[VIDEO] Blues vs Reds: Super Rugby live scores, blog, highlights

Just watched the game on replay. Points came from Reds backline mistakes: - First try was a defensive disaster by the Reds backline, off Blues scrum - Second try (Slipper off), Blues backline outsmarts Reds backline defence. Reds were packing their 15 in the scrum - Third try (Slipper off), missed clearance kick by Reds 13, defence not numbered up. Blues 12 runs between Reds 2 & 5 - Fourth try, Reds 15 clearing kick not out, ran back by Blues. Another defensive mismatch in broken play - Fifth try, pass by replacement scrum half, intercepted Backs made many errors in attack. At least they generally didn't kick possession away. Contrary to the reports above, I thought Reds forwards played ok, except: the killer (Slipper card). Gill dropped 7 points by not letting go before running the ball towards the open tryline, and penalty in first scrum.

The haters love a bandwagon, don't they. Reds were pathetic, but it's not any individual players fault.

Don't think the 'Canes have been last this season. Either the Blues or Crusaders has been below them.

yeah whats with Luatua? He was very off tonight, just didnt look interested. Took the ball and just kind of flopped about everywhere? Hes been like that for a few matches now. Perhaps Kaino back has him thinking overseas already?

Beg to differ that he's not ready but I didnt say starting- he should have been picked up for 2014 at least, Was a standout for Hawkes bay in 2012 scoring the try of the tournament through an individual effort and has played for NZ Maori already, and was stand by for the Chiefs last year. Showed for Hawkes bay huge talent and promise. Don't think I've seen as close to a Cruden clone as much as West theyre so similar.

qld loyalty might be tested

i know, theres such a conspiracy against the reds dont you think?

Return to your hole in the tree and play with your nuts. This is no place for children.. Even small furry ones.

Not a loan. He has replaced Baden Kerr for the season and go figure Benji Marshall.

Can't believe QRU are actually paying Richard Graham to destroy rugby in QLD!! Surely they knew what his coaching record at the Force was? Didn't send off any 'RED FLAGS'?? Eish!

You cannot have 3 of the most inept front 5 in Australia playing for the Wallabies. Horwill and Simmons are not the 2 best second rowers in Australia. Mackenzie has been put under pressure.

Loser suck on the red out of the tampoon

Blues arnt NZs worst team imo. Yes they were last in NZ before this game but the Canes were last at one point wernt they? The Blues were underperforming, now theyre not. Reds arnt Australias worst team but their finals hopes are gone now imo and the only chance they have is mathmatical but not realistic. Blues have taken their first step towards the finals but theyll need to win most and get some bonus points along the way to get a sniff despite being in the top 6 for now. Could NZ get 4 teams in the finals? Well placed to do so but I doubt it.

Very uninspiring by the reds. Some of my observations from the reds season... - Horwill looks to be playing with no energy or enthusiasm. He is often 'willing', but well below par in delivery. A number of times he lumbered the ball into contact and then just dies. Where is the leg drive from a few years ago? Unfort I have to agree with many here and say that I don't think he should be close to a wallaby shirt on current form. Unless McKenzie has some magic chilli-pepper suppository that will fire up big kev, then i dont think he should be picked. - I've thought for a long time that Mike Harris is a big problem in the Qld backline. Whenever he plays 12 or 10, the backline struggles hugely for fluidity and timing. So this week I was pleased to see he'd been shifted to fullback. Unfort the backline didnt do any better on this occasion. But also it showed how out of his depth Harris is at this level. Too slow and ponderous for me. He also must be the most charged down kicker in the comp over the past few years, takes an age to wind the boot up. - I'll cop some heat for this, but I still think QC is the best 10 for the wallabies. I agree that he is not looking good, but I think its largely attributable to trying to do too much in a team with almost zero attacking threat anywhere else. so its basically all falling on his shoulders. As a result, he is losing a bit of confidence, and is starting to drop back in the pocket too much, and pass a little too early before committing a defender. I agree that this doesn't look good compared to Toomua at present. But I still think that QC in the wallaby environment is the best man for the job. - as many on here have stated. the lack of go-forward from the pack is terrible. With horwill off-colour, and a lack of ball carriers in the backrow, the pack is very devoid of momentum on reds possession. Curtis browning (or ball running backrower recruitment) should be prioritised at this stage. After coming through the dark years of the mid-2000's, please dont let us go back there QRU..... I was reminded today of this post i made on the roar back in 2008 (pasted below) after the reds had been hammered by the Stormers at Suncorp.....please dont let me feel like this again... "armchair sportsfan said | March 10th 2008 @ 7:57am | Report comment I am a reds diehard. I grew up in a time when the Reds name was feared by most in world rugby. When names like Horan, Eales, Wilson, Lynagh, Coker, Scott-Young and Slattery graced the teamsheet. A time when John Connolly was a wily genius, and was consistently robbed of his rightful place as Wallaby coach. I would support them until the brink of oblivion. In fact, over the past 4-5 years. In the face of constant ridicule from many non-Qld mates, I have remained strong. I have maintained the hope that next year will be the year. Not even the year we are dominant again, but the year we begin to improve, alas, it seems that year has never come. I have watched their last two games, and my fool’s hope is beginning to wane. What am I to do?? What are the reds to do? I saw nothing in the past two weeks to even give me a glimpse of promise for what we might become. I am out of answers, and nearly out of hope…."

I dont hate the Reds, I like the Reds. A few of the Reds fans on this site that put down other teams and other players constently, not so much.

Horwill looks badly out of shape or something. He took a few hard knocks near the end but he had no energy and barely walking speed in his attacking. As a leader he wasn't really leading the way with 11 carries and only 15 meters gained, but did score but pretty tired looking stats.

That's an embarrasing loss for a squad with plenty of talent. The Reds season was over weeks ago but surely Graham must go after such a loss. The World seemed to cave in last week when the Tahs lost by 8 in Auckland. Maybe the Blues are finding there groove and could be a contender ?

Totally agree with all that Harry

Great game Blues. Really starting to crank it up, especially around the break-downs with a more aggressive and efficient approach they chewed through the meters and the Reds defense. Blues forwards were far more clinical producing clean ruck ball that they recycled nicely to keep the ball flowing. Woodcock and Mealamu really leading the way with awesome defense and nice pick and go. Nonu is at his AB best with a few extra kicks up his sleeve to keep the defense guessing. Piutau, one of the best in the whole tournament with the best meters 94m gained...Again! And Kaino is a monster. Hard man to stop and an easy man to work with for the Blues. Exceptional improvement. 535 to 328 meters, 21 defenders beaten to 12, 5 tries to 2. Twelve missed tackles to Reds 21. Well done Blues.

That was embarrassing. Reds forwards are officially a laughing stock. You could possibly make a case for Genia, but that's about it as far as wallaby selections go. Horwill is finished . Watching Nonu stroll past him im the second half was quite sad. Toomua has gone past QC. Simmons basically out there to give away penalties. Qld pretty much have to start again from scratch because this current squad lack the ability and ticker to be contenders anytime soon. Just shows the 2011 effort was an anomaly rather than a dynasty.