- By Henry Lee, reporting from Eden Park, Auckland
It was all to play for at Eden Park on Saturday afternoon, where the seventh-placed Blues battled the eighth-placed NSW Waratahs for a place in the Super Rugby Pacific top-six playoffs.
The Blues needed to win, and the Hurricanes had to beat Moana Pasifika in the following game on Saturday night, for the Auckland-based franchise to make the playoffs.
The home side started on the front foot through a Caleb Clarke breakaway.
Clarke handed it off to Blues centre Rieko Ioane who was stopped just short of the Waratahs’ try line.
The Blues recycled the ball efficiently, before departing Blues winger Mark Telea crossed in the corner to give them a 5-0 lead after 10 minutes.
Dan McKellar’s NSW Waratahs side hit back through a penalty from right in front, taking the Blues’ lead to just two points after 20 minutes.
Clarke then managed to break through the line again on the back of a swift backline move, before shifting it on to Telea again who went close.
Blues No.8 Hoskins Sotutu got his hands on the ball, firing a superb short pass to Ioane who crashed over close to the line, extending the Blues’ lead to 10-3.
It all seemed to click for the Blues later in the first half, as a smart Corey Evans grubber kick was perfectly placed for Ioane to score his second try of the evening.
Barrett added the extras from in front, giving the Blues a 17-6 lead with under 10 minutes to go in the first 40 minutes.
The first half went from bad to worse for the Waratahs on the halftime hooter, with Telea going over for his second try after a lengthy TMO review confirmed he’d planted the ball with sufficient force.
Half-time score: 24-6 to the Blues.
The second 40 minutes started the way the first half finished, with the home side on the front foot from the get-go.
A long-range pass from Finlay Christie at the base of the ruck found Patrick Tuipulotu’s hands before he showed slick passing accuracy to put Evans through to score close to the touchline.
Barrett’s conversion from out wide sailed over the posts, taking the Blues’ lead to 31-6 just after halftime.
The Blues forwards then rolled up their sleeves, opting for the attacking lineout rather than the easy three points.
Departing Blues hooker Ricky Riccitelli found himself at the back of the rolling maul with his hands on the ball, falling over the line five meters in from touch.
Barrett’s wizardry from the sideline extended the Blues lead to 38-6 with 25 minutes to go.
The Blues’ first five was able to find some open space behind the Waratahs’ defensive line, this time with a chip kick in behind.
Ioane used his pace and power through the line and got on the end of Barrett’s kick.
Ioane’s third try of the night completed an impressive hat trick, putting the Blues well out of reach of the Waratahs, 43-6.
Full-Time score: 46-6 to the Blues.
The defending champion Blues now face the daunting task of travelling to Hamilton to take on the table-topping Chiefs, who thrashed the hapless Highlanders 41-24 on Friday night.
- Super Rugby Pacific playoffs:
- Chiefs vs Blues
- Brumbies vs Hurricanes
- Crusaders vs Reds
