Blues target SA sojourn
23 Jan 2008
Blues captain Troy Flavell believes travelling to South Africa in Week Two could generate the momentum vital to a successful Super 14 campaign.
The Blues lost to the Stormers and Bulls in South Africa last year and were beaten by the Sharks in the semi-final at Kings Park. However, Flavell believes this season will be different.
“First of all we have to accept the challenge in the forwards,” Flavell told the Blues website. “Historically we have travelled there at the end of the season, when fatigue can easily settle in. Personally I think it is great for the Blues to go so early when we are still fresh and excited.
“It is a great opportunity to go there early this year and pick up some points, so hopefully when we come home the support of our fans will get us through.”
Flavell said he was happy to retain the captaincy as he feels it makes him a better player. Coach David Nucifora was quick to agree.
“He did an outstanding job last season,” Nucifora said.
The Blues will face the Lions in the second round before heading to Bloemfontein to face the Cheetahs. Their three-game tour ends in Durban against the Sharks, a team that beat them twice in 2007.
10 Comments
23 Jan 2008, 15:36 pm
Troy: “it is quite a privilege to go to World and S14 Champion land, and play against the best rugby players that the world today knows.”
23 Jan 2008, 15:53 pm
he has a point, the blues always come out firing and then fade a bit. definately one of the most dangerous teams in the competition, love to watch them play, my fav nz side.
23 Jan 2008, 17:09 pm
Troy Flavell is a loose cannon.
23 Jan 2008, 17:46 pm
I hope our teams smoke these arrogant okes.
23 Jan 2008, 19:03 pm
Easy tour this time around. What with no visit to Loftus and all.
23 Jan 2008, 21:13 pm
Shooter, the kiwi’s understand that blowing wind up our asses like that is always effective because of our deep seated national inferiority complex. We all know that our natural arrogance is only a product of our lack of confidence.
Tell us we are great, and we will lie down and happily get stuffed whilst deeply appreciating the foreign opposition telling us we are wonderlik.
Do not doubt for one second that these Kiwi’s are coming here with fire in the belly and revenge on their minds. Their pride and vanity is wounded because of their usual girly temperament at the world cup. I hope to see our sides give them the ‘respect’ any side coming to these shores should ‘enjoy’, and nothing less will do or we are in for pain.
23 Jan 2008, 22:16 pm
Flavell is just saying it as it is, bar last season a trip to SA is about some sunshine and 5 points every week. The bulls tour got them the title and i don’t see them repeating that feat, the stormers are woeful, the cheetahs have a currie cup glow which counts for zip and it shows and the lions are the perennial mid table journeymen the stormers used to be. The sharks however have shown under Muir that they might be champions and hopefully they can perform as well as last year.
23 Jan 2008, 23:25 pm
#1
I didnt read that part.
Oh well the super 14 is going to be good,of course i am confident our kiwi teams will once again be a major threat of taking the cup back where it has been livivng a majority of its life.
You won last year but this year is different new laws,NZ teams with all there players avalible and fit.
It shall be a good season for the best provincial rugby tournament in the world
23 Jan 2008, 23:38 pm
In my opinion there are 4 teams in it.
Crusaders
Blues
Bulls
Sharks
No other realistic contenders.
24 Jan 2008, 04:28 am
Tac, write off the Brummbies at your peril!
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