Blues try some DIY
March 28, 2001

The Auckland Blues are trying a bit of DIY as they look to spark their Super 12 campaign back to life against the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday.

Rather than coach Frank Oliver and his assistant John Kirwan providing the players with all the guidance, the players themselves have been plotting the Waratahs' downfall.

"It was all player-driven, they thought that John (Kirwan) and I were spoon-feeding them too much," coach Oliver said. "They wanted more buy-in, they felt they needed to understand more about where we were coming from. They had to do more for themselves."

Interestingly, once all the players' ideas and those of the coaches were collated there was quite a lot of similarity.

"They are looking for ways to improve, they want to get more involved and this off-the-field work may help them with their decisions on the park. I think it is a good concept."

The Blues, who had the bye last weekend, are coming off a disappointing 34-16 loss to the Chiefs two weeks ago. But history could be in their favour on Saturday night with the Waratahs the only overseas side not to have beaten Auckland.

AUCKLAND SQUAD: Nick White, Paul Thomson, Keven Mealamu, Slade McFarland, David Taumoepeau, Robin Brooke, Troy Flavell, Charles Reichelmann, Craig Newby, Xavier Rush, Matua Parkinson, Ron Cribb, Steve Devine, Mark Robinson, Carlos Spencer, Justin Wilson, Craig Innes, Rua Tipoki, Jeremy Stanley, Joeli Vidiri, Doug Howlett, Orene Ai'i.

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