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Preview: Blues v Force
Paul Neazor
Sportal
The Crusaders may have trouble with the Force at Perth but the Blues have not had the same issues in the past and will be looking to make it three straight good wins when the sides clash at Albany in the Saturday evening contest. This time, however, we are not expecting a 30-pointer.
VENUE & TIME: North Harbour Stadium, Albany, Saturday March 15, 17.30 NZT.
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 2 – Blues 2, Force 0.
TIME: May 4, 2007 (Perth) – Force 6-33 Blues.
WALKING WOUNDED: [/B] The Blues made one change from the side beaten at Durban, moving Anthony Boric into the starting lineup and sending Kurtis Haiu to the bench. Gareth Hardy is out of this match with an injured ankle that will have him on the sidelines for about a month. The Force show one other change from the side that ran the Crusaders so close last week, with James Stannard taking over at halfback and Chris O'Young dropping back to the bench. New injury - David Pocock out, Matt Hodgson in.
FORM: Although both lost by five points last weekend, no disgrace was attached to either defeat. The Blues got away to the worst possible start against the unbeaten Sharks and, at 0-19 after half an hour, always had a mountain to climb. They got within one score before the clock ran out but were not quite good enough on the day. The Force took the game to the Crusaders in some style, tearing great holes in the midfield and using space extremely well. With 30 minutes to go the lead had grown to 24-12 and a bonus point was in the bag but the Crusaders put together a lethal 10-minute burst to snatch the game.
WHO'S HOT: Despite claims the Blues got the thin end of refereeing decisions last week and suffered because of it, it's hard to think of many players who outshone their opposites on the day. Going through the side from 1 to 15, you might suggest Tony Woodcock, Nick Evans, Joe Rokocoko and Anthony Tuitavake, but all except Tuitavake would probably be greeted with Sharks fans arguing for their man. The Force got some real action in midfield, where Matt Giteau was in fine form and Ryan Cross little short of devastating as he ripped huge gaps in the red and black line. Richard Brown and David Pocock excelled in the loose and Nathan Sharpe gave his usual strong display, highlighted by a couple of good offloads in broken play and a solid effort in the tight. The scrum had issues but managed to survive, although a stricter referee may have had a card out of his pocket long before the end.
WE THINK: A week ago we'd have said the Blues would do this comfortably but after last weekend we're not so sure. We still think the Blues will win but if the Force is anything like the side that played last week it will take a huge effort. For us, Blues by eight.
TEAMS:
Blues:
1 - Tony Woodcock
2 – Keven Mealamu
3 – John Afoa
4 – Anthony Boric
5 – Troy Flavell (captain)
6 – Jerome Kaino
7 – Justin Collins
8 – Nick Williams
9 – Danny Lee
10 – Nick Evans
11 – Joe Rokocoko
12 – Benson Stanley
13 – Isaia Toeava
14 – Anthony Tuitavake
15 – Ben Atiga
Reserves:
16 – Tom McCartney
17 – Nick White
18 – Kurtis Haiu
19 – Onosai'i Tololima-Auva'a
20 – Taniela Moa
21 – Rudi Wulf
22 – George Pisi
Force:
1 – Troy Takiari
2 – Tai McIsaac
3 – AJ Whalley
4 – Tom Hockings
5 – Nathan Sharpe (captain)
6 – Scott Fava
7 – David Pocock (now replaced by Matt Hodgson)
8 – Richard Brown
9 – James Stannard
10 – Matt Giteau
11 – Drew Mitchell
12 – Lachlan MacKay
13 – Ryan Cross
14 - Scott Staniforth
15 – Cameron Shepherd
Reserves:
16 – Luke Holmes
17 – Pekahou Cowan
18 – Sam Wykes
19 – Tamaiti Horua
20 – Chris O'Young
21 – Scott Daruda
22 – Nick Cummins
REFEREE: Craig Joubert
"Remember lads, rugby is a team game; all 14 of you make sure you pass the ball to Giteau." 
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