Rene Ranger suddenly centre of attention

JASON OXENHAM/Auckland Suburbans

REVELATION: Blues centre Rene Ranger in action against the Brumbies.

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Blues captain Keven Mealamu and his team prepare to face the Chiefs.

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Rene Ranger has given Pat Lam a pleasant headache as the Blues look to push on with their promising campaign against the Waratahs in Sydney this weekend.

The makeshift centre has been going so well in the No 13 jersey Lam will be tempted to keep him there despite his midfield stocks starting to fill up again after early injury problems.

At various stages over the first six weeks of the campaign the Blues have had centre options Anthony Tuitavake, Isaia Toeava, George Pisi and Luke McAlister all injured.

It forced Lam to move Ranger, a lively wing, in one position to cover the crisis.

Ranger was the star of the show, using his pace and physicality to score one try and have a hand in most of the attacks as the Blues beat the Brumbies 39-34 last Friday at Eden Park to notch their third win of the season.

"Rene was there initially because he was our last option to use," Lam admitted.

"He certainly has the skill-set. All he is lacking is the experience.

"But he has that thing I like in rugby players - no fear. He likes to have a go.

"We are just tempering that and making sure it is within the team structures."

Lam has called on the experienced players around Ranger to help settle him in and make the right options in the crucial position.

All Blacks wings Joe Rokocoko and Rudi Wulf and utility Toeava, who has moved out to fullback, are charged with that responsibility.

"That's a challenge we have set them - to look after Rene because if they do that he will get the job done," Lam said.

"If you leave him on his own he can come out of the system a bit. So it's just time on the paddock. That's what he has got in his favour at the moment because he has been playing. But we have got to get the other boys clocking up some time too."

It's hard to see them dispensing with Ranger from the midfield just when he's getting a real feel for the position. His direct play asks so many questions of opponents and frees up space for the class around him.

The Blues are in a crucial phase. The win against the Brumbies has got them back on track.

Now they head to Sydney on Saturday night where they haven't won since 2003. They then have three home matches against the Bulls, Stormers and Western Force.

- © Fairfax NZ News