Blues keep Chiefs scoreless to go to top of Super Rugby Pacific
The Blues have underlined their status as title contenders by keeping the Chiefs scoreless in Hamilton to move to the top of the Super Rugby Pacific table.
Leon MacDonald’s side walked away from FMG Stadium Waikato with a 25-0 drubbing of the home side despite conceding a slew of penalties that resulted in three yellow cards.
Nevertheless, the Blues held firm to register their most impressive win of the season against a Chiefs side that was depleted early on when star midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown left the field with an apparent shoulder dislocation.
First to strike with a penalty goal on the back of some set piece dominance, the Blues were forced to defend their 13-0 lead late in the first half when Luke Romano and Sam Nock were brandished yellow cards, reducing their side to just 13 men.
In the lead-up to and during that passage of play, the Chiefs piled on the pressure with wave after wave of attack, which the Blues largely defended simply by giving away penalty after penalty.
The hosts looked to have finally taken advantage of their numerical mismatch when Samisoni Taukei’aho crossed for a try from a lineout move on the stroke of half-time.
However, he was somehow denied by Ofa Tu’ungafasi, who made a heroic tackle to force a spillage over the tryline and ensure his side headed into the sheds with their buffer still intact.
That capped off a good opening stanza for the Blues, who – despite their ill-discipline – scored the only try of the half when Tom Robinson crashed over between the sticks after Kaylum Bosher was sin binned for a dangerous tackle on Josh Goodhue.
The Auckland-based side’s ability to capitalise on a numerical advantage was something the Chiefs couldn’t replicate early in he second half, even when both Romano and Nock were still out of action.
An individual piece of brilliance by Etene Nanai-Seturo looked to have changed that when he danced through an array of defenders to score under the posts, but that try was scrubbed out due to obstruction.
Moments later, Romano and Nock returned to the field, and the visitors made the hosts pay upon their return to full-strength.
A stunning break by Mark Telea from well inside his own half instigated a highly-threatening attack that Rieko Ioane almost finished off were it not for a fantastic tackle from behind by Nanai-Seturo.
In the next phase, though, Beauden Barrett lofted an inch-perfect cross-kick to Robinson, who charged down the right-hand sideline and latched onto the ball in the Chiefs’ in-goal area to extend his side’s lead to 20 points.
Desperate to get themselves back into the contest, the Chiefs continued to fling themselves into everything on attack, but just lacked the level of execution to put the Blues to the sword.
Even when reserve prop Marcel Renata became the third Blues player to get yellow carded, the Chiefs still couldn’t manage to cross the line successfully.
Nanai-Seturo appeared to redeem himself by sliding over in the left-hand corner, but a last-gasp tackle by Telea was enough to get his opposite’s elbow to graze the in-goal touchline.
Instead, the Blues struck again through replacement wing AJ Lam to put the game out of reach, and that deficit could have been even larger had Stephen Perofeta landed a drop goal attempt that rattled the upright.
Such dominance from the Blues after playing for 30 minutes without a full complement of players against one of their title rivals must surely verify them as legitimate championship contenders.
That much is even more impressive given they were without the likes of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Caleb Clarke, Akira Ioane and Nepo Laulala.
That sets up a blockbuster top-of-the-table clash against the Crusaders in Christchurch next Friday, while the Chiefs will look to bounce back against Moana Pasifika the following day.
Blues 25 (Tries to Tom Robinson (2) and AJ Lam; 2 conversions and 2 penalties to Stephen Perofeta)
Chiefs 0
Comments on RugbyPass
Lots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
1 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
5 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
5 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
4 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
3 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
38 Go to comments