The Armidale Blues tuned up for Saturday’s blockbuster clash against Barbarians with a 31-nil thumping of Glen Innes last weekend.
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It was the perfect chance for the Blues to blow some rust out after two weekends off.
Blues coach Anthony McMillan was unable to make the trip to Glen Innes, but said he received far from glowing reports.
“We were very scrappy apparently,” McMillan said.
“But we hadn’t played for a few weeks so that was to be expected.”
While the Blues toppled Baa Baas easily the last time the two sides met, McMillan admitted they face a vastly more confident side at Alcatraz Rugby Park tomorrow.
“They are going pretty well, on a bit of a roll at the moment,” he said.
“It’s not going to be a rollover game for us.”
The Blues will be without Anthony Piddington tomorrow, but that will be somewhat offset by the return of strike centre John Roberts.
“He [Roberts] brings so much experience,” McMillan said.
“John’s one of those blokes who walks the talk.
“We always seem to play a lot better when he is there.”
Halfback Brodie Rigby has also returned to the side after missing most of the season due to an overseas trip.
That has allowed captain Dan Ah See to return to his more familiar position of fullback.
McMillan highlighted new recruit Mitch Cooper as one of Baa Baas’ danger men.
“Cooper has been going well for them in the centres apparently,” he said. “But I am very confident in our defence, it has been the highlight of our game this year.”
With the minor premiership all but wrapped up for the Blues, McMillan said keeping his men focused in the run into the finals will be his biggest challenge.
“We just need to keep going about our business,” he said. “The minor premiership is pretty well wrapped up, but the main prize is won at the end of the year.
“We have to keep focused week in, week out.”
The other match of the round sees St Albert’s battle Glen Innes at Bellevue Oval.