Who would have predicted at the start of the season that heading into round 3 of Super Rugby, the Blues would be two from two, have two 4 try bonus points to go with that and sit joint top of the NZ conference? All this from a side of complete no names, a group in rebuild mode, a team with no passion from a city fed up with the lack of heart shown for far too long from this once mighty province.
How a couple of weeks have thrown early season predictions and expectations out the window. The catalyst for this shock start to the season? Well put it down to one man, Auckland’s most famous butcher, and no I am not talking about the Mad Butcher.
That’s right, I am talking about the butcher’s apprentice from Mangere, the man who went on to become one of the world’s great wingers, an All Black great, a world cup winner, a man who is fluent in Italian and proficient in Japanese, a man who has received a knighthood for his work in facing headfirst the problems with depression, a man who has travelled the world before returning for this challenge in his beloved Auckland. The JK effect is there, its powerful, its stirring, its building and I for one am loving it.
