Blues show Force who's boss

The Blues are still in semi-finals contention after disposing the Western Force 38-17 on Saturday, scoring six tries in the process.

The Blues are still in semi-finals contention after disposing the Western Force 38-17 in Auckland on Saturday, scoring six tries in the process.

Joe Rokocoko was at his most lethal amid a rampant display of attacking rugby, scoring a hat-trick of tries for the hosts in an inspired return to form at Eden Park.

There's still a long way to go if the Blues are to pull off a miracle run at a semi-final spot, but at least they head to South Africa with something to play for on the back of another exhilarating display with ball in hand.

They move on to 25 points with their fifth win from nine matches this season – four more like this, and who knows what can happen?

Conditions weren't brilliant for running rugby, with drizzle falling throughout the game, and the first 15 minutes of the match featured plenty of handling errors.

The hosts should have been further behind than 3-0 but Force full-back James O'Connor could only convert one of his three penalty opportunities and winger Mark Bartholomeusz passed up a certain try when he failed to hold on to a Ryan Cross pass.

And the visitors were made to pay when the Blues finally hit their straps.

In a twelve-minute burst Rokocoko crossed twice and prop Tony Woodcock, back in the side after a neck injury, grabbed a third to lift the Blues to a 19-3 lead.

Rokocoko collected a big cut-out pass from Luke McAlister to dive over in the corner for his first try, while his second came from a good inside pass from Stephen Brett after Force captain Nathan Sharpe had deliberately hit the ball away to concede a penalty which was taken quickly by Alby Mathewson.

Woodcock then rounded off a good team effort that saw the ball go through several pairs of hands after an initial charge through the weak Force defence by centre Benson Stanley.

McAlister, handed the kicking duties instead of Brett, converted two of them after a woeful first conversion attempt, then an equally poor penalty effort just prior to Rokocoko's second try.

The Force turned down a couple of shots at goal in search of a much-needed try. But having held the ball through 13 phases they still could find no way through the solid Blues defence and eventually knocked on.

Another poor pass from Chris O'Young then saw another opportunity go begging just before the break.

The visitors turned down another penalty kick early in the second half opting again for a line-out. But the Blues were able to repel the advance and then rubbed salt into the wound when Mathewson scooted over at the other end to claim the four-try bonus point.

Rokocoko then wrapped up his hat-trick after good work by the forwards and another well-timed short ball from McAlister. The inside centre added the extras and the Blues were looking well in control at 31-3 up, which gave coach Pat Lam the chance to give his bench players a run.

Even having a host of new players on failed to halt the Blues' momentum and 13 minutes from the end Rudi Wulf got the ball down for his side's sixth with McAlister again providing the final pass before stepping up to slot the simple conversion.

The Force were then denied a try to loose forward Matt Hodgson when it was ruled he knocked on in the in-goal area, although it looked like Woodcock may have got a hand to it to bat it over the dead-ball line.

But the visitors continued to press for the elusive try and they were finally rewarded when openside flanker David Pocock went over by the posts and then a last-minute penalty try was awarded to give the final scoreline a respectable look to it.

Man of the match: A hat-trick of tries scored by Joe Rokocoko was an opportune time to remind All Blacks coach Graham Henry that he is no spent force.

The scorers:

For Blues:
Tries: Rokocoko 3, Woodcock, Mathewson, Wulf
Cons: McAlister 4

For Western Force:
Tries: Pocock, penalty try
Cons: O'Connor 2
Pen: O'Connor

Blues: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Benson Stanley, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Rudi Wulf, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Viliami Ma'afu, 7 Tom Chamberlain, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Filo Paulo, 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (c), 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Tevita Mailau, 18 Andrew Van Der Heijden, 19 Peter Saili, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Rene Ranger, 22 Paul Williams.

Western Force: 15 James O'Connor, 14 Mark Bartholomeusz, 13 Mitch Inman, 12 Ryan Cross, 11 Cameron Shepherd, 10 David Hill, 9 Chris O'Young, 8 Richard Brown, 7 David Pocock, 6 Matt Hodgson, 5 Nathan Sharpe (captain), 4 Tom Hockings, 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Nic Henderson.
Replacements: 16 Ben Whittaker, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 Sam Wykes, 19 Ben McCalman, 20 Justin Turner, 21 Sam Harris, 22 Nick Cummins.

Referee: Keith Brown (New Zealand)