Benji Marshall's unexpected audition at first five-eighth further revealed his struggling transition and this week he could be demoted to the development team.
Marshall played 42-minutes in the Blues' error-riddled 39-20 defeat to the Hurricanes on Friday night - a result which stretched their dire away record to 12 straight losses.
The star recruit wasn't helped by another passive effort at the breakdown from his forward pack (you got that right), but as backline commander Marshall was out of his depth (anyone would be out of their depths in the soft backpeddling Blues forward pack). He presided over a directionless second-half display, attempted banana kicks and battled to form links with his outsides.(Benji was playing according to the Head Coachs game plan)
"I felt we lost direction in the second-half," Blues coach Sir John Kirwan said.(how about lost direction the whole season and the whole of last season) "We kicked away possession which wasn't part of the plan. We spoke about straightening our attack and hanging onto the ball and that didn't happen. That was disappointing."(you straightened the attack very well Sir JK, you were doing it the whole game, the Hurricanes just need to line up and smash you back -just like what the Saders did to the Chiefs - you just need to change the angles of attack like the Hurricanes were doing)
Chris Noakes was forced from the field after a head knock late in the first-half (RUBBISH - he gave the ball to the Hurricanes to score under the post and he retired in embarrassment) and it's now clear the Blues can't continue to rely on Marshall as cover first-five. (that;s right - use Benji sparingly and then blame him for the loses - What an idiot - Noakes and Hickey are worse than Benji - what about Anscombe????)
Fairfax Media understands his position on the bench is dependent on Noakes' recovery.
Rookie pivot Simon Hickey is likely to be reinstated against the Waratahs at Eden Park this week. If Noakes recovers, Marshall is expected to be dropped from the squad in favour of game-time at fullback for the development side. (I would play Marshall no matter what - he still has the X-Factor and plus the Blues can't get any worse could they?)
"He [Noakes] had a bit of concussion (after giving the ball to the Hurricanes to score)," Kirwan said. "He took a hit so that was disappointing. We'll have to see how he scrubs up."
The Blues are understood to have investigated the prospect of Marshall having a stint in Japanese rugby after the NPC season with Auckland to fast-track his progression. Those plans have since been scrapped as Japanese registration dates didn't match up with the Blues preseason, but the immediate problems of his slow transition are confronting.
Kirwan, in time, believes Bryn Hall and Hickey could mould into a successful halves combination. But the franchise's desire for instant success (whose fault is it that Pre season recruiting has placed the Blues in this position???????) places immense pressure on the inexperienced duo to deliver now.
In this precious state Kirwan realises the team must come first. He needs back-up for the problematic No. 10 role on the bench and can't afford to carry Marshall during this must-win two-game stretch that sees the 'Tahs and Reds travel to Eden Park.
"It [first-five] has been [an issue] since I've been here and nothing has changed really," Kirwan admitted (Preseason recruiting Sir JK - WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? plus you can have the best players in the World at the Blues, BUT with a coach like you, I fail to see any improvement. You are clearly out of your depth - PLEASE RESIGN). "In Simon we've got a guy we need to make sure we look after. He could be a solution for us.(THE SOLUTION IS FOR YOU TO RESIGN)
"We're in must-win territory now. We've definitely got to win our two home games and start winning away. The pressure is definitely on. That's something we need to deal with."
First-five is such an influential role but the Blues' issues can't solely be solved there. Collectively, they on are on the ropes. Five losses and three wins have them rooted dead last in the New Zealand conference -12th overall. Another loss and their playoff hopes are all but over.
Reviewing the Canes capitulation won't be pleasant. The Blues missed 27 tackles and committed 27 turnovers. A lack of continuity and patience also blighted their work. Unnecessary passes were pushed and the lineout struggles resurfaced.
"We needed more effort," Kirwan said. "We got beaten at the breakdown and we didn't take our opportunities when they were there. We're not lost at all. Everyone knows what we want to do - we need to do it with more aggression.
"We're struggling away from home. We need to find the solutions and we need to get the energy up." blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
