Super season.

Benson Stanley is the nephew of Joe Stanley, the All Black centre from the 1987 Rugby World Cup winning team.  Even if he is only half as good as 'Uncle', he'll be a bloody god Super rugby player. 

Tom McCartney played for both North Harbour and Auckland this season, and went well, but from what I saw was nothing special, but is in with a chance to show the world what he has got at this level.

This is also he make or break season for a few players with aspirations for higher honours.  First cab off this rank is John Afoa.  With Carl Hayman earning the big bucks in Pommyland, there is a gaping hole in the All Black front row.  With test regulars Woodcock and Mealamu packing down beside him he must have a head start in the race for the black jersey.  His general play is certainly up to and above the standard required.  It is just his scrummaging that lets him down at times.  If he can get that right, than test rugby beckons.

Jerome Kaino is also in with a chance of an All Black, his ability to lock perhaps giving his a genuine chance at a bench spot, in the lock / loose forward replacement mode.  Hell, a good enough season he might even push for a starting spot, but I can't really see him displacing So'oialo or Collins at this stage - I s'pose it depends where he plays, six or eight, and more importantly, how well he plays.  However, a big season should see him back in the All Black mix.

Daniel Braid is another.  The new experimental laws might suit this little terrier down to the ground.  A genuine seven back up for McCaw us lacking in the All Black set up, Masoe being a 'bitsa' player, jack of all trades, but master of none.  So it might be Braid who gets the nod this season in black.

Even perhaps Nick Williams.  He had a huge season two back, having a huge season for the New Zealand Juniors at number eight, but not carrying on this last season.  With no genuine second number eight in the All Black camp, a bug season might push the claims of the Harbour captain.  I dare say the Crusaders Mose Tuiali'i will have something to say about that too, it will be interesting to watch.

So the whole loose trio has a lot to play for, if they can perform as a unit it will also help their individual chances, so expect big things from this three.

In the blouse department Tuitivake and Smith must be in with shots thanks to the exodus in the All Black midfield and Howlett moving on to greener pastures too.  Smith needs game time, and Tuitivake just needs to keep playing good rugby.  If Tuitivake keeps playing as he has in the last 18 months, he just can't continue to be ignored for higher honours.

A starting XV for this mob - well, with Nucifora, you would have no farking idea.  However, what it SHOULD be, in my opinion anyway...

1 Tony Woodcock, 2 Kevin Mealamu, 3 John Afoa, 4 Troy Flavell, 5 Kurtis Haiu, 6 Jerome Kaino, 7 Daniel Braid, 8 Nick Williams, 9 Danny Lee, 10 Nick Evans, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 12 Isaia Toeava, 13 Anthonty Tuitavaki, 14 David Smith, 15 Isa Nacewa.

Maybe Evans and Nacewa swapping over, but otherwise that would be my team, and Atiga must also be pushing for a 13 or 15 jersey too.  As I said earlier, it is more of a case of who to leave out in this Blues backline as opposed to who to pick!

Hang on, perhaps swap Haiu over for the Hawke's bay journeyman Bryn Evans.  That would give you a hard working tradesman lock to pack down beside Flavell.  Or perhaps even throw in the Harbour beanpole Boric, although you should be able to get away with having a couple of 'sawn off' locks when you have Kaino on the loose trio, and even Williams, who in the 2006 season locked a few scrums for the Blues.  So there would be plenty of lineout ball even with a couple of budget height locks.

Blues Squad 2008:  John Afoa (Auckland), Ben Atiga (Auckland), Anthony Boric (North Harbour), Daniel Braid (Auckland), Justin Collins (Northland), Bryn Evans ¹ ³ (Hawke’s Bay), Nick Evans (Auckland), Troy Flavell (Auckland), Jamie Helleur ¹ (Auckland), Kurtis Haiu ² (Auckland), Jerome Kaino (Auckland), Tom McCartney ¹ (Auckland), Danny Lee ² ³ (Hawke’s Bay), Keven Mealamu (Auckland), Taniela Moa ¹ (Auckland), Bronson Murray ¹ (Northland), Isa Nacewa (Auckland), George Pisi (North Harbour), Josevata Rokocoko (Auckland), David Smith (Auckland), Benson Stanley ¹ (Auckland), Isaia Toeava (Auckland), Onosa’i Tololima-Auva’a (Auckland), Anthony Tuitavake (North Harbour), Nick White (Auckland), Nick Williams (North Harbour), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour), Rudi Wulf (North Harbour).

Prospects?  Top half of the table, and probably the top half of the top half - so semi finalists again I would be picking...