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The Blues relocated their mojo to confirm a Super Rugby finals spot on Friday. The Auckland-based team snapped a run of four consecutive losses to win their final round robin match 33-16 over the Highlanders at Eden Park.
The best performed New Zealand franchise for much of the regular season, the Pat Lam-coached home side were clinical in their finishing on a wet, windy, cold night.
The result guarantees them a spot among the top six for the playoffs, but their final positioning will not be known until the closing round of matches are completed this weekend.
The Highlanders, who for so long impressed under new coach Jamie Joseph this season, struggled in the latter stages of the competition and end their campaign with a record of eight wins and eight losses.
They had the better of the early exchanges before the Blues asserted themselves in trying conditions, with judicious kicking in general play proving important.
A high kick set up their third and most decisive try when the ball landed in space and bounced away from Highlanders fullback Ben Smith and into the arms of his opposite Jared Payne.
It enabled the Blues to ease out to a 24-11 advantage early in the second half before penalties by winger Lachie Munro, who finished the match with 18 points, extended their lead despite a second try to Otago winger Matt Saunders.
Much maligned five-eighth Stephen Brett played a leading role in both of the Blues’ first-half tries.
With his side trailing 3-8 in the 17th minute the former Crusader outfoxed a lax defence, showing the ball before bursting through a weak tackle then skipping inside to find the line.
Just four minutes later Brett helped the home side hit the lead themselves when he timed his pass to perfection to put centre Luke McAlister through a hole near the line.
Veteran Highlanders No.10 Tony Brown landed a penalty before the break to leave the Blues ahead 17-11 at the interval after he had earlier landed a 30m drop-goal to build on an early try to Saunders, who showed good hands to scoop up a loose pass and slide across in the right hand corner following a series of forward drives.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.