On a roll: The Blues celebrate
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The Blues continued their strong start to the Super Rugby season after seeing off the Crusaders 34-15 at Auckland's Eden Park on Friday.
Last season, the Blues suffered back-to-back defeats in their opening two rounds. This time though, the rejuvenated kiwi outfit have recorded two comprehensive bonus-point wins over tough opposition that keeps them top of the New Zealand conference.
It's not often that the Crusaders are kept tryless in a match, but the Blues did just that whilst showing their old foes how it's done by crossing the whitewash five times.
The Blues got off to a strong start, but it was the Crusaders who were on the scoreboard first courtesy of a Dan Carter penalty.
Five minutes later the Blues were over for the opening try of the match when impressive flank Steven Luatua powered over from close range, though Piri Weepu - who missed four shots at goal - was unable to add the extras.
This allowed the Crusaders to reclaim the lead through another Carter penalty, before the early see-saw battle continued when Weepu found his target with a three-pointer of his own that put the Blues back in front.
It didn't take long for the hosts to open the gap a wee bit further when a superb break-out from Rene Ranger led to winger Frank Halai crossing out wide.
Weepu was once again unable to raise the flags with the ensuing conversion attempt, but it didn't seem to matter when Halai was over in the same corner for his second brace in two weeks after collecting a clever chip from pivot Chris Noakes.
This time Weepu's conversion was successful, which helped the Blues to a commanding 20-6 lead.
With five minutes to go the Crusaders looked dangerously close to scoring a try, but had to settle for another two more penalties from Carter that was enough to keep them in touch with the Blues at half-time (20-12).
The Crusaders started the second half as they ended the first as Carter banged over his fifth penalty of the match in the 45th minute, and all of a sudden the visitors were a converted try away from taking the lead.
However, it would be the last points the seven-time champions would score after the Blues put the game out of sight in the last quarter of the match when flank Luke Braid and wing George Moala touched down for the home side.
First, a bloodied Braid came up with the ball after sustained pressure on the Crusaders line led to prop Charlie Faumuina falling inches short. Last year's skipper simply had to fall on the loose ball and Weepu converted.
Crusaders wing Israel Dagg then came agonisingly close to crossing the whitewash, but the TMO ruled that he had been guilty of a double movement - which certainly appeared to be the wrong call from the man upstairs.
Luckily for the Blues, the TMO didn't need to be called into play when Moala raced 60m after collecting a chip ahead from replacement pivot Baden Kerr, who also rubbed further salt into the Crusaders' wounds by adding the conversion from far out.
Game, set and match.
The scorers:
For Blues:
Tries: Luatua, Halai 2, Braid, Moala
Cons: Weepu 2, Kerr
Pen: Weepu
For Crusaders:
Pens: Carter 5
Blues: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Francis Saili, 11 George Moala, 10 Chris Noakes, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Luke Braid, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Ali Williams (c), 4 Culum Retallick, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 James Parsons, 1 Tom McCartney.
Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Angus Ta'avao, 18 Liaki Moli, 19 Brendon O'Connor, 20 Bryn Hall, 21 Baden Kerr, 22 Jackson Willison.
Crusaders: 15 Tom Taylor, 14 Adam Whitelock, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Israel Dagg, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Kieran Read (c), 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Joe Moody, 18 Dominic Bird, 19 Luke Whitelock, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Tyler Bleyendaal, 22 Tom Marshall.
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
By Dave Morris
Comments
isthatrightref says...
@ teri... once he's off his feet, yes it does therefore no he didn't. TMO got it right, much as I'd have loved the call to go the other way.
Posted 07:54 03rd March 2013
powerplay says...
Phill_Moore
Hahahha.. agreed! Maybe even 3 words? lol....
Yeah, early days indeed..
Posted 22:17 02nd March 2013
Phill_Moore says...
@powerplay
that's pretty much what I meant, but 2 games at the beginning of the season are just that (think highlanders last year). GH is GH though...
But I'm sure JK did manage to squeeze in a word or two during training... lol
Posted 16:14 02nd March 2013
teri says...
Having your hand on a player does not constitute a tackle. Dagg scored.
Posted 10:06 02nd March 2013
carpelone says...
What a match! Perfect pitch, perfect weather, great running rugby.
It was a surprisingly easy the way the Blues caught the Crusaders uncovered outwide.
It looks like a lazy start for the Crusaders.
Brilliant and ferocious individual defense, team defense a bit questionable though. But who cares?
Well done to John.
Posted 08:45 02nd March 2013
passtheball says...
The NZ Rugby pendulum, that started with the Chiefs last year, is swinging to the north. Top young players are now wanting to head north the reverse of the previous decade. I have a lot of the Blues backline in my fantasy team - cant believe Halai was so cheap! Still say Lam was unlucky with his timing at the Blues as these young players look like future ABs. Henry's timing again is perfect and a change of attitude has worked wonders.
As for the "Dagg try" - Ranger still had his hand on Dagg and both players had their knees on the ground which constitutes a tackle - TMO is technically correct.
Posted 03:15 02nd March 2013
Trinats2 says...
Retard2
"Thanks again to those Foxtel dills who switch to the Tah's/Rebels preamble (yawn) and we miss all the after match comments from Auckland, anyway next week I get one of those (probably Illegal) sat dishes installed and I will be able to tap straight into Sky Sports in NZ, oh what joy."
Here's a suggestion that would make all parties happy, so your missus tells me.
Quit the whineing, Why don't you go back to NZ ! We'll keep sending over your dole !
