The Auckland Blues have relegated three frontline All Blacks to the bench for Saturday’s heavyweight Super 14 clash with the Coastal Sharks in a surprise move as the competition intensifies.
Even though the Canterbury Crusaders are within striking distance of the table-topping Blues, coach David Nucifora said he was taking a broader view as he starts without Keven Mealamu, Ali Williams and Joe Rokocoko.
The Blues head into the weekend on 36 points, four clear of defending champions the Crusaders, with the Sharks third a further two points back.
But even leading the competition at this stage does not yet guarantee the Blues a semifinal berth, with most sides still holding a mathematical chance at least of making the top four.
In deciding to keep the trio out of the starting line-up against the Sharks, Nucifora said he had to take into account player management and next week’s departure for a
two-match trip to South Africa.
”Travel time, recovery and strengths of our opponents all need to be factored into decisions made for team selection both now and in the weeks to come,” he said.
”If the true quality of a side is revealed when on tour, then managing individuals carefully over the next few weeks is even more crucial.”
The Sharks, South Africa’s leading semifinals contenders, arrested a two-match losing streak when they thumped the Queensland Reds last week and need a win over the Blues to keep the momentum going.
But they will need a massive defensive effort to shut down a side renowned for attacking at every opportunity, and described by Sharks coach Dick Muir as ”formidable … a side we’ve been watching most of the season”.
The Crusaders, who wobbled through the first half of the season, are making their charge when it counts and look set to account for the Otago Highlanders this weekend.
In the past two weeks the Crusaders have piled on 14 tries and against the Highlanders they have the luxury of resting All Blacks Rico Gear and Andy Ellis and replacing them with fellow All Blacks Scott Hamilton and Kevin Senio.
The Highlanders, level with the Waikato Chiefs and Northern Bulls on 22 points, just behind the fifth placed Western Force, lack the big game-breakers many other sides possess.
They also had the misfortune this week to lose one of their few stars, All Blacks lock James Ryan, who is out for the rest of the season with a knee ligament injury.
Two sides with much to play for in round 11 are the fifth and sixth-placed Western Force and Chiefs who clash in Hamilton and see the opportunity to overtake the ACT Brumbies who occupy fourth spot but have the bye this weekend.
But as the Chiefs are bolstered by the return to the starting line-up of captain and lock Jono Gibbes who has been sidelined with injury most of the season, inspirational loose forwards Marty Holah and Steven Bates are rested.
”This is a tough call, particularly on Marty, but he has been battered in his last two games,” said Chiefs coach Ian Foster.
The Force, who surprisingly carried the Australian banner for most of the season, are desperate to make amends after being evicted from the top four last weekend when hammered by the Crusaders 0-53.
The Bulls, who still fancy a late charge to the play-offs, have brought back Springboks Wynand Olivier and Pierre Spies, dropped Akona Ndungane and shifted Jaco van der Westhuyzen to the wing for their vital clash with the Stormers.
Although the Stormers have only an outside chance of making the semifinals, they can still play the role of spoiler against the Bulls.
In the remaining matches, the Wellington Hurricanes host the Cheetahs on Friday night, the New South Wales Waratahs are at home to the Queensland Reds in a bottom-of-the-table encounter. ‒ Sapa-AFP