Vern Cotter reflects on his side's recent turnaround in form

It’s now two wins in a row for the ninth-placed Blues after back-to-back wins at Eden Park for the first time this season.

The Auckland-based franchise has struggled to gain any sort of momentum early on in Super Rugby Pacific, but now only sit four points off the top six playoffs, a place on the table they didn’t expect to be after nine rounds of the 2025 season.

Blues head coach Vern Cotter acknowledged that it was one of their better performances of the season, but admitted that despite the positives, there are still things to work on.

“I think the performance was constructed better. I think we had a plan, and I thought we stuck to it, so that was pleasing, and we didn’t want to give them too much,” Cotter told media post-match at Eden Park.

“I thought except for a couple of occasions, we kept that plan in place and the set piece was alright.

“There’s still room to improve, there’s a lot of things we’d like to improve on.”

Cotter, who led the Blues to the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific title last season, started to see little improvements in their game on Saturday afternoon, after a poor start to this campaign.

“I think defensively, we were intact bar a couple of times. I think our discipline was key to making sure that you can access it through our half because their power game got into our 22 during the first half and they scored.”

After beating the Hurricanes for the second time this season last weekend in Auckland, Cotter said he felt like his team was playing with more of a purpose.

“I think we can get better, but I sort of recognized the team a little bit more out there today. We were better connected, and there was a purpose about what we’re trying to do, and there wasn’t that frantic feel about the game, so I think that’s progress.”

When asked about what difference star playmaker Beauden Barrett makes, Cotter is quick to praise Barrett, calling his ability one of a kind.

“Just what he brings since he’s got a skill set and the ability to do things that only he could do, so he’s got a license to do so, as Hoskins does, as Rieko does.

“There’s a genuine plan out there, but it’s when there’s opportunity you want the players to see it and then take it.

“So he was very good, that little chip over and to score, it came at the right time. I think we missed a couple of opportunities close to the line and then nailed that one there.”