Blues crash to heavy Chiefs defeat, face daunting Crusaders quarterfinal
Daniel Sinkinson of the Chiefs celebrates scoring in his side's win over the Blues during the Super Rugby Pacific match at FMG Stadium. Photo / Photosport
Three straight losses consigns the Blues to a historically horror trip for a week one Super Rugby Pacific quarterfinal showdown with the Crusaders in Christchurch.
The Blues entered Saturday’s final regular season match in Hamilton with a simple equation: beat the heavily weakened Chiefs to maintain third position and retain a home quarterfinal.
The Chiefs, with little to play for and unable to progress beyond their second-place status, rested All Blacks Samisoni Taukei’aho, Tupou Vaa’i, Luke Jacobson, Quinn Tupaea and Simon Parker. Damian McKenzie, Ollie Norris, Xavier Roe and Isaac Hutchinson were absent through injury too.
The Blues were without All Blacks Patrick Tuipulotu, Dalton Papali’i and Beauden Barrett but if they were ever going to arrest their regular season slide home playoff advantage – and a potential second life – should have sparked their freefalling campaign into life.
After losses to the Crusaders and Hurricanes before their bye, though, the Blues capitulated against the Chiefs to concede nine tries.
A third straight defeat drops the Blues to fourth and leaves them confronting a must win quarterfinal in Christchurch next week.
Given their spiralling form and, having lost 14 of their last 15 against the Crusaders in the Garden City, the Blues will start at long odds to progress past week one of the finals.
As the Blues prepare to farewell head coach Vern Cotter, Papali’i, Hoskins Sotutu, AJ Lam and Stephen Perofeta among others, they will be desperate to continue their campaign.
But with a backpedaling set piece, major attacking execution issues and leaky defence, such a scenario seems improbable.
This wasn’t just another loss, either. After trailing 19-15 at half time the Blues conceded 40 second half points in an abject second half showing.
Recovering some form of confidence and accuracy in the space of a week won’t be easy.
Credit to the Chiefs. With so many front liners absent this performance flexed the depth of their squad. They are title contenders for a reason.
Wallace Sititi, in his first match as captain, stepped up to lead from the front. His second half try from a quick tap charge speaks to his growing late season influence. Midfielder Reon Paul was prominent throughout too. And, collectively, the Chiefs did a number of the Blues lineout and scrum.
With the Chiefs regular starters set to return next week well rested, the Reds face a daunting task travelling to Hamilton for their quarterfinal.
The Blues dominated the opening quarter but, in a theme of their performance, they consistently failed to convert pressure into points with red zone execution proving costly.
Fast rising loose forward Torian Barnes crossed for the first try but a series of errors blew multiple chances for the Blues to cash in.
Caleb Clarke was heavily involved off his left wing throughout this match but as he attempted to reach out following a trademark charge he lost the ball. Marcel Renata and Stephen Perofeta also let the Chiefs off the hook with handling errors – and the Blues lineout again struggled to win their ball.
The Chiefs didn’t enter the Blues’ 22 until the 19th minute. They soon made up for lost time, though, by running in three tries and 19 unanswered points to steal the lead and momentum. Kyren Taumoefolau, Tyrone Thompson and Daniel Sinkinson crossed to alter the complexion of the match and leave the Blues on the backfoot.
While the visitors hit back before the break as Perofeta’s quick hands sent Lam in at the corner, squandering their early dominance left the Blues chasing the game.
After that, the Blues never got close.
Consolation tries, including one from 20-year-old hooker Eli Oudenryn on debut, in the second half narrowed the margin, somewhat, but they could not hide the mountain of issues the Blues must amend if they are to halt their nose diving season.
Chiefs: Kyren Taumoefolau, Tyrone Thompson, Daniel Sinkinson 2, Wallace Sititi, Liam Coombes-Fabling, Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Reon Paul tries, Josh Jacomb con 5
Blues: Torian Barnes, AJ Lam, Eli Oudenryn, Caleb Clake, Xavier Taele tries, Zarn Sullivan con 3
HT: 19-15
Super Rugby playoffs schedule
Friday
7.05pm, Hurricanes (1) v Brumbies (6), Hnry Stadium
Saturday
4.35pm, Crusaders (3) v Blues (4), One New Zealand Stadium
7.05pm, Chiefs (2) v Reds (5), FMG Stadium Waikato