Preview: Blues v Chiefs

VENUE & TIME: Eden Park, Auckland, Saturday May 15, 19.35 NZT.

HEAD TO HEAD: Played 14 – Blues 8, Chiefs 6.

LAST TIME: April 28, 2009 (Hamilton) – Chiefs 63-34 Blues.

LAST TIME AT VENUE: April 28, 2008 – Blues 32-14 Chiefs.

WALKING WOUNDED: Keven Mealamu returns to lead the Blues this week but there are a couple of brackets in the team as named. Isaia Toeava will not play, allowing Paul Williams to go back to fullback while Rudi Wulf takes the vacant wing spot. Chiefs winger Dwayne Sweeney copped a three-week ban for a dangerous tackle last week, but the bigger news was the Chiefs team as named. For all the PC speak about looking to the future, it appears Ian Foster has finally had enough of under-performing senior players and has made wholesale changes, especially in the backline, and he runs out what must be one of the youngest rearguards to take the field at this level. If nothing else, these guys won't be afraid to have a go from anywhere.

FORM:

PAST FIVE Blues:
Round 9: Lost to Stormers 21-33
Round 10: Beat Force 38-17
Round 11: Lost to Sharks 10-23
Round 12: Lost to Cheetahs 32-36
Round 13: Beat Lions 56-14

PAST FIVE Chiefs:
Round 9: Lost to Bulls 19-33
Round 10: Lost to Stormers 15-49
Round 11: Drew with Cheetahs 25-25
Round 12: Lost to Hurricanes 27-33
Round 13: Lost to Waratahs 19-46

If the Blues have been inconsistent, they have at least done that consistently. They have managed one two-game winning burst and one two-game losing skid; otherwise wins and losses have alternated throughout the year. Nobody wins championships like that, which is why the Blues are destined for another moderate finish despite plenty of class players. The Chiefs have been more consistent - consistently poor. The defence has leaked all season and only got worse over the last month, while the side only occasionally mounts any concerted pressure on an opponent's line. A lot of their big-name players might want to have a good look in the mirror at season end, which can't come soon enough for the supporters and, one suspects, the team itself.

WHO'S HOT: A few Blues can look back on decent seasons; among them are rookie No 8 Viliame Ma'afu, halfback Alby Mathewson and rejuvenated winger Joe Rokocoko, who currently sits atop the Super 14 scoring list with nine tries and who reached 100 in his first-class career last week. A lot of others have had their moments but that says it all; the good bits tend to stand out because the performance graph is so uneven. The best things happening in Chiefs land right now centre around some developing talent. Tim Nanai-Williams has shown himself well up to this standard while Colin Bourke, with regular game time, is improving at No 8. Jackson Willison is another who has taken a step to the front in recent weeks but virtually all the senior players have let the side down.

WE THINK: Assuming the Blues care, we think they should win this game easily. They have more than enough good backs to cut the disorganised Chiefs midfield defence to pieces on a regular basis and, if they do so, could run up a score. The only thing that might hold them back is Auckland's iffy weather, which promises plenty of rain; if it's wet, we'll have the Blues by 10, if dry, make it 20.

TEAMS:

Blues: 1. Tony Woodcock, 2. Keven Mealamu (captain), 3.John Afoa, 4.Kurtis Haiu, 5. Anthony Boric, 6.Jerome Kaino or Peter Saili, 7.Serge Lilo, 8. Viliame Ma'afu, 9.Alby Mathewson, 10. Stephen Brett, 11. Rudi Wulf, 12. Benson Stanley, 13. Rene Ranger or Luke McAlister, 14. Joe Rokocoko, 15. Paul Williams.

Reserves: 16. Tom McCartney, 17. Charlie Faumuina, 18. Filo Paulo, 19. Tom Chamberlain, 20.Chris Smylie, 21. Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22. George Pisi.

Chiefs: 1. Toby Smith, 2. Aled de Malmanche, 3. Ben Afeaki, 4.Craig Clarke, 5. Culum Retallick, 6.Liam Messam (captain), 7. Tanerau Latimer, 8. Colin Bourke, 9. Brendon Leonard, 10. Trent Renata, 11. Jason Hona, 12. Phil Burleigh, 13. Jackson Willison, 14. Save Tokula, 15. Tim Nanai-Williams.

Reserves: 16. Hikawera Elliot, 17. Tristan Moran, 18. Kevin O'Neill, 19. Luke Braid, 20. Junior Pololeuligaga, 21. Siale Piutau, 22. Tim Mikkelson.

REFEREE: Paul Marks

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