Blues: Ended seven-match losing run and overtake Lions on the log
It was a long time coming, but the Blues finally ended their losing streak after beating the Lions 25-3 at Eden Park on Friday.
After seven defeats on the trot, the struggling Kiwi outfit returned to winning ways over the lowly Lions who - after suffering their ninth consecutive loss - now drop to the bottom of the table.
In a dull battle between the tournament's basement dwellars, the hosts outscored their visitors three tries to nil with captain Luke Braid sealing the deal with an 80th-minute touchdown.
Whilst it was a welcomed victory for the Blues, it was not a great performance, with the Lions simply playing even worse.
The Johannesburg-based outfit now look destined to finish rock bottom for the sixth time since 1998 and they may lose their spot in the competition, with new South African franchise the Southern Kings taking their place.
The Lions made the better start of the two desperate sides, and their forwards dominated the Blues early on. An Elton Jantjies penalty put his team in front in the fifth minute, but it would be the last time the visitors would contribute any points in the match.
Instead, the Blues hit their straps and worked their way up the length of the field before centre Michael Hobbs was able to cut through a weak defensive effort for the opening try.
Recalled rookie Gareth Anscombe landed the simple conversion as well as a penalty a few minutes later to give the hosts a seven-point (10-3) lead. And that's how the score stayed at half-time.
Anscombe slotted over a second penalty soon after the break to extend the Blues' lead before Alby Mathewson went over for their second try after the replacement scrum-half scampered 40 metres to score in the corner.
The Blues struggled in the scrums late in the match after both starting props Tony Woodcock and Charlie Faumuina left the field with injuries.
But the Lions were unable to capitalise on the advantage they had up front and when they did win the ball their backs suffered from handling errors. The Lions also had winger Deon Van Rensburg yellow carded in the second half for a professional foul at a ruck close to his line.
Skipper Luke Braid added the icing in the final minute when the flanker broke off from the back of a scrum and was driven over the line by his team-mates.
The scorers:
For Blues:
Tries: Hobbs, Mathewson, L Braid
Cons: Anscombe 2
Pens: Anscombe 2
For Lions:
Pen: Jantjies
Blues: 15 Hadleigh Parkes, 14 David Raikuna, 13 Ma'a Nonu, 12 Michael Hobbs, 11 Benson Stanley, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Luke Braid (c), 5 Ali Williams, 4 Liaki Moli, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Tevita Mailau.
Replacements: 16 James Parsons, 17 Angus Ta'avao, 18 Filo Paulo, 19 Steven Luatua, 20 Alby Mathewson, 21 Lachie Munro, 22 Sherwin Stowers.
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Deon Van Rensburg, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Joshua Strauss (c), 7 Grant Hattingh, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Franco Van der Merwe, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 CJ Van der Linde, 18 Cobus Grobbelaar, 19 Jaco Kriel, 20 Tian Meyer, 21 Ruan Combrinck, 22 James Kamana.
Comments
Ramage says...
@rugbyphile just wondered whether you were aware that the referee was an Australian and so in your book would have to be rated as a neutral. So your point about home town referees and the so called NZ hierarchy are plainly sour grapes as the NZers have not always controlled Sanzar referees for as long as you have made out. Sorry to spoil your conspiracy theory but Angus Gardner is one of the two new Australian referees added to the panel this year. Interesting that you only saw the Bloos infringements and failed to note the Lions ones. Go back and have a look at the game again and this time listen to what Gardner is saying. he called the captains together after a number of penalties conceded by both teams and spoke to the captains. The next two infringements were by the Lions. However you choose to see only one side's infringements as it suits your conspiracy theories about NZ referees and the fact that they are biased cheats who always give home town decisions. Problem is this time you chose the wrong referee because he was a neutral of whom you want to see more of. Never mind the answer to that one is that he was trying to get onside with the NZ mafia who control refereeing .If that is a point thene what really is the use of neutral referees. After all Craig Joubert was roundly criticised by some in the final of the RWCas being a cheat ,corrupt, in the pocket of NZ, a paddy stooge and so on and so on. Tell me do you believe that he is a cheat and corrupt or is he a spineless individual who was too scared to break away from the evil Paddy O'Brien who jacked up games for NZ?.
Posted 10:55 14th May 2012
Ramage says...
