Can the Blues win Super Rugby Next Season?

John Kirwan and Graham Henry have been very busy since the Blues' last game of the season against the Chiefs at Eden Park.

It's evident with the squad that they've named with the likes of Jerome Kaino, Tony Woodcock and Ma'a Nonu, all Rugby World Cup winners signed to the Blues for 2014 along with Benji Marshall, whom Kirwan convinced to convert to rugby union after he was disillusioned with the Wests Tigers' new management.

Where Marshall plays remains to be seen, although I expect him to be at fullback initially while he learns the more refined arts of defense in union.

Apprentice and the master

The question is, with all those high-profile recruits and given how close they were to making the playoffs, can Graham Henry help guide the Blues back to where they were when he was in JK's job?

Look at this possible starting side -

Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Charlie Faumuina, Cullum Retallick, Tom Donnelly, Steven Luatua, Luke Braid, Jerome Kaino, Piri Weepu, Baden Kerr, Frank Halai, Francis Sai'ili, Ma'a Nonu, George Moala, Charles Piutau

SUBS: James Parson, Tom McCartney, Angus Ta'avao, Liaki Moli, Kane Barrett, Jamison Gibson-Park, Chris Noakes, Benji Marshall

Woody is back!

That forward pack looks incredible especially now that Tony Woodcock is back to partner his All Blacks teammates. Even if the locking duo is a bit new with Ali Williams and Anthony Boric gone, the backrow could be very good particularly now that Jerome Kaino is back and refreshed hopefully from his time in Japan.

The backs also look pretty promising especially if Piri Weepu can carry his NPC form over. Frank Halai will be an All Black cap by the time he returns and deservedly so given his form for the Blues and Counties last season - he could be the most destructive winger in New Zealand rugby. Expect Nonu to move to centre to allow Sai'ili to play second-five.

The draw will be the key - unlike last season, the Blues are amongst the first New Zealand sides to tour South Africa this season so will get the hardest part of their season out of the way.

As they say, with Henry and the Blues, never count them out and for once, the talk is all good coming out from Auckland's Super Rugby camp.