In their most important game of the season, the Blues thumped the Waratahs 46-6 to lock in a spot in the Super Rugby Qualifying Finals.
The Blues absorbed early pressure as the Waratahs started with ball in hand, defending valliantly not giving the visitors an inch.
When the moment came to strike, the Blues didnt miss. Caleb Clarke surged through a gap on halfway, linking up with Rieko Ioane who was stopped just short. The ball was worked left, then back right, where AJ Lam floated a wide ball for Mark Tele’a to score in the corner and get the Blues on the board.
The arm wrestle began with the Blues trying to implement a kicking game to put the Waratahs on the backfoot.
They got on the board with a penalty goal, but 30 minutes in the Blues began to take over. From a midfield scrum, Ioane connected with Beauden Barrett who sliced through and fed Clarke. He popped a clever offload to Tele’a, who was pulled down just short. Hoskins Sotutu recycled quickly to Ioane, who powered over.
Another penalty goal to the Waratahs kept the game close. However the Blues crossed twice on the stroke of halftime putting the Waratahs on the back foot.
The first, a clinical kick through the line from Lam set up Ioane to score his second, with a clutch putdown of the loose ball. Then Corey Evans made a break, linking up with Barrett who put a kick into the in goal. The Waratahs were unable to ground it and Tele’a swooped, grounding the ball for his second and giving the Blues a 24-6 lead going into halftime.
The Blues kept their foot down in the second half. Barrett’s midfield kick forced a scramble at the back, and the forwards pounced to secure a turnover near the line. Quick ball opened the space for Evans to stroll in out wide.
Soon after, repeated infringements from the Waratahs led to a lineout deep in their half. The maul got rolling, and Ricky Riccitelli peeled off to crash over and extend the lead again.
The Waratahs hunted for late points but the Blues' defence was watertight, forcing crucial turnovers and shutting down any hope of a comeback.
Ioane capped off a monster night by scoring his third after another pinpoint kick from Barrett and a dominant scrum effort. It marked his hat-trick and levelled the club’s try-scoring record (55) alongside Doug Howlett.
Harry Plummer slotted a penalty after the final hooter in his Eden Park farewell, rounding out a clinical 46-6 win.
Ioane looked his best tonight, carrying with intent as he completed his hat-trick. Barrett commanded the game masterfully, using his kicking to put the Waratahs on the backfoot and set up several slick tries.
However, it was a game won on defence and through the middle of the park, as the forward pack put on a clinic. They didn’t give the Waratahs an inch and set the platform for the backs to go to work out wide.
It was a sensational performance, one that was found at the right time and with the Hurricanes toppling Moana Pasifika, one that secured finals footy for 2025.
The work begins now, with a trip down to Hamilton next Saturday for a Qualifying Finals match up with the Chiefs. With the season on the line, it’s shaping up to be a classic. Don’t miss it!