@carpelone I believe you are right, the exodus from the SH for the mighty pound and euro not to mention Japan and the yen is too much for the SH nations. Add to that the amount of injuries that the teams are picking up in this expanded competition then all is not well. One wonders whether there should be an Island franchise, a Japanese and Argentinian one and each of the other countries cut down on the number they have. Squeals ring out as if the Lions go and then NZ and Australia have to choose Imagine WA losing the Force they already have an inferiority complex about how the Eastern States run everything and yet they are the powehouse of the country. This would be nothing compared to the screams coming out of the Queen City of NZ where the largest NZ city by far has produced the weakest franchise of all. Hey it could be the Island franchise as Auckland could drop its Queeenie image and take on the robust image of the Island Warrior suitable for the largest Polynesian city in the world.
Posted 10:14 14th May 2012
carpelone says...
At the moment, 5 franchises seem to be too many for SA, NZ, not to mention OZ.
With the exodus to Europe and Japan of strong players, this is the situation, I fear.
Posted 17:00 13th May 2012
rugbyphile says...
The Lions were again pathetic, but totally agree with the previous comment that the yellow card was wrong--the Blues infringed countless times--a number of times close to their goalline--then a couple by the Lions, an immediate warning and a card--it was as though the ref was counting the Blues' infringements as having been made by the Lions so it was time to now lose patience. Don't hold your breath that his superiors will counsel the ref--the NZ ref hierarchy has shown it's colours in the past 10 years or so. And NZ refs are not the only ones who make hometown decisions--it's as though the hierarchy expects each ref to support his country a little. Sanzar would you like us supporters to organise some chook raffles or bridge nights to raise funds for neutral referees ?? Or pehaps you could cut down on some of the entertainment expenses for your officials and employees and pay the necessary ref costs.
Interesting that the most populous city in the rugby-strong southern countries consistently produces weak teams-- even allowing for the fact that the majority of Johannesburg citizens are not rugby supporters there are still large numbers who are--why the losing culture? Mitchell is not a good coach--the main feature of his teams is their total indifference to chasing kicks as was shown when he was at the Force. He is not the reason for the Lions' lack of fight but he sure isn't going to change it. Combining the Cheetahs and the Lions seems a good idea--the Kings will need a lot of imports.
Posted 05:40 12th May 2012
Wallaroo says...
@BokAvenger no blaming the ref or cursing the Kiwi's. A much more acceptable post. Keep it up and people may respect you.
Posted 05:13 12th May 2012
Ramage says...
For weeks I have been appalled at the sloppy play by the Blues and their lack of attention to simple basics. Their ability to take the kickoff is shonky and one wonders what they have done at practice to correct it. Their lineout play is terrible and again you are left wondering what they are doing to correct it. The backline allignment and play leads to shovelling the ball on while running across the field or throwing Hail Mary passes which the opposition can read and interecept. The scrum was the only strength the Blues showed but today it was shown how fragile that was for with the departure of Faumuina the tables were turned. Now further problems loom here for future games .The problems linger on. The Bloos I think cant wait to the end of the season where a new look is taken for the future. Yes Wallaroo without Lam.
If the Bloos were so bad what does it say about the Lions who looked even worse. So perhaps the SARFU will get away with their mishandling of the Super Franchise situation in the Republic thanks to the incompetence of the Lions franchise.
@JayStarr far be it for me to back Gardner who showed his lack of experience but hey the play of both teams was pathetic which leads to more breakdowns in play and places the referee in a situation where he has to intervene more. Similar to Berry from SA last week who also did not inspire confidence but again the game was terrible. Though I thought Lees the Australian had a good game. Gardner did warn both teams in the first half, as it wasn't only the Blues who were infringing. Having given those general rulings the next two offences were committed by the Lions and on the second occasion, as you call it, but in reality more than that he waved the Yellow card. Like Mumm in the Waratahs Bulls game it was just stupid play. Having had those warnings and still infringing leaves you with the facing the Yellow card.
Posted 04:31 12th May 2012
Sprogrugby says...
I'm not a saffa but I like jaystarr' comments on combining to form the Cats. It certainly doesn't do the comp any good with such poor displays (on that logic the Tahs should be kicked out most weeks !!!), and if the Kings are a given, then surely this is the best way. I like the point re NZ and ITM teams combining so unless logistics and tribalism is so rife that Cats won't work, give it a go. I actually love watching the Cheetahs but anything that strengthens the teams that can be prone to lack of depth can only be good. God knows the Aussie teams could do with it - especially competing against so many other sporting codes. I still think it was a master stroke by O'Neil to get it across the line (not that I agree with it)
Posted 00:43 12th May 2012
tha_mai says...
jaystarr - yes the NZ franchises are made of a mix of provincial teams - Hurricanes have the biggest mix, they represent nine unions. No love lost in the ITM Cup but seems to work ok when they're brought together for SR. There are 27 provincial unions in total, about half each in the ITM Cup and Heartland Championship.
