Blues out-wrestle Crusaders in 80-minute Eden Park grind

One of Super Rugby Pacific’s most flavourful rivalries graced the Eden Park field on Saturday evening of round 4, and the reigning champs were on the back foot early.

It was an arm-wrestle, but the Blues held on well as the Crusaders tried to find an edge in the game. The hosts, in the end, secured a rare win over their Christchurch rivals, pushing their season record to 2-2, while the Crusaders fell to 1-3.

Chay Fihaki won the Crusaders the ball back on the kick-off, and the Blues proceeded to give away a quick penalty, handing the visitors a 3-0 lead after just one minute.

The hosts made amends just one minute later by making a quick entry into the Crusaders’ 22, and found space on the right edge for Caleb Clarke to score.

The Crusaders looked to have responded just moments later when a break was followed by Jamie Hannah gliding through another gap to get over the line, but the play was called back when the TMO spotted a high tackle by Dom Gardiner. The blindside flanker was handed a yellow card, and the try was erased.

The Blues poured salt in that wound with haste by pushing back into the Crusaders’ 22, this time with a Zarn Sullivan break assisted by Beauden Barrett, before again finding Caleb Clarke, who was in open space to score.

22m Entries

Avg. Points Scored

3.6

8

Entries

Avg. Points Scored

1.4

9

Entries

Barrett was pulling the strings once more when the Blues scored their third try in the 21st minute, with the All Black centurion providing a cross-field kick that was reeled in by Cody Vai over the try line, and grounded with surgical precision as the winger flew over the sideline.

Caleb Clarke was given a yellow card for deflecting a Crusaders pass forward exactly 10 minutes out from half-time, and the Crusaders, desperate to strike next, got five points through Codie Taylor at the back of a driving maul.

Clarke’s absence was exploited again when Rivez Reihana collected his own chip-kick, and David Havili kept the momentum going with a cross-field kick. The ball swung back to the right edge, and Noah Hotham flicked a ball out the back of the hand to Reihana, who crossed the line untouched.

Both tries went unconverted, and the Blues retained a 19-13 lead at the break.

The Blues had a try rubbed out shortly after the second half commenced, and Cody Vai will rue not delivering a pass to Zarn Sullivan, who was in space on his outside when the hosts went close to scoring once again shortly thereafter.

The 22-year-old made up for it in the 48th minute, though, delivering a superb ball under pressure to Clarke for his third try.

Both teams got their offload games going momentarily, but an injury to Pita Ahki halted play, and the game reverted to a grind with some kicking duels not achieving a great deal for either club.

The game broke open in the 67th minute, with both teams threatening to exploit unstructured defence. A blind offload from Hoskins Sotutu was picked up by Dallas McLeod, but Caleb Clarke chased him down and deflected an offload, backwards this time, to save the Blues.

More heroic defence was provided by Xavi Taele right on the Blues’ try line, with a hit on Leicester Fainga’anuku stopping the All Black’s momentum as Sotutu dislodged it. Dalton Papali’i and Cody Vai made breakdown steals to build more Crusaders frustration. Beauden Barrett missed one penalty attempt but made up for it by making his next attempt in the 74th minute, making his side’s lead 16.

The hosts’ defence continued to stifle, and the Crusaders’ desperation resulted in nil, with the Blues holding on for a 29-13 win.