Blues vs Highlanders takes: Jamie Joseph pulls the strings, Blues adapt

The Blues hosted the Highlanders to kick off round 10 of the Super Rugby Pacific season, and both sides were eager to respond after losses in round 9.

History favoured the Blues, who had won nine in a row against the Highlanders at Eden Park, conceding an average of just 9.3 points per game in the last three fixtures between the teams at the famous venue.

The Highlanders struck first with a breakaway try to Adam Lennox, but the Blues then rolled up their sleeves, scoring seven tries. The Highlanders were 19 points behind in the 48th minute, but reduced the deficit to seven in the 78th minute and then had the chance to tie the game before a knock-on ended the match.

Here are some takeaways from the match.

Fixture

Super Rugby Pacific

Blues

47 - 40

Full-time

Highlanders

All Stats and Data

Jamie Joseph pulls the strings

Highlanders head coach Jamie Joseph was candid at his team-naming press conference this week, explaining that his differing selections at positions like halfback are intended to send a message and emphasise performance. The coach’s round 10 selection appeared especially pointed.

Adam Lennox was named for his second start of the season at No.9, with Folau Fakatava and Nic Shearer both leaving something to be desired in the coach’s eyes. That selection was rewarded with the opening try of the game in the second minute, and then the Highlanders’ third try in the 57th, both of which were excellent individual efforts.

Elsewhere in the selected matchday 23, there was a strong presence of Auckland products for the men from Dunedin, including a debut for former All Blacks Sevens flyer Xavier Tito-Harris.

It was Auckland’s own Caleb Tangitau who set up his fellow former Blues man, Tanielu Tele’a, for the Highlanders’ second try in the 32nd minute.

Tangitau was injured on the play, collecting Zarn Sullivan’s shoulder as he dropped in the cover tackle. With Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens already sidelined for another 3-4 weeks, any absence from Tangitau will come as a major blow for the Highlanders, whose back three have accounted for nearly two-thirds of their total run metres this season.

Four of the team’s six tries were scored by Auckland products who certainly would have been highly motivated to get over the line at Eden Park and enjoyed doing so.

22m Entries

Avg. Points Scored

4.2

11

Entries

Avg. Points Scored

3.3

12

Entries

Blues improve game management, marginally

The Blues lost the territory battle in their round 9 heavyweight clash with the Hurricanes, playing just 36 per cent of the game in the Hurricanes’ half.

One week later, at Eden Park, the team improved that rate without fully impressing with their exits.

The first half saw the hosts knock the ball on twice inside their own 22, carrying when there were opportunities to kick.

The hosts finished the opening half with 54 per cent territory, and ended the second with 51 per cent after letting the Highlanders back in late.

Beauden Barrett and Finlay Christie had the exact same number of kicks in the match as they did last week, but the Blues turned the ball over 10 fewer times, controlling possession better.

Following the match, Vern Cotter highlighted the kicking game as an area that still needs plenty of improvement.

On a positive note, Barrett converted all but one try, a marked improvement on his 65.5 per cent success rate off the tee so far this season.

Blues adapt

The Blues’ backs had scored twice as many tries as their forwards coming into round 10, but against the Highlanders, six of their seven were finished by forwards.

To win Super Rugby Pacific, you have to be able to win games in different ways, which makes this result especially positive for head coach Vern Cotter.

In their all-conquering 2024 season, Hoskins Sotutu led the competition in tries scored with 12, but the responsibilities have been more evenly distributed this year, partly due to injuries.

That said, conceding 82 points in the last two games will sting for the team leading Super Rugby in tackle success. Timoci Tavatavanawai and Adam Lennox beat eight defenders each, and six of the seven players with the most run metres in the match were Highlanders.