Watch: The Blues' virtuoso kicking game that proved the difference in their win over the Highlanders
The Blues have emerged victorious against the Highlanders, giving them a perfect three wins from three wins in the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition. While praise has been fairly lavished on the danger-men on the Blues wings and in the midfield, it’s the playmakers and their expert kicking that may well have been the difference on Saturday night.
Highly anticipated new signing Beauden Barrett hasn’t yet set the world alight with the speed and creativity with ball in hand that he’s known for, but his combination with Otere Black has made the Blues an exceptionally hard nut to crack.
From the first minutes of the match, Barrett and Black peppered the Highlanders back three with swirling high balls. New Highlanders fullback Scott Gregory, in particular, struggled with the dropping bombs and an early mistake by the Northlander gave the Blues the territory and possession they needed to score the first try of the match.
It wasn’t just towering Gary Owens that Barrett and Black relied on, however.
Kick-passes to wingers and loosies looming near the sidelines helped the Blues maintain their momentum while perfectly placed kicks for territory kept the Highlanders pinned back in their 22.
It was a slightly less glamourous, dinky grubber towards the corner flag from Barrett that contributed to the Blues’ second try of the game.
35-metres out from the Highlanders’ try-line, Barrett threaded the ball into the corner and Gregory waited and waited, hoping that the ball would bobble into touch. That never happened. Instead, Gregory had to field the ball from deep inside his 22 and his attempted touch-finder was charged down by Hoskins Sotutu. All Blacks flanker Dalton Papalii was on hand to dive on the ball and score the try.
? Hoskins Sotutu with the try assist!
Watch on @SkySportNZ to see if @BluesRugbyTeam can stay on top at Eden Park.#BLUvHIG pic.twitter.com/cBVjkqibb7
— Super Rugby (@SuperRugbyNZ) June 27, 2020
Social media was abuzz with admiration for just how tactically proficient the Blues were at commanding territory through the boot.
Really noticing Barrett’s quality kicking off both right and left boot. Don’t think Aussie players can come close to matching that ambidexterity #BLUvHIG
— James Duncan (@jdunc0305) June 27, 2020
The Blues kicking into that left corner has been excellent all game. Great chase to force the block and score through Papali’i. #BLUvHIG
— EK Rugby Analysis (@ek_rugby) June 27, 2020
Really smart kicking game being adapted by the Blues. #BLUvHIG
— Ciaron Noble (@CiaronNoble98) June 27, 2020
Another example of the Blues using their kicking game really well. Scott Gregory was under plenty of pressure there and it counted. Well followed up by the two of the Blues’ loose forwards. #BLUvHIG
— Dylan Jack (@dylanmattjack) June 27, 2020
Blues’ tactical kicking light years better this season. Nock a step up as a passing halfback too. #bluvhig
— Simon Mee (@SimonMee5) June 27, 2020
One kick, in particular, garnered specific praise – when number 8 Sotutu picked the ball up at the back of the scrum and punted off a kick of his own.
Did… did Sotutu just casually take a ball off the scrum and kick it with pinpoint accuracy to put the Highlanders under pressure inside their 22m? WHERE HAS THIS KID BEEN?!?!!? #BLUvHIG
— Brodyn Knuckey (@BKnuckey) June 27, 2020
Love it when a number 8 picks up and nudges one down the touch line ? #BLUvHIG
— Ross Jones (@RossJones1992) June 27, 2020
The Blues can settle into their bye-week knowing that they’re ticking all the right boxes at the moment. Yes, there are work ons – but across the park, they’re doing everything they need to get the wins.
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to comments