News

Blues win and now face anxious wait

May 16 2008

The Blues held on for a dramatic 19-17 victory over the Hurricanes at Eden Park on Friday, and in doing so maintained their slender Super 14 semi-final hopes.

A try double from Hosea Gear in the first half had put the Hurricanes firmly in control, but Nick Evans chipped away at their lead with four penalties and a conversion from Anthony Boric's try to secure a two-point win.

As the sands of time drifted away the Hurricanes swarmed over the Blues as they pressed for the win that would ensure a home semi-final. It was not to be though as Willie Ripia missed three drop goals in the dying stages and both sides now face an anxious weekend.

Knowing just how much was at stake both teams started the game in a tetchy manner, the Hurricanes in particular looking vulnerable at the set-piece. The usual running game both sides like to play was shelved in favour of a kicking game, which the Blues dominated early on.

Nick Evans settled proceedings with a seventh-minute penalty as both sides slowly began to find their rhythm. It was the Hurricanes who finally sparked the game into life, two tries in 53 seconds from Hosea Gear stunning the home side.

The first came when it seemed the Hurricanes had butchered a good attacking chance, only to see Gear scoop up a loose ball on the 22 to step his way into space and cruise over for a fine individual try.

No sooner had Nick Evans re-started the game than he was back under his posts rueing a poor clearance kick. Piri Weepu's kick forced Evans deep and the Harlequins-bound man had his attempted clearance charged down by the onrushing Gear who gathered the loose ball to grab his second.

Suddenly the Blues had to start playing and play they did. A concerted period of pressure deep in Hurricanes territory paid handsome dividends as the impressive Anthony Boric barged his way over to haul the Blues back into an intriguing affair.

Anthony Tuitavake made a half break to cause a degree of confusion in the Hurricanes defence before Boric came charging through to score. Weepu will be disappointed with the ease at which he was brushed aside but there is no denying Boric's ability to become a formidable second row.

Having got themselves back into the game the Blues, or more specifically Nick Williams, gifted Weepu a further three points. Two previous warnings from Bryce Lawrence had clearly fallen on deaf ears, and when Williams failed to roll away from the tackle area for a third time Lawrence lost his patience and sent the burly number eight to the sidelines.

Despite being a mna down it was the Blues who would have the better of the dying stages of the first half, Evans adding two more penalties to his tally to cut the deficit to just a point. Not only that but the sides were on an equal footing when Tamati Ellison was sent to join Williams in the sin-bin just before the break. The full-back took David Smith out chasing a chip, but it seemed a slightly harsh call.

Sensing they had to up their game, the Blues turned up the heat on their guests after the break but somehow were unable to cross for a second try. Twice the TMO was called upon and twice he got the call right and denied the Blues a try.

They were not to be perturbed though and kept the pressure on, camping in the Hurricanes twenty-two for the opening fifteen minutes of the second half. Williams, back from the sin-bin, was next to be denied - adjudged to have been held up over the line.

Finally the Hurricanes were able to break the siege and make it out of their own half, although it was not long before they were back where they had started. To make matters worse Ma'a Nonu was fingered for a high tackle and Evans was lining up another penalty shot. He made no mistake and the Blues were back in front, 19-17.

Cue a thrilling final quarter of the game, full of running rugby and high drama. It was dominated by the Hurricanes as they pressed for the win that would secure a treasured home semi-final, but try as they may they could not break a stubborn Blues side. Ripia missed three drop goals, the first two by a whisker and the third by a country mile.

As they launched one last raid, that went on for over ten phases on the Blues line Rodney So'oialo finally gave away a free-kick and the Blues had held on for a massive win that leaves the Super 14 wide open with six games to go before we know the semi-final line-ups.

The permutations are endless but the bottom line is that the Blues can, against all odds, still make the semi-finals and the Hurricanes can still take a home semi-final. But for now it is out of their hands as they play the waiting game and, in the Blues' case, hope for an unlikely series of results.

Man of the Match: Both sides had a clutch of class performers, for the Hurricanes Ma'a Nonu was a constant danger, Jeremy Thrush was impressive and Hosea Gear was good value for his two tries. As for the Blues David Smith continued to shine, Jerome Kaino was a tower of strength and Kevin Mealamu got the better of Andrew Hore. But for us Anthony Boric was that bit better than everyone else, a young player with a very bright future and someone the New Zealand Rugby Union will want to ensure doesn't go chasing the pound.

Moment of the Match: With Nick Williams in the sin-bin the Blues could have been punished for their numerical disadvantage, yet two Nick Evans penalties ensured they came out of the ten-minute spell six points to the good.

Villain of the Match: Granted their were two yellow cards but neither were sinister so we will keep this gong for another day.

The Scorers:

For Blues:

Try: Boric

Con: Evans

Pens: Evans 4

For Hurricanes:

Tries: Gear 2

Cons: Weepu 2

Pen: Weepu

Yellow cards: Williams (Blues - 30th minute, not rolling away from tackle), Ellison (Hurricanes - 39th minute, late tackle)

The Teams:

Blues: 15 Nick Evans, 14 David Smith, 13 Anthony Tuitavake, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Rudi Wulf, 10 Isa Nacewa, 9 Taniela Moa, 8 Nick Williams, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Troy Flavell (c), 4 Anthony Boric, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.

Replacements: 16 Nick White, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Kurtis Haiu, 18 Justin Collins, 19 Danny Lee, 20 Isaia Toeava, 21 Ben Atiga

Hurricanes: 15 Tamati Ellison, 14 Hosea Gear, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Willie Ripia, 9 Piri Weepu; 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Chris Masoe, 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 John Schwalger.

Replacements: 16 Hikawera Elliot, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18 Craig Clarke, 19 Scott Waldrom, 20 Alby Mathewson, 21 Jimmy Gopperth, 22 Shannon Paku.

Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)

Touch judges: Jonathon White (New Zealand), Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

Assessor: Stuart Beissel (New Zealand)