The Blues have added some shine to their disappointing 2017 season by becoming the first New Zealand Super Rugby franchise to defeat the British and Irish Lions by 22 points to 16 at Eden Park, and have given their fans something to cheer about in front of 40,000 in Auckland.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Blues 22
British and Irish Lions 16
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It’s the second match of the British and Irish Lions tour and the first ever game played between a New Zealand Super Rugby side, the Blues, and the famous tourists.Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from kick-off at 5.35pm (AEST) from Eden Park in Auckland.
Plenty of the pre-match discussion has been around the Lions and what many have described as a well below par performance in their close victory over the New Zealand Barbarians, a match where the tourists failed to hit the ground running, struggling in many key areas after such a short time together in New Zealand.
Of course, the hit out would have done plenty to blow the cobwebs out and, after being stung by the over-the-top criticism and with a few extra days off the plane, we should see a remarkably different Lions side turn up. Certainly on paper, it is a quality side that coach Warren Gatland has named.
Of interest to most will be how the Lions approach this match; the perceived ten-man game famously associated with northern sides by those in the south, or will we see an attacking Lions side today?
There is certainly plenty of pace and flair named within the back division of the Lions. The English outsides of Jack Nowell and Elliot Daly provide plenty of speed and the balance of the backline looks to have been selected with combinations in mind. Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar have been named as the halves with Leigh Halfpenny at fullback, utilising the Welsh connection, while an Irish midfield has been selected with Robbies Henshaw and Jared Payne, who should form a reliable partnership.
The pack looks suitably strong with the most interest around the second row, with the all-English duo of Courtney Lawes and Maro Itoje selected. Itoje’s performance in particular will be keenly observed – he’s most certainly a Lions Test starter in many eyes – while CJ Stander has his work cut out for him after the fantastic display from Toby Faletau in the previous match, as the competition heats up for the number eight jersey come the first Test match.
The Blues have not had the best season in terms of their performance within the New Zealand conference, however the Lions certainly present a magnificent opportunity to add some gloss to their season and coach Tana Umaga has named what looks to be his strongest available line-up.
The biggest talking point is the naming of the young Stephen Perofeta at first five, earning his first start of the year in arguably the Blues’ biggest match this season after Piers Francis has left the squad to join the English side. Perofeta’s selection is perhaps a sign of Ihaia West’s falling stock at the Auckland-based club.
Either way, it is a fantastic opportunity for the young man to show his wares at the higher end of the game, and he is surrounded by experience with Sonny Bill Williams on his outside and Augustine Pulu at halfback.
Many will also be keen to observe the form of Blues number eight Stephen Luatua, particularly given the injury concerns around regular All Black skipper Kieran Read. A solid performance tonight could see Luatua push himself into calculations for the Test side, which will be named shortly. The same can be said for many of the Blues players who will see this as a grand opportunity to impress the New Zealand selectors.
Prediction
On paper, the Lions should be favourites (and they are according to the bookies) but of course the big question will be how they come together as a team.
Consistency has been an issue for the Blues this season and I suspect the set piece may cause headaches for the Auckland-based franchise this evening. It will be close but I expect the visitors’ greater experience to show through at the end.
Lions by 3.
Join us here live on The Roar as we cover all the action live from 5.35pm (AEST) and don’t forget to leave your thoughts on the action below.
bennalong
Guest
Maybe as an Aussie I can criticise this bloody French ref. The Lions have bought or brought refs with them who'll give them their scrum penalties by hook or by crook. But this bloke is letting the Lions get away with things and pingingtihe Saders mercilessly. He's so cocky he called that obvious scrum win by the Saders against them. Why on earth do the Lions get so many northrrn hemisphere refs? They're visiting. We should provide the refs. Then the money will stay in the Southern Hemisphere.
Ken Cattchpoolee's. Other. Leg
Guest
Oh, did you play, Jman? Which one were you?
R2D2
Guest
The Blues were awful and their brilliance was just enough to get the win. The backline was abysmal with Pulu slowing up traffic, but still enough got through to do the damage.....individual brilliance with a little bit of team work does wonders.....beauty is in the eye of the winners.
Mark
Guest
So apart from one long cutout pass that lead to a try what were you impressed with His constant - dropping of the ball - piss poor kicking - passing going to ground - lame running
Mark
Guest
Are you joking The Blues were awful Perofeta was abysmal West wasn't much better The forward pack was all over the place The backline was abysmal - only individual brilliance saved it for the Blues
Mark
Guest
Oh Dear If thats the best the Lions can produce this could be their worst tour ever Surely they are just starting slowly and not tipping their hand too much in the early stages Because otherwise... I mean - that was the Blues - they are shite - and they were shite in last nights game - only they were less shite than the Lions
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Thanks OB but what about the contribution of Steven Luatua mate? I thought he had a monster game.... luv the guy so might be a bit bias....
