Match Details

Blues (NZ)

VS

Waratahs

34

Auckland Kick off times: 7:35pm (Local) Fri 23 Mar 6:35pm (AEDT) Fri 23 Mar

6

The Blues have powered back to the top of the Investec Super 14 table with a dominant display to dispose of the Waratahs 34-6 in a one-sided game at Eden Park on Friday night.

The Blues defence was monumental, rarely allowing the Waratahs to get out of their half, while the home team spent 22 minutes in the opposition quarter. The backline run some great angles while flankers Troy Favell and Daniel Braid had a field day picking up three tries between them.

Scrumhalf Steve Devine scored the other try while the Flavell's second try also sealed the bonus-point for the Blues and sees them go back to the top of the table pending the result of the Sharks v Brumbies match on Sunday morning (AEDT).

It was apparent from the outset that the Waratahs scrum was in trouble with prop Alistair Baxter having problems against Chris Heard. Baxter was twice penalised inside his own 22, but inside centre Luke McAlister was only able to convert one of the chances, after four minutes.

But 15 minutes into the game, the solidity and expertise that the Blues have fashioned this season were obvious in a classic build-up to a try for flanker Daniel Braid.

With the Blues players, especially centre Isaia Toeava and lock Greg Rawlinson typifying the side's approach by confronting the Waratahs defence with some crunching runs, the way was set up for Braid to get across with McAlister adding the conversion.

The Waratahs made a rare foray into the Blues half via a break by flyhalf Kurtley Beale. The visitors won a penalty for a high shot on Rocky Elsom and the Peter Hewat was able to slot it through to make the score 10-3.

Blues skipper Troy Flavell, who had started the game in trademark fashion with some hard running with the ball in hand, then had reward for some neat theft of a Waratahs lineout.

After Rocky Elsom looked to have secured the ball, Flavell knocked the ball from his grip. It fell to the Blues and hooker Derren Witcombe set off down the sideline before firing a well-timed pass to Heard. As he was tackled he slipped the ball to Flavell and he raced 10m to touch down after 25 minutes.

McAlister converted to make the score 17-3.

Hewat added a second penalty goal two minutes later to keep the visitors in touch 17-6.

There were some thrilling individual touches with fullback George Pisi making one fine run from his own 22m, breaking two lines of defence and creating a counter-attack which ended right on the Waratahs line.

Waratahs flyhalf Kurtley Beale also showed his class with another break into the Blues half which only came undone when his outside pass was intercepted by defending wing Rudi Wulf.

Starting the second half with a mood-setting powerful driving maul, the Blues secured an early penalty goal to McAlister but it was after nine minutes that the game was put beyond the Waratahs.

Inside centre Morgan Turinui got taken in the tackle and Flavell and No.8 Jerome Kaino ripped the ball clear. When it dropped to the ground Rawlinson swept onto it, and fed halfback Steve Devine who raced into the clear to score under the posts.

McAlister added the extras and the Blues led 27-6.

All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu made his first appearance 56 minutes into the game but struggled with his lineout throwing at his first few throws.

Once again the Blues struggled to maintain their first-half impetus into the second half and with attempts to use McAlister on the cutback, there was a welcoming committee for him on several occasions.

When Toeava got clear it was only a superb cover tackle by wing Lachlan Turner that pulled him down just short of the line. Before Turner complete the play by getting to his feet and getting the ball clear for the Waratahs.

The loss of lock Will Caldwell hurt the Waratahs with nine minutes left. He was sin-binned for a high tackle on replacement Justin Collins. From the resulting plays, a five-metre scrum when David Holwell was held up over the line, saw Kaino off the back to feed replacement halfback David Gibson.

Kaino drifted with Gibson, and when an in-pass was thrown it was Flavell who took the ball to score the bonus point try.

The problems that have beset the Waratahs all season manifested themselves several times in an unconvincing display with the ball in hand with the backs aimless in their running and rarely able to breach the home defences.

The night was summed up with the last gasp effort by the Waratahs to score a try ending with the ball being passed over the sideline.

Blues 34

Tries: Flavell 2, Braid, Devine

Con: McAlister 4

Pen: McAlister 2

Waratahs 6

Pen: Hewat 2

HT: 17-6