Blues assistant coach Daniel Halangahu insists Saturdays Super Rugby Aotearoa game against the Chiefs at Eden Park wont be treated as a trial.
What was once looking like a virtual semifinal to play the Crusaders in the final has become a significantly less meaningful fixture as last weekends results have already conformed the Chiefs spot in the showpiece game.
But theres not just pride to play for from a Blues point of view, theres also preparations to be made for the Super Rugby trans-Tasman competition, with the teams first game on May 15 against the Rebels in Melbourne.
However, Halangahu says their top priority is to beat their near neighbours from the south.
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Its definitely not a preseason game for us, Halangahu said.
Sure, we want to get some confidence out of this, if you look statistically at what were doing, were not far off, but the scoreline is clearly not where we need to be.
Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images
Daniel Halangahu and Leon MacDonald had some tough selection decisions to make for Saturday’s game against the Chiefs.
So we need to get some confidence out of this week, but its not a dead rubber for us.The Chiefs will obviously have eyes on next weekends final in Christchurch, which is why theyve made so many changes to their team, but they will also want to get a win at Eden Park to boost their confidence and the former Waratah says it should be a good encounter.
Any time we play the Chiefs we know theyve got a tough forward pack, Halangahu said.
They are riding high and its a really big target for us to aim up against them.
We were all hoping there was a bit more riding on this game, but thats part of what motivates us, what kicks us in the guts and gets us up for this game.
When Blues coach Leon MacDonald spoke on TV after the 29-6 loss to the Crusaders last weekend he didnt seem to be aware that the defeat meant the teams semifinal aspirations were over, although to be fair neither did the Sky TV commentators for quite a while.
Halangahu said it wasnt until the team was back in the changing shed that they got the news.
In the wash-up, when we sat in the changing room., Halangahu said of when he heard.
We were aware in the back of our minds that bonus points would be important, but after that game we realised where we sat.
But we quickly turned it around and we know theres a lot of rugby left to go this year.
Even though it really hurt early in the week, we managed to turn it around and now were starting to aim up and think what the next couple of months look like.
The only change among the forwards in the Blues team for Saturdays game is Tom Robinson moving to blindside and Adrian Choat replacing Dalton Papalii, who is out with a knee injury.
In the backs, the live wire Finlay Christie will wear the No 9 jersey, Otere Black is the starting first-five, Bryce Heem has been selected on the right wing and Zarn Sullivan starts at fullback ahead of Stephen Perofeta.
Given that Plummer only got to play for 12 minutes at first-five against the Crusaders last week, before he had to move to second-five when Tanielu Telea came off, he could have been given another run against the Chiefs.
But Halangahu said they thought the better option would be to go with Black.
There were long conversations about it, he said.
Its one of the difficult things weve had all season as coaches, picking this group.
Weve had some guys whove added depth. We did think about who fits in where, but for the style of game we need against the Chiefs, Otere is the right guy.
Harry is certainly champing at the bit and ready to go as well.
AT A GLANCE
Blues: Zarn Williams, Bryce Heem, Reiko Ioane, (c), Tanielu Telea, Caleb Clarke, Otere Black, Finlay Christie, Hoskins Sotutu, Adrian Choat, Tom Robinson (c), Sam Darry, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Nepo Laulala, Kurt Eklund, Karl Tuinukuafe. Reserves: Soane Vikena, Ofa Tuungafasi, Marcel Renata, Josh Goodhue, Akira Ioane, Sam Nock, Harry Plummer, AJ Lam.