Posted 00:07 12th May 2012
trappa says...
great advertisement for the code...(cough). luckily it was played in NZ and not Aust. where the Rugby league saturated media would have crucified our game even further.
Posted 22:59 11th May 2012
JayStarr says...
I also just want to add two afterthoughts:
Firstly, that the yellow card was a joke. The Blues consistenly infringed at the rucks in the first half, with the ref just giving them warning after warning... Then in the 2nd half there are 2 penalties in a row by the Lions, the ref warns them, and then the next one is a yellow card! Not that it would've made a difference - the Lions were so bloody POOR - but it was completely wrong nevertheless. I hope his superiors tell him so.
And secondly:
This game destroyed any lingering doubts and made me convinced that the best way forward is for the Lions and Cheetahs to be combined for Super Rugby by reforming the Cats. The Cheetahs are always struggling with depth and the Lions are clearly struggling even more. Forget about those stupid 'logistical' and 'practical' excuses from those opposed to the Cats - it wasn't managed right the first time around... but the Cats still made the semi-finals twice (the Cheetahs and Lions have never even come close)... Besides, all the NZ Super Rugby franchises are combinations of two or three ITM Cup teams and they play their games at more than one venue. Why can't we manage two? The Springboks are a combination of even more teams and play (and win) all over the place... So those excuses don't cut it. With the right management and right coaching team, the Cats can become a force to be reckoned with. I can't see the same happening for the Cheetahs - and certainly not for the Lions - in the distant future. Because they'll always have issues with depth.
Reform the Cats, stop moaning about injuries (i.e. lack of depth), start winning and let the Kings become the whipping boys.
Posted 19:28 11th May 2012
JayStarr says...
The Blues were TERRIBLE... but the Lions - they were so very, very atrocious I wanted to poke my eyes out with a pen.
Worst game of rugby I have seen in a LONG time. One of the Vodacom Cup teams would've been able to beat the Blues today - and if they Lions played like they did last week, they certainly would have too. Injury excuses won't cut it - they have Jantjies, Cilliers, Van Rensburg, Mapoe, etc. back... They were just pathetic! Mapoe turned the ball over every time he touched it and that number 9 - Cronjé - is about 2 seconds too slow for Super Rugby... They were undoubtedly the weak links - don't know why Mitchell didn't take them off. Goodness knows what's going on with Elton Jantjies - seems like he'll just never step up to Super Rugby level. Jaco Taute and Coetzee were once again solid... Hopefully they'll find themselves in a better team next year.
Posted 19:14 11th May 2012
Wallaroo says...
It would have been more of a surprise if the Blues had lost, the Lions are barely a team of 15 proper rugby players, let alone super.
Well done Blues a win at last, does this mean Pat lam keeps his job.
Posted 16:54 11th May 2012
NHsaints says...
Poor win but a win nonetheless to the blues although considering ranger and Faumuina were out it wasn't too bad...
Posted 16:19 11th May 2012
jonesy2 says...
told ya so
Posted 15:24 11th May 2012
muziwn says...
The ref was poor numerous dubious calls. I am not a loins fan but officiating like that is not on. The lions may not have played their part the ref must also get credit for his role. Congrats to the blues who came out to play rolled up their sleeves and got the job done
Posted 15:22 11th May 2012
Carpelone says...
I thought they could have been the surprise packege of Super Rugby this year, especially after the Currie Cup campaign. More misery at the Wanderers'.
Posted 13:44 11th May 2012
tweedledee49 says...
Well done Luke an Co. about damn time you guys got another win...
Posted 13:21 11th May 2012
tha_mai says...
The disallowed try for Daniel Braid; the commentators maintained it was a legal move, but ref thought otherwise. Anyone? The way the rule was explained by the commentary team made it a valid touchdown.
for the Blues - their next three games against NZ sides Crusaders, Highlanders, Chiefs who currently (before Sat games) sit 2nd, 5th and 6th on the table. Blues may have to get used to 14th position for a while.
Charlie Faumuina (torn calf muscle) a huge loss, and he can't have been afr off the AB squad v Ireland.
Posted 13:00 11th May 2012
BokAvenger says...
Time for the Lions and their few remaining supporters to be put out of their misery
Posted 11:33 11th May 2012