Super Rugby Pacific: Blues captain Dalton Papali'i backs Beauden Barrett to bounce back from blunder

If you had to pick one play to encapsulate the Blues' start to the Super Rugby season, it would be Beauden Barrett's blain explosion against the Chiefs on Saturday.

Last year's tournament runners-up have struggled for consistency, failing to win a game back-to-back in the first six rounds of action.

Their schedule hasn't done them any favours, having already been tested against reigning champions Crusaders and table-topping Chiefs.

But despite their tough fixtures, the Blues have struggled to build momentum, with unforced errors proving their undoing.

None more so than Barrett's blunder at Waikato on the dead-ball line to butcher a certain try in an effort to give himself an easier attempt at a conversion.

Barrett has struggled to live up to the lofty standards he has set himself over the years with sub-par performances.

But Blues captain Dalton Papali'i believes the simple answer to the question about the star's form can be found in the name.

"It's Beauden Barrett," he said. "He's been there, done that, he's that much of a veteran and professional.

"He knows where he's at the moment, and I'm behind him 100 percent and I'm behind anyone in the team - in form or out of form, I'm always behind them.

"He's focusing on himself, and when he's playing well, the whole team is playing well, so we're right behind him every step of the way.

"You don't rub it into any player trying to find their form again. But as a whole team, we haven't been in-form as a whole.

"There's no point pointing fingers, we've got to find solutions, work together and get wins. We're nearly there, I feel like this is the week we're really going to try to put it all together."

Barrett will again lineup at first-five for the Blues for their trip to Melbourne to take on the ninth-placed Rebels on Saturday.

But despite their position on the table, Papali'i expects a tough challenge from a much-improved Rebels outfit.

"They're way better than last year, they're a team that's nearly upset a few New Zealand teams," he said.

"They've come a long way from when we played them last year to now. We know it's going to be a grudge match, especially at their home.

"They [will] want to get one over a New Zealand team, we know we going over there and it's going to be a big match."

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