Blues coach Tana Umaga declares: We've got no problem playing against Israel Folau

Blues coach Tana Umaga just shrugs his shoulders and then hits us square in the eyes with a pretty fair point. How can he have any complaints about Israel Folau in the opposition on Saturday night when his bosses have been preaching a loud message of diversity and inclusiveness.

Umaga, prior to Thursday's final training hitout of the week before he and his team head to Sydney, was asked about the inclusion of Folau in the Waratahs lineup at fullback. As in the same guy who caused such a furore with his online comment via social media that God's plan for gay people was "HELL... unless they repent their sins".

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Blues coach Tana Umaga says he has no objections to coming up against Waratahs fullback Israel Folau.

Since then there has been a worldwide storm of protest, including a couple of gritty Kiwi halfbacks who have put their money where their mouth is, and general condemnation of both Folau's sentiments and the pretty limp response of his bosses at the Australian Rugby Union.

"Everyone is entitled to their opinions," said Umaga. "That's part of that diversity everyone is talking about. It is the ability to have your own say. If they're out there, they've been allowed to play. That's just who we're up against."

Umaga was equally as emphatic when it came to how Folau would handle the pressure that will no doubt surround him through Saturday night's important Super Rugby encounter, and beyond.

"It goes back to what we were just talking about," said Umaga, referencing questions he'd faced around coping with the the pressures of coaching New Zealand rugby's great underachievers.

"It's those pressures from outside influences that make people do things. He has been in those pressure situations before, so you'd think he has – and I'm sure he does – those strategies to deal with it.

"Obviously with his profile, sometimes [the pressure is] more than most. I know for some once they get out on the field that's the easy place to be because you're out there for 80 minutes doing what you love and just enjoying yourself.

"I don't see that being an issue for him."

Umaga also gave his strongest indication yet that he remains committed to the Blues beyond this season, the last on his current contract, with his bosses on record saying they want him to stay on.

"We've been in talks," he said. "Those all ongoing, nothing is confirmed until the time that it is. I'm just focused on week-to-week things I can control."

But pressed on whether he wanted to continue on with the rebuilding process, he offered a fairly emphatic response.

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Israel Folau will start at fullback for the Waratahs in his first game since the media storm over his anti-gay comments.

"I love what we do here. I love the challenge. I love the players and love what the club is about and everything they do. Probably the one part we're not getting right is on the field,

"We've got to put that right and I'm in the best place to try have an influence on that."

There's also a very real prospect the Blues carry even more weight into Saturday night. If the Crusaders get up over the Rebels in Melbourne on Friday night, the Blues will be looking to maintain a 37-match win streak by Kiwi sides over their Aussie rivals.

"You just can't get away from it," said Umaga of the run of Kiwi success in the trans-Tasman battle. "It's great learning in terms of being in a pressure situation ... this one probably is a national one with our relationship with Australia and the past.

"We're under no illusions around what it means to the country. We've gt to control what we can control and thats out on the training paddock making sure we get everything right before we go over to play Saturday."

Umaga has three of his most experienced campaigners back in the starting XV this week as they look to secure just their third win of the Super Rugby season, and potentially keep alive that Kiwi streak of victories over Aussie sides.

Augustine Pulu is promoted to the starting halfback's spot after coming off the bench, and All Blacks Patrick Tuipulotu and Jerome Kaino are straight in to add their steel to the pack.