Match Details

Blues (NZ)

VS

Lions (SA)

41

Auckland Kick off times: 7:35pm (Local) Sat 10 Mar 5:35pm (AEDT) Sat 10 Mar

14

All Blacks wing Doug Howlett was king of Eden Park in the Blues' 41-14 Investec Super 14 win over the Lions when scoring two tries to reach 57 and equal Joe Roff's record as scorer of most tries in Super rugby.

It was a dominating performance by the Blues who led 34-7, with a bonus point secured, by half-time.

Howlett's first try saw him running from depth onto the ball at speed after it had been coughed up by flyhalf Andre Pretorius, as the result of what was the forerunner of many hard Blues hits on the night, and moved quickly.

The second, was the first of the second half, after 27 minutes of relative mistake-ridden play, was after a Lions kick was fielded by fullback Ben Atiga and run back upfield with Howlett finishing off with speed.

It came soon after Howlett sent the crowd into raptures over two stunning spot tackles he made on Lions fullback Earl Rose.

The first half was almost a sublime display from the home team, but the glitz disappeared among a wealth of lost opportunities during a disjointed second half.

Blues flyhalf David Holwell superbly demonstrated his wealth of experience with a controlled first half display in a side enjoying a wealth of possession but it was the outside backs, who lost the later opportunities.

Earlier, the latent confidence of the Blues side was borne out with inter-passing between backs and forwards the Blues celebrated in style smashing the previously sound Lions defence.

Two lovely tries in the first five minutes highlighted the Blues' mood.

Spreading the ball wide, breaking tackles with No.8 Nick Williams rampant, and pinpoint off-loads, resulted in the first try to Holwell and then after flanker Daniel Braid created a ruck, before centre Isaia Toeava fed wing Rudi Wulf in for a superb try.

Holwell was just wide with his first conversion attempt but was right on target with the second and a subsequent penalty goal.

The Lions regained their composure, however, and a period of sustained mauling resulted in penalties being conceded. But by playing for the lineouts, the Lions created a chance and after 19 minutes flyhalf Andre Pretorius lobbed a superbly-weighted kick towards the in-goal area where Blues fullback Ben Atiga didn't control his catch attempt.

Wing Louis Ludik raced up and secured the rebound to score with Pretorius adding the conversion.

The Lions couldn't maintain their effort however, and when Pretorius was caught with the ball and driven back by Braid and Williams, the ball popped out and was cleared by halfback David Gibson with prop Saimone Taumoepeau and hooker Derren Witcombe fed Howlett, who sensed the opportunity early and flew up in support to score.

Three minutes later, after 30 minutes, a downfield kick was chased down by the Blues and then spread the ball wide through forwards and backs for Atiga to score and Holwell to add the conversion.

Right on the break a concentrated succession of drives at the line, the TMO awarded a fifth try to the Blues with Braid receiving the decision.

Half-time almost proved a disruption as the second half meandered before Howlett provided something for the crowd of 20,000 to savour with two bone-rattling tackles on Lions fullback Earl Rose. The set the scene for some bigger hits later in the half.

Handling mistakes with scoring chances going begging frustrated the Blues and detracted from their overall performance.

The solitary Blues try of the half came after Atiga fielded a Lions kick and set in train a 60-metre move which resulted in Howlett's second try.

Pretorius produced some classy touches for the Lions, but the big Lions' forwards were down to a walk during the last quarter. Lock Cobus Grobler and loose forward Cobus Grobbelaar battled mightily while Ludik looked dangerous on the few occasions he got the ball with room to move.

Replacement hooker Ethienne Reynecke provided some consolation for the Lions with a last-minute try from a lineout drive.

Blues 41

Tries: Doug Howlett 2, David Holwell, Rudi Wulf, Ben Atiga, Daniel Braid

Conversions: Holwell 4

Penalties: Holwell

Lions 14

Tries: Ludik, Reynecke

Conversions: Pretorius, Rose

HT: 34-7