The Blues took a five-point win over the Sharks at Eden Park with a late try from Rieko Ioane and accurate kicking to follow from Ihaia West sealing the come-from-behind victory.
Final score
Blues 23
Sharks 18
The early Saturday night game between sees the Blues host the Sharks from Eden Park in Auckland. Join The Roar for all the action from 5:35pm (AEST).
Both sides are coming off recent losses, and will be hoping to right the ledger and keep their playoff aspirations alive.
Despite the loss, the Blues looked very good against the Chiefs last weekend, and should continue to use their big ball-runners and play with width, utilising their obvious strike power.
The Sharks, on the other, hand were well-beaten by a high-flying Lions unit, and have been disjointed in recent weeks, choosing a more conservative approach.
If the South African side are to keep their season alive, kicking the ball away to a dangerous Blues back three will not be the answer. The tourists need to more effectively utilise the attacking talents and pace of players such as Willie le Roux, Paul Jordaan and JP Pietersen.
Their pack will certainly get enough ball to work with, and this is a potential area of concern for the Blues come set-piece time.
The Blues have opted for more experience in their forwards this week, with Tanerau Latimer receiving his first start for the franchise this season, after a season overseas. With over 100 Super Rugby appearances, Latimer brings experience and leadership, ingredients the Blues have been missing in recent weeks.
On the Sharks side we see the promising du Preez brothers, Jean Luc and Daniel, up against the experienced pair of Jerome Kaino and Stephen Luatua. Another match-up to keep an eye on is the front-row battle between Tendai Mtawarira and Charlie Faumuina at scrum time.
Prediction
Too much strike power and a willingness to use it has me punting for the Blues this evening.
Blues by 12.
Join us live as we cover all the action from Eden Park.
Mark
Guest
You must have just watched the highlights reel and not the whole match ... Ranger threw 2 terrible forward passes and another shocker that missed his target by miles... Definately his worst game of the year, with no decent line breaks either... All credit to the disciplined safa defense but the Blues just kept shuffling the ball sideways... they only improved when Moala came on and West started varying his play with a few runs in the final quarter... very poor kicking options under pressure... yeah grey dreds on Tana by years end...
Mark
Guest
Francis isn't even close to being a 1st Five at Club level Seriously Where do some of the people on here get their opinions from - the back of a wheetbix packet? Idiocy
Mark
Guest
Bawahahahahaa Ranger is an idiot His ability to choose the correct option is non existent Also - Moala is a 2nd Five - Ranger plays at Centre Moala doesn't start because he is also stupid - takes the wrong option more often than not - and is a woeful defender
Mark
Guest
No - they don't have world class players They have Jerome Kaino - that is it - he is the ONLY one who is World Class The rest are wannabies or nowhere near the finished article Every year - some idiot with zero knowledge wanks on about the Blues having World Class players - without a single one of them having done anything to earn such a title
Mark
Guest
They need to find someone West is not the answer Poor option taking Poor kicking out of hand Poor at passing Its a shame Kirwan alienated Anscombe
Mark
Guest
More like his inability to control a game His kicking is beyond woeful - his option taking utterly poor - if the Blues don't find a quality 1st five they are going nowhere You do not want your 1st five running the ball all the time You want him running it when it is appropriate to run it Much the way Cruden and Barrett do And Kicking it long and accurately when not Much the way Cruden and Barrett do
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Thanks OB, I was very disappointed with West's performance ... the other NZ franchises No 10's are out of sight ... Ihaia West is in his third year and I just don't think the improvement is there. I just hope Tana will give McGahan a crack at run on. The Crusaders match was an aborration where the kid played behind a pack going backwards at a great rate of knots.
CUW
Guest
Reiko may be good at running , but his defence is poor. i think there was an england wing who was like that (forget the name). its funny how blues tend to move from one issue to another. against chiefs their attack was coming from way to deep. today their attack was a lot flatter but all they did was move from side to side. they shud have played melani nanai on the right. now imagine adam thonmpson joining blues :)
CUW
Guest
no he did not, one just went fwd - all others to hand. moala and ranger are like chalk and cheed - moala likes to rung stright and hold the ball, ranger likes to pass and create. there is a reason tana starts ranger ; hes conrad smith not maa nonu !!!
grant1021
Guest
it was interesting when West actually started running at the defence, the blues started making ground and scored points. IMO one of the main reasons that they are losing games is because of the pressure placed on them because of West's lacklustre running from the flyhalf position.
Old Bugger
Guest
Congrats RT, Tman and the Blues supporters but gees, your team certainly managed to make it look like a tough old challenge, with ease. They were too inconsistent and I predict that Tana, will be silver-haired, by season's end. It seems they rise against fellow kiwi sides and fall over themselves, against non-kiwi sides. For me, that's all about what's going on in the top-2".....and these boys in blue, just don't know how to take prisoners, anymore. OK they won but, I haven't seen an uglier win then what we witnessed, tonight. Tana has a very long season ahead but I'd suggest, he may want to start looking at benching players if their performances and their attitudes, don't improve. Anyway, a win is a win and the Blues will bank that one, no matter how ugly, it looks.
P2R2
Roar Rookie
Oh yes...give the red-hair a pass...he is way too inconsistent...
P2R2
Roar Rookie
I think your thinking of the 'bro culture' is unwarranted...why do you say that??? what is it that..."white boyz culture" do that is superior??? just get over yourself, yes the Blues are a team in transition, so just lets leave it at that....muppet
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Hmmm well I disagee ... I believe Akari at least will be sent on the EOYT tour while contracted to the Blues after he finishes with his Seven's commitment. Reiko who just turned 19 has plenty of time on his side ... inexperienced but a raw talent. I would at this stage suggest that RWC 2019 will be ripe for him though would not be surprised to see him in black by 2018
James
Guest
Blues are still by some distance the worst NZ team despite this win. They have world class players but cant seem to pull it together for a whole game. The Ioane brothers will never be considered for the all blacks playing in a team like the blues. I guess the blues are suffering from the same thing as the nz Warriors in regards to the 'bro culture'.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
mate I backed them -6.5 points... I think I did my part... they just didn't do theirs!... lol
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
What about Manurewa. Otahuhu and Takanini?
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
A roll ... ouch! ... whats that "one in a row"? ... lol... bloody very average game mate ...
Digby
Roar Guru
Who is indigo and violet?