The Blues have arrived back in Auckland after three weeks in South Africa - and today I asked flanker Onosa’i Tololima-Auva’a how the team are feeling after a mostly successful road trip?

''We are feeling good actually,'' he told me. ''Prior to heading to South Africa we had targeted 10 points from the games and we came away with 11, so we achieved the goal. But it’s a long season, and we can’t let that one hiccup rule us out,. So yeah, we are feeling positive.''

One question I had to ask was how important was it conceding that first try against the Sharks after 14 seconds?

''If we go straight into the game, I don’t think we will perform to our best ability. So we need to get in some important rest time, and have some family time, and then start to think about the Force''


“Yeah, those first 20 minutes was tough, and it took us a while to switch on. I guess we were playing catch-up football from there on, but we have learnt from our mistakes. I think in the future we have to start well, because we don’t like the catch-up rugby at all.

“I think the home ground has a huge factor, as well as the environment that we were playing in, which I think would have made the Sharks want the win that bit more due to the occasion. But equally we wanted the game as well, as a great way to end the tour, as it's been a while since the Blues have won all three games in South Africa.''

You have been in the Republic for three weeks, and now you have three games at home in a row. What experiences will the team take from South Africa, leading into the next series of games?

“Well, we need to start well, and not to play catch-up rugby, and as team to finish the last ten minutes of the half well. And as we went on tour earlier in season, it has brought the team closer together, much sooner, and that’s going to be a bonus for us.

''This week we have the Force, and we realise that they are going to be a strong opponent, seeing they narrowly lost to the Crusaders last week. So yeah, the last three weeks have been an awesome learning curve for the team.''

On that topic of the Force - who were very unlucky to lose that last game to the Crusaders after leading 24-12 with about 25 minutes remaining - how will the Blues focus on the opposition, seeing as you have only just arrived back in New Zealand?

''Well, first we have to make sure we prepare right. If we go straight into the game, I don’t think we will perform to our best ability. So we need to get in some important rest time, and have some family time, and then start to think about the Force.''

The Force have been in the media lately with one of their players having his contract torn up. Is that something that’s likely to have a negative impact on their game?

“No I don’t think it will. After seeing how they played last week, it might even give them more of an edge.

Any last words for the loyal Blues fans out there?

''Um yeah, just come along to the game please, watch us play. It’s awesome being able to see you there, and what you give us players means a lot. Being a home game, it can be the difference between a win and a loss.''

So there we have it - Onosa’i Tololima-Auva’a, up-and-coming Blues star, and also Gold-medal winner with the New Zealand Sevens side.

Can the Blues get their season back on track after that hiccup against the Sharks? Well, with ground advantage for the next three weeks, I think they can. After the Force, they take on the Stormers at Eden Park on Easter weekend, followed by the Bulls, the defending Super 14 champions.

So as Onosa’i says, Blues fans, get to Albany Stadium on Saturday evening at 5.30pm!