Mid-season review to rescue Blues

The Blues hope that a 'mid-season review' will have the same positive effect as it did last year.


The winless Blues, stuck in last place on the standings, have never before lost their first four matches of the season.


It has resulted in a media outcry and calls for the head of coach John Kirwan.


Last year they lost three of their first four, in 2013 they lost three of their first five and in 2012 it was three defeats in the opening four weeks.


Captain Jerome Kaino, speaking ahead of the Blues trip to Palmerston North on Friday to take on the unbeaten Hurricanes, described as "a challenging time" - having lost three of their four games by five points or less.


"Rest assured that the team is working very hard and firmly focused on a tough away game against the Hurricanes in Palmerston North," he said.


The Blues have a bye next week and will use the time to regroup - before preparing for two away games and then their long-awaited return to our home at Eden Park on April 10, after the completion Cricket World Cup.


"We will be undertaking a mid-season review of the whole operation, something we did in 2014, which led to some changes that definitely improved the second half of last season."


The team know there are plenty of positives to draw confidence from.


"The forwards are winning plenty of front-foot possession, but we are making far too many mistakes to take advantage."


* The Blues will make history on Friday when they travel to Palmerston North to take on the Hurricanes.


It was 20 years ago that the two teams made exactly the same trip to launch professional rugby in the Southern Hemisphere and to kick off the inaugural Super 12 competition on Friday March 1, 1996.