Blues shut out Chiefs, lead Super Rugby

Sat, Apr 9, 2022, 9:50 AM
AAP
by AAP
The Blues shutout the Chiefs to head to the top of Super Rugby Pacific. Photo: Getty Images
The Blues shutout the Chiefs to head to the top of Super Rugby Pacific. Photo: Getty Images

The high-flying Blues have produced a rare shut out of the neighbouring Chiefs, triumphing 25-0 for their sixth win to go top of the Super Rugby Pacific ladder.

All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett helped set up two tries for backrower Tom Robinson and one for replacement A.J. Lam in Saturday night's clash in Hamilton.

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Robinson scored in the 16th minute and again in the 53rd to help the Blues secure the dominant win.

The Blues' triumph came in spite of receiving three yellow cards, including two in quick succession to lock Luke Romano and halfback Sam Nock, which left them with only 13 men at the end of the first and start of the second half.

The Blues dominated possession in the first half and their defence was equal to any threat the Chiefs posed in the second as they claimed a bonus-point win.

It sets up a huge match for the Blues against the Crusaders, who are also 6-1 and on 27 points, in Christchurch on Friday.

The Chiefs (4-3) lost All Blacks centre Anton Lienert-Brown to a shoulder injury in just the seventh minute.

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