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Now the hunted, a stern test awaits the Blues in 2025
By Ned Lester
The Blues enter the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season as defending champions and thus, the hunted. While succeeding a historic dynasty in Scott Robertson’s Crusaders will see the team remembered for bringing in the new era, their predecessor’s tile run of seven consecutive years looms large over 2024’s success.
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Evolution was at the heart of the Auckland side’s title run under first-year coach Vern Cotter last season as the squad doubled down on their strength as big, athletic ball-carriers.
As the campaign progressed, their gameplan featured more and more pick-and-go attack, shrinking opponent defences before unleashing their lethal backline, seven of whom spent time with the All Blacks during the ensuing international season.
The recipe for the team’s success was clear to all, but, heading into a new campaign, whether said recipe boasts the longevity required for this team to carry on this success and qualify as a dynasty of their own is a question soon to be answered.
“We’re aware that we’ve got something special going on down here at the Blues, which was driven by the players,” flanker Anton Segner told RugbyPass at Blues HQ this week.
“We know that we have the players, not only current players but players coming through as well to carry on the legacy. But, for this group right now, we’re focused on the moment.
“To answer your question, we have a very signature style of play. Last year, in interviews throughout the week before games, the coaches from the other teams would say ‘We know exactly how they’re going to play’ but preparing for it and actually stopping it on the day are two very different things.
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“Last year, we took it all the way by being good at that game and this year, we’re not going to go too far away from it but we’ve got a few innovations within that we’re going to develop. We know what we’re good at and we’re definitely going to stick to those strengths.”
As the second most successful club in the competition’s history, the Blues have had a number of iconic teams that took Super Rugby by storm in years gone by. That being said, 2024’s title snapped a 21-year title drought in the region, bringing a legacy recently in decline back to winning ways.
That legacy is everpresent, but Segner acknowledges the danger of getting caught up in it.
“Every now and then we talk about it. Like I said, there’s an opportunity now because we’ve built a certain environment and a certain culture at this club to build a legacy on, or to carry on the legacy that has been left by so many successful teams in the past.
“We mention it every now and then, but it’s a very big-picture way of thinking and we know the only way to build that legacy is to build it block by block, which is moment-by-moment.
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“So, right now, we’ll focus on this preseason and then once the season comes around, we’ll be going week by week from there.”
The upcoming season will be unlike recent years given the demise of the Melbourne Rebels and the subsequent distribution of the club’s stars to formerly opposing Australian clubs.
The Waratahs, after a last-placed finish in 2024, have benefitted heavily from the Melbourne club going under, signing Wallabies like Taniela Tupou, Isaac Kailea, Rob Leota and Andrew Kellaway while also landing headline NRL convert Joseph Suaalii.
Segner says he’s expecting a big jump from the Australian teams.
“Having seen how they’ve gone at the international level, I think it’s pretty obvious that their Super Rugby level is going to step up as well. So, as a team, we’re looking forward to that, because as a team we love challenges and we walk towards challenges.
“Those Aussie teams, obviously they’re going to be a lot better than last year, as is every other team pretty much and we know that if we want to win this thing again then we’re going to have to be a whole lot better as well because winning one’s hard, but winning two is even harder.
“We’re excited about the challenge, whether that’s an Aussie team, a Fijian team, a Moana team or a Kiwi team that we’re going up against, we enjoy every team that we play.”
The Blues kicked off their 2024 season with a tour of Japan, claiming wins against Tokyo Sungoliath, Yokohama Canon Eagles and eventual final opponents, the Chiefs. The tour of Japan contributed heavily to the team’s success in Segner’s eyes, both on and off the field.
“What set us up well was that trip to Japan earlier on in the year, we were there for three weeks or so, so that gave us a great opportunity to connect and then our performances on the field showed how tight of a team we are. Especially if you want to play a game like we did last year, you have to have deep trust in each other and that trust isn’t just built on the field, you need to build good connections off the field.
“We’ve got an awesome facility here which we’ve invested a bit of money into for this season as well, we’ve got a new sauna, new ice bath as well so that’s going to help us develop that changing room atmosphere as well.”
During the tour, the team got their first taste of life on the road with coach Cotter at the helm. The coach made a strong impression on the group from the outset, with his notorious straight-shooting style of leadership being welcomed by the players.
“It was amazing, obviously from day one, all the boys felt how passionate he is about the game. As a player, if you can see that the coach genuinely cares about the team and about winning and being successful with the team then you’ll do pretty much anything for him.
“So, I think all the boys, within the first couple of days, they developed a deep trust with him and he’s obviously got the nickname Stern Vern for a reason. There’s a certain aspect of high respect between the players and him.”
The Blues won without Beauden last year, but he waltzes back being talked up. They have a great squad. So do the Crusaders in my view. Will Jordan, Braydon Ennor back and the hooking stocks with Codie Taylor, George Bell and at 9 Kyle Preston joining Mitchell Drummond and Noah Hotham. A recharged Ethan Blackadder with underrated (, outside of here), guys like Tom Christie , Cullen Grace and Corey Kellow etc. Codie, Scott Barrett etc there from the start. Justin Marshall said the Crusaders will win it and I believe he is correct.
Having trouble GP?
Yes, the Blues won because they had no Beauden last year. The year before he was a massive handbrake.
So who will play 10 is my question?
Haha nar BB actually had some vigor back last year after his Japan break. One of the few players to come back from Japan improved imo, will be interesting to see how well he days "being talked up"!
Could be the best SR season yet. Maybe 16' currently is?
Before the Blues are prematurely crowned as back to back champions they will need to realize that a resurgent Crusaders and the always competitive Chiefs will be gunning for them.
Only 'odd' NH fans would do that!
The Blues have amazing depth almost everywhere. Their Achilles heel is tight head prop, which the Crusaders exploited last year to expose them badly. If the Crusaders can put out a front row of Williams Taylor/Bell and Newell, and the Tahs with Bell and Tupou, Renata and Ta'avao will be struggling and if their scrum is struggling, it'll be difficult for the Blues pack to bully teams. Maybe the Blues have a new tight-head in their squad...
Those were the key to there success imo, not a weakness.
You might have had them in the scrum as you say, but there strength is around the park with their gameplan.
They've got a really good lineup capable of putting them back on the map. Once, I thought that was unquestioned.
I hope they at least start the tournament with their departing players in place, Plummer, Riccitelli etc before looking to the future.
Plummer will be on the bench most weeks as 10/12 cover behind 10 Barrett and 12 Lam.
He will be good injury cover as last season.