Have the Blues got a case of the Blues? Have the wheels started to fall off the side that scored 21 tries in their first four Super 14 games?
Let’s hope not, but Saturday evening’s game at Auckland's Albany Stadium was not a great effort. After leading 17-7, they then conceded 20 unanswered points to lose 17-27 to the Force.

The Blues seemed to lack any rhythm, cohesion or composure, as well as the basics. Simple things like holding on to the ball - there were at least a dozen silly handling errors that should not have happened. The ground conditions were ideal for running rugby, but the Blues were unable to capitalise on that.

In the after-match press conference, Blues coach David Nucifora said: ''It’s a very devastated dressing room right now and the guys are shattered after that loss. It's a game that we, well that I feel was lost in the first half, rather than the second half. The longer we let them hang with us, the more their confidence grew, and we let some old habits creep back, in not being able to nail opportunities when they arose.
''We created enough opportunities in that first half to win three games of football, but we didn’t take them.''

'Can the Blues get their season back on track? Well if they stick to the basics, start completing what they start and focus on the game at hand, then, yes, they can do it'


The Force didn’t get too many opportunities, but they took the ones they did get and deserved the win.

On the injury front, Nick Evans took a knock to the head and was taken to hospital for precautionary concussion checks.

Some Blues supporters might think the problems started for the Blues when Evans went off. However, Nucifora said the problem was that the team were creating too many opportunities and not nailing them, which was a factor both when Evans was on the field and after he had gone.
Can the Blues get their season back on track? Well if they stick to the basics, start completing what they start and focus on the game at hand, then, yes, they can do it.

Their next two games are at home, but they still have to travel to Australia and face the Reds and the Waratahs, who are looking strong.
Meanwhile, an encouraging comment from former All Blacks coach John  Mitchell, now in charge of the Force. He believes of all the Super 14 teams, the Blues are the strongest across the board - from running the ball, to attacking prowess, as well as defence. But is it just hype from Mitch? Look at the points for and against for the Blues.

Next Saturday, they take on the Stormers at Eden Park (5.30). It’s going to be a tough game as the South African side are brimming with confidence with two big wins on the road, beating the Queensland Reds and Chiefs. And their coach Rassie Erasmus reckons they can head to Australasia with a victory under their belts.