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Beauden Barrett set for mid-April return as Blues prepare to break play-off drought

(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

The Blues are optimistic.

It is December, after all, and not a shot has been fired in Super Rugby. We say this every year with New Zealand’s most underperforming franchise.

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But there is an air of confidence that they will gradually build on the inexorable progress made in 2019 when they proved far harder to beat, despite their final unimposing 5-1-10 record, and should have won 5-6 more games than they did.

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They had an open training session at their Auckland base today, turned back the clock with some 5-a-side games involving old legends such as Doug Howlett and Daniel Braid, announced plans for a pitchside bar at their competition opener at Eden Park, and went old school with the choice of Onewa Domain as the venue for their January 24 pre-season clash with the Hurricanes.

Oh yes, and coach Leon MacDonald is looking at a mid-April return to action for their star signing Beauden Barrett, who is on extended sabbatical. The All Blacks fullback cum first five has been jet-setting around the globe, playing golf, and buying a new property in the city of sails. He has also fitted in the odd gym session at Blues HQ, as has fellow All Black Ofa Tuungafasi. Barrett will, however, likely ease back into footy with his Taranaki club Coastal.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B516rQ3gtPX/

While the Hurricanes and the Crusaders have had distractions around the make-up of their coaching staff as the All Blacks coaching saga played out, the Blues have been able to move serenely on with their work. That suits second-year head coach MacDonald.

“We’ve been really impressed with the state everyone turned up after a month off. That set them up, so we’ve had a really good (three-week) pre-season and we’ve come together well,” he says.

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That led into today’s first concerted contact session, which is vital given that the Super Rugby kickoff against the Chiefs is on January 31, the earliest in the competition’s 25-year history.

“We’ve been talking about that since day one. We need to be game-fit by the end of January. The days of thinking about contact after New Year’s are long gone,” MacDonald says.

There is a decent look to the roster. Rieko Ioane, who suddenly has plenty to prove, will be given a crack at centre. He turned up walking his dog today. Like the other All Blacks, other than Barrett, he is due back to full training in January.

And yet while the Blues will need to get through the first 10 weeks or so with their halves before Barrett slots in, there is a useful, yet unheralded, aspect to their recruitment.

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They have signed several older, more seasoned pros who will do the job on the field and help lift standards off it. That in itself will not guarantee a run to the playoffs, but it will galvanise the group and add to the intra-squad competition. So step forward loose forward Tony Lamborn, once of the Hurricanes via the USA Eagles, hooker Kurt Eklund, who played for the Blues in their winning 2018 10s side, bruising former Highlanders hooker Ray Niuia and Northland wing Jordan Hyland, who is back in the fold.

No captain has yet been announced but it would surprise if it wasn’t All Blacks lock Patrick Tuipulotu, who was co-skipper in 2019.

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P
PL 2 hours ago
Lions Tour Aussie takes: Bigger is better, the stars who failed to fire

I find it interesting that journalists who have done nothing in rugby comment on selections & coaching like they are experts

Concussive injury’s will remove insurance cover from the game unless their is strict application of the laws designed to remove MND Parkinson’s and CTE from the game


Head on head I saw red to Adam Coleman as tackler for Irish while unconscious on a stretcher - concussions occur without twitching on the ground or the wobbly boot - I know I had maybe 20 from rugby


The officiating of last feet is non existent

The lack of effective wrap by Lions front rower & that decision had a close relationship with ordure in a toilet

A head on head tackle red for Coleman not even penalty lead to a try in a phase or 2


Powys v Evans lead to a £> 2 mill verdict against the ref personally special leveraged to Hiuse of Lords

Refs will stop reffing with no insurance then no game


About 5 years ago 4 or 5 French colts died from head hits in elite club games - that led to below sternum law - hamlets honoured in breach not observance

Last feet non existent - enforcement favour flowing rugby nor lions meat grinder forwards get momentum and puck & drive NZ Vowel noise


The UK Class Action could be very well be lost WRC will try every dirty trick in case they already used dial a neuros to argue the unarguable is law gossip


I reffed ref coached & assessed for ruffly 17 seasons


The application of laws is like a zig zag on speed

Line out laws not enforced scrums tight pulling loose down one side mirror on other side elbow pointing to ground stretch marks on jersey

Der moment the refs need to go Soec Savers

My bet unless they stop lack of intestinal fortitude game management


Yellow every time head contact or above sternum


Needs sterner GMGs material impact removed set piece caterpillar remove

Last feet to last feet + 1 m


When I reffed I kept them well apart - hated me till they got over yellow and they actually had fun & complemented me post game backs had room and pick and drive had momentum


As for intentional foul play like tackle in air auto red no replacement 100,000 fine player 250,000 club


Treble it for international 26 week suspension & it’s disappear over night

25 were scrum for dissent


Penalty all this rubbish shots at opponents after error


All the s.ite would disappear


The pathetic unsportsmanlike behaviour would lead to standards


Remember Les Boyd’s penalty re Brohman -if that is the way we treat foul play but while foul play with potential serious injury with a feather duster like we are the game is destined to no insurance following that no refs cause would you risk bankruptcy like Powys v Evans

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