Late Blues blip boosts Canes
With a slip-up on the final bend, the Blues have conceded pole position to the Hurricanes for the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs.
Slipped tackles from Dalton Papali’i, Mark Tele’a and Hoskins Sotutu in a five-second blur was all it took on Saturday night for the final of the competition to potentially be shifted from Auckland to Wellington.
Well in control of their clash against the Chiefs, the Battle of the Bombays at Eden Park became a game within a game in the late stages, as the Blues set their sights on the bonus point (three or more tries than the opposition) which would seal them as No 1 seeds (ahead of the Hurricanes by virtue of points differential).
And up 31-7 (and five tries to one) inside the final 15 minutes, and with the Chiefs, putting more key men on ice, it appeared a fait accompli for the home side.
But after AJ Lam slipped over near the tryline and allowed Quinn Tupaea to barge over in the 68th minute, things turned tense, as the Chiefs, with a whole raft of temporary supporters situated at the bottom of the North Island, embraced a chance to play the role of spoilers.
The disappointment all over Harry Plummer said it all when his 78th minute grubber kick didn’t stay in the field of play and gave the Chiefs lineout ball which they duly attacked well with, forced a five-metre scrum from, then, ultimately scored from, too, with Josh Ioane slicing through for a fine finish in the final seconds.
Coaches talk about small margins, and that final-play was a pivotal one right there, in a game which ended 31-17 but still managed to leave the Blues, and their fans, deflated.
However, despite their chances of hosting the decider being dealt a blow, history shows it’s hardly game over. The Blues should know as well as anyone, having been tipped over at Eden Park in the 2022 final by the Crusaders, who last year again won from second spot when going to Waikato Stadium and beating the Chiefs.
The Hurricanes should rightly be buoyant, though. They haven’t had a home playoff match since 2019, have only twice before (2015 and 2016) topped the overall log, and were largely unfancied this season given their finishes the last few years and the big departure of Ardie Savea, let alone season-ending injury to Cam Roigard two months ago.
But first-year coach Clark Laidlaw has them humming. Their 41-14 blitzing of the Highlanders on Saturday flattered the southerners. Winger Salesi Rayasi stole the show with a hat-trick and some ridiculous game-high stats (140 metres, 11 defenders beaten, three clean breaks), while hooker Asafo Aumua was monumental in his 40 minutes, not missing a beat despite six weeks out with a knee injury, as he continues to look a shoe-in for an All Blacks recall.
On that note, there are sure to be some nervous Crusaders players, as they will get zero game-time the next three weeks after a 43-10 thrashing of Moana Pasifika in Christchurch on Friday night did not prove enough for Rob Penney’s outfit.
The seven-time reigning premiers’ fate was duly sealed by the Fijian Drua, who seemingly toyed with the the red-andblack faithful when trailing the Rebels 19-12 near halftime in Lautoka on Saturday afternoon, before going to the break level then scoring three tries in the first dozen minutes of the second half on their way to a 40-19 win.
The Drua’s bonus point means they take seventh spot, and will head to Auckland, while the Rebels will wing their way to Wellington for a likely last hurrah, their axing having been confirmed midweek.
That match also confirmed sixth place for the Highlanders, who will face a Brumbies side who scored a comfortable (24-19 after a couple of late consolation tries) victory over the Force in Perth.
The Reds held out a spirited comeback by the wooden-spoon Waratahs for a onepoint win in Sydney, and will fancy their chances against a Chiefs side they beat in the regular season this year (Brisbane) and last (New Plymouth), and who they got very close to in last year’s quarterfinal at the same venue.