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Blues first five-eighth Stephen Brett - Source: Photosport -
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It was the first official day of Blues' pre-season
training today and already Crusaders import Stephen Brett is taking
ownership of his new team, reports tvnz.co.nz's Chris
Matthews.
The sun was pounding down at Auckland's Domain, at a not too
friendly 26 degrees, but there was no let-up for the Blues' 2009
Super 14 squad.
The customary 1.5 kilometre time trial was followed by gut-blasting
600 and 400 metre sprints. With shirts off and sweat flowing,
surely it was time for the boys to hit the pools but no - it got
worse.
The team were led over to one of the imposing hills in Auckland's
'Central Park' and were directed to sprint up the 60 degree
gradient with a 100kg plus mate on their backs, or 112kg's if
you
happen to be Joe Rokocoko lugging up one Ali Williams, in an
agonising demonstration of anaerobic fitness.
But, hey, at least it was under some shade and the backline finally
got a reprieve when they were asked to do some basic passing
drills.
Blues assistant coach Shane Howarth led them over to some sunny
turf, but then he stood back and let the new boy, Canterbury first
five-eighth Stephen Brett, take over with all the aplomb of a
backline general.
The 24-year old, who was forced north by the continual presence
of some guy called Daniel Carter in his home patch, spoke
to his new team-mates with little regard for reputation and
demonstrated the new direction his super talented backline will be
taking this season.
The depth of the backline was his first task and while at first it
was a foreign language, his disciples quickly understood the
message as they hit the ball with an understanding the 2009 Blues
vintage could only dream of.
This tactic was indeed the Crusaders oil that his old team used
last season and Brett was in no mood for beating around the bush
when asked about the backline's new strategy.
"Being a 10 is a crucial part of leading the side and I really have
to take control and the sort of things we were doing today were the
sort of thing we introduced into the Crusaders," Brett told
tvnz.co.nz.
"They know the Crusaders are a winning side so we're going to try
and manipulate some of the formulas they have got."
There is no argument there: The Crusaders are the most successful
team in Super rugby history, but would the Canterbury-based
franchise be happy with one of their ex-players passing on
intellectual property to their greatest rivals?
"It's not stealing, every team does it. It's more like borrowing
and it's just a matter of how you use it," Brett affirmed.
One of Brett's influential backline team-mates, 60-Test All Blacks
winger Rokocoko highlighted the infamous Blues and Crusaders
rivalry when he said, tongue-in-cheek, that the Blues' already know
all his secrets.
Joke or no joke, he does raise a good point. Every team in the
modern game replicates successful formulas. Some do it better than
others, but Rokocoko was deadpan when asked how much Brett will
bring to the team.
"He has run it (the backline) from the word go really," Rokocoko
says.
"In our first few meetings as a backline he has directed us and
we're not even on the pitch yet.
"All the guys, inside and outside him, are looking forward to
playing alongside him.
"Obviously the guys he has been involved with have been a huge
success in the last few years.
"To have someone of his calibre and experience is going to be huge
for this team so we're looking forward to it."
Brett has seemingly passed his first test, convincing his
team-mates that he is the real deal, but his next challenge is
winning over the Auckland public: a thankless task that only
winning will do.
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