Posted 03:11 02nd March 2013
kiwilad says...
Very early to start rash predictions, but the Blues at this stage look to be title contenders...
Posted 23:17 01st March 2013
powerplay says...
Phill_Moore
Yep, I hear what you're saying, but If you have a look at Henry as coach from Blues inception..blues win 2 titles! When he leaves they are useless, many coaches come in, even from Australia, in 2000.2001, 2002, Blues are hopeless! Then Henry comes back as technical adviser in 2003, and what do you know? Blues win again! Super champions, beating Saders in final! Now, since 2003, they have been appalling, everybody knows that! And then Henry comes back, and all of a sudden they play a distinct style of play, indicative of the teams Henry has been involved in! 5 try's on the saders! Like I said, this is not a coincidence!-its the affect the most successful coach in rugby has on a team. As much as I like JK he is just a little boy learning from the master when it comes to coaching! Youre right, early days, but how else can you explain the turn around? When most of the players are the same? Let's hope they maintain throughout the year...
Posted 23:10 01st March 2013
kitch says...
the difference to me is that the crusaders have no real ball runners in the backs ... the blues played to their strengths which is clearly out the backs.. esp out wide. I felt the crusaders didnt really play to theirs which was in the forwards and im sure if they had taken it through the middle more often, then they wouldve reaped more rewards. It didnt help that the blues seemed to get the rub of the green from the ref who didnt penalise the blues enough for spoiling ruck infringements from offside positions, and was quick to penalise any similar crusader infringement esp hanging onto the ball when tackled. Then theres the dag try where ranger clearly brought dagg to the ground but then clearly didnt hold him thus allowing dagg to legitimately get to his feet and score, and the incident where carter was stripped of the ball which was ruled a knock on for which a similar incident happened just before the 3rd blues try an it was deemed ok! Rangers turnovers are awesome and i cant for the life of me see why they cant teach the backs to do it more often.. they were hugely instrumental in the game! The crusaders defensive game plan means there is always space out wide for those teams who can get it there quickly and thats what the blues did tonight.
Posted 22:24 01st March 2013
isthatrightref says...
Forced myself to watch a highlights package on YouTube, just to confirm what I thought watching it live at the pub last night: Blues were all over us but also got the bounce of the ball, rub of the green, call it what you like... didn't affect the result or the Blues bonus point but perhaps the margin.
As when the AB lose it's not so much the loss as the manner of it that matters to me: Crusaders looked like they were at the end of a long season with injury stand-ins all over the place, lacked the cohesion & accuracy we've come to expect & got hammered because of it. No need to hit the panic button (but please never let Dagg play 11 again), but defo need 2 wins in the 3 weeks before heading off to SA or it's gonna be a long year.
Posted 21:59 01st March 2013
The_Dange says...
The top 6 of the overall table is a complete mindf**k!
Posted 21:31 01st March 2013
runnrugby says...
I think the loss of Guilford and Maitland really hurt the crusaders. They are looking pretty thin in the backline at the moment especially when it comes to explosive power and speed. They have Fruen at centre but hes hot & cold and they moved Dagg to the wing. The opposite can be said about the blues where 12 to 15 have both power and speed. They are hard to tackle and when they do get tackled they look to offload to a supporting player just who is just as dangerous.
Posted 20:22 01st March 2013
tha_mai says...
I heard from friends from UK who went to the match, loved it - pleased they had company - a crowd of 31,000 is good for a NZ match-up. Next week a 4pm Sunday game (Bulls), the crowds will come back if Blues keep winning.
Re influence of Kirwan/Henry, not all about fitness training and tactics - they've had a few ex Blues players, Buck Shelford, Michael Jones, Joe Stanley, Craig Innes, Eric Rush, Justin Collins in to talk with the players about attitudes. Seems to be working so far.
Posted 15:41 01st March 2013
Golden_statenba says...
Been very excited about big Frank for a few years now. Great to see he has put on some bulk and is doing the hard yards.
If he keeps it up we might just have another exciting big man on the wing for the ABs soon
Posted 14:04 01st March 2013
TheMascot says...
Great game. This Blues outfit looks great. So much cohesion and they have only played 2 games. Chiefs vs Blues is going to be a cracker!!!
Posted 13:43 01st March 2013
melkdave says...
Have to say the Blues looked really good today,.Ranger played very well and seemed everywhere.Very reminisent imo of their glory days in S10-12
Posted 13:41 01st March 2013
Phill_Moore says...
I didn't think GH would be so fast in having such an effect. Early days still, but some things never seem to change, do they? Good thing he stayed in NZ, to the chagrin of the pommies and their fat wallets...
And I'm not taken anything away from JK, who surely also had a hand in it ;)
Posted 13:34 01st March 2013
cuw3100 says...
It may be early season but IMHO wont be a surprise if Halai and Luatua are in the MIB mix soon.Have seen Halai in 7s and he is super fast. Looks like he did a lot of weights during off season. The NZ teams are really strong with talent; pity someone will lose out at semi stage :(
Posted 13:01 01st March 2013
LindsayG says...
Well done Blues.
Bad luck Crusdaers you were beat by 15 players, shame the 16th and 17th got involved as well. Don't think it would have changed the result you need to sort your shxx out. Lets hope Pollock gets a kicking in review. Did anyone else notice the way the NZ teams are accidently clearing out the arriving halfback at the breakdown and then picking up the ball when the use it call comes.
Posted 12:56 01st March 2013