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Kirky .... 100% agree... refer my post on Diggercane's High Five today... I love the guy!
Uncle Eric
Guest
Yes after the half reached in for the ball, then pulled it further out with his foot and left it there and pondered his options. Ball was clearly out. To me the ref was ordinary, verging on incompetent.
James in NZ
Guest
Look the challenge is for these guys to gel together really quickly and for the coaches to come up with a coherent strategy (not Warrenball, but more so Eddieball maybe), as surely by now they must know they are under the blow torch. National reputations aren't so much on the line, but individual ones are. As a kiwi fan I'm conflicted, on one hand I want to win all we can, but not at the cost of the Lions concept, so we need these guys to become a test level team asap.
James in NZ
Guest
As we know a champion team will always beat a team of champions.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Don't see you praising the Blues Bob. Breaking your own rules it seems.
Londoner
Guest
Exactly....
Derm
Roar Guru
Ryan It wasn't sarcasm. It was replies to questions and comments. That's the point of a forum like Roar.
Lara
Guest
The Lions showed nothing new. The Blues showed enough grit to allow themselves to display the flair they have in abundance. Three tries to one said it all. Beautiful Blues, great team win.
Old Bugger
Guest
RT, Tman Congrats guys cos that was a real slog but the lads kept at it and prevailed. Great try to sew it all up covered by a couple of huge off-loads. SBW and Reiko had monster games and I think, it settles any indecision about SBW and confirms, the decision about Reiko. I realise this was a new team for the BILs but after watching 30 starters and 16 reserves already, I can't help thinking that these teams, are running around as though they're a spark plug short, of full steam. They seemed to over-commit to the breakdown which left the back-line, to go forward on the next pass. They may have secured possession and territory but again, they lacked penetration out wide. And the kicking, would just be like a breakfast for the rest of their opponents if what we witnessed tonight, was any indication. I hesitate to consider who Gats will select against the Saders but if, he doesn't show his best side this Saturday, then I can only suggest, that a hiding to nothing, is what his team will be entertaining. And that situation, is not the best to be entering into the 2nd week of a tour, with the win stats in the red, rather than, in the black.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Maybe but forgetting that kick, they still left 5-8 points out there.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
R/T! What a waste of a very, very, good player old Stevie Luatua is going to be with his going over to Pat Lams Second Grade team next season, ~ Surely he could be leant on to change his mind, ~ an absolute waste!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Londoner!! Great post mate and could I just say here that it's a real pleasure to see a UK rugby Supporter put up something positive about the rugby scene way down here! Honest post also and I like your attitude re the scoring capabilities, methods and whatever. The first game against the Barbarians could be said was, an aberration and expected as playing rugby three days in the hottest bed of rugby on this Planet after all the flying hours, jet lag etc, is a very hard ask indeed and it showed. Todays game pretty much makes one wonder if the Lions had done much study on the general New Zealand style of rugby because, it sure showed as they were woeful to say the least and played right into the Blues hands with the kick, kick, kick, policy as you rarely see a New Zealand team do that excepting when there's no other option. All that does is gift the opposition the ball to use on a front foot exercise and any Kiwi team relishes that type of rugby as given the ball, they will attack from anywhere on the Park, behind the goalposts or anywhere else, it works for them because they have perfected that ploy of attack and coupled with playing the game at great speed it is very hard to counter ~ All the Super Rugby sides play the same way with their own little and subtle variations and it is well and truly been proven as the way to play winning rugby! No doubt you'd have been clued up on the fact that the Blues are at the very bottom of the Kiwi Super Rugby Conference, but consider the Crusaders and the All Blacks to be at their very, very, best and they will play the same way only a hell of a lot better, but having seen Lions Rugby in New Zealand, I know how very good they can be, so I imagine they'll fire sooner rather than later! I only hope the Lions can get up and get stuck in and play as everyone down this way knows they can and as the Lions as Tourists in New Zealand are absolutely revered and of all International sides that visit New Zealand to play rugby the Lions are the team everyone wants to see as their type of rugby over the years in most cases has been nothing short of sublime. Finally, ignore all this vitriolic rubbish about Kiwis being the worst rugby supporters or whatever, all that is completely false and is a media beat up by in the main the rugby writers from the Gutter Press of Fleet Street who are at the end of the day nothing less than crap stirrers, and if you are following this Tour in New Zealand, you'll have found out by now that the title of ''Friendly Isles'' fits exactly, as Kiwis are everyone's friends, that's the way they are!
Jemainok
Guest
Sorry colin a bit too jolly. You are 100% correct.