The Blues have secured their place in the inaugural Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final with a 31-21 victory over the Western Force in Auckland.
But the win wasn’t as pretty as it could have been ahead of next week’s title decider against the Highlanders back at Eden Park.
The Blues were unable to score a second-half try after taking a 28-0 lead into the break.
Despite enduring a winless campaign, the Force were Australia’s most consistent outfit and displayed their resilience once again on Saturday night.
Tries from Feleti Kait’ui and Tevita Kuridrani slashed the Blues’ halftime advantage before replacement Rob Kearney’s 77th-minute cross created some anxious final moments for the home side.
“It was a hard-fought game and when you’ve got a home final you’ve got to look forward to that,” said Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu.
“We were happy with the first half. It’s fair to say we didn’t turn up for the second half.
“We knew the Western Force were a team that fight to the end and it’s quite disappointing for us to finish like that.
“But we can’t dwell on it too much. We’ve got to look forward to next week and be grateful that we have another week together.”
Tuipulotu said another half-hearted effort wouldn’t be good enough to win the title.
“Forty minutes is never good enough,” he said.
“We’re always struggling for a perfect day, 80-plus (minutes) and against the Highlanders we know they’re a dangerous team.
“They go 80-plus as well. Look, it was a hard-fought game and we get a home final and we’ve got to be happy with that.”
Dalton Papalii dives over to score a try. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
Force captain Ian Prior was proud but disappointed.
“I’m really proud of the fightback,” Prior said.
“They’ve been pretty special, this group this year. I think we’ve earnt a bit of respect across the ditch.
“We went pretty close against the Chiefs, against the Crusaders and the Highlanders.
“But you can’t give away 28 points in the first half and expect to get the win.
“Really proud of the fightback but we’ve got a lot of areas to work on.”
Haha It doesnt get any better than that. Enjoy this weekend!!!
taylorman
Roar Guru
All good Jacko, haven’t followed a lot of sport under Covid. It’s sure thrown up some interesting scenarios.. Blues are in a final and the Black caps are now no. 1 in test and one day cricket? Surreal….
P2R2
Roar Rookie
Inane comment...
P2R2
Roar Rookie
Cantab - the BIGGEST MIS-NOMER ever....Cantab is a region in Spain (Cantabria)....not in the South Island of NZ...so it has to be...CANTERBURYIANS...sounds much better...
P2R2
Roar Rookie
No....why do you say that?
P2R2
Roar Rookie
I would say the Landers will be more that a challenge for the Blues....they put the Brums to the sword....you write them off at your peril and I must say (for a Blues supporter) I love the way they (Landers) play...even El Professori/Wayne Smith in a Breakdown segment said, they play a style of game he enjoys...so it should/will be a good game...
P2R2
Roar Rookie
...getting good recruitment is going to be the trick...when do you stop getting o/seas players at the expense of your local talent...difficult I would say
P2R2
Roar Rookie
what a great idea....the Force didn't stop playing against the Blues....that is showing one's KAHA/STRENGTH....playing in NZ in the NPC or SR would be a very good idea....
Ex force fan
Guest
Jacko, logic and Rugby Australia should not be used in the same sentence. The WA rugby community is still treated as second class and dispensable by those in the Eastern States. Maybe we should rather play in NZ, at least they don’t have an agenda to get rid of us.
Ex force fan
Guest
We came 3rd of the Australian teams this year, in 2017 we came second and was still axed. The ease to axe a team was the key consideration in 2017... If a team will be cut, the Force is the easiest to axe.
Ex force fan
Guest
Pulu also provide x-factor but prone to injuries. TK scored a try in the last game and should have been used in this role much earlier. The Force attack has improved significantly since the SRAU competition as combinations started to develop. I think it took too long to settle on a combination at the start of this year.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
The relative performance of the Force compared to the other Aus SR sides should preclude any talks about axing the Force. You guys did far too good for anyone to say we are better off without you. RA will be stuck, as they can't really axe any other teams, and they really can't do it to the Force again. It will be 5 Aus teams, in a 12 team competition, or 5 Aus teams plus Drua in a 6 team pool. At least until things come back to a sense of normalcy and the real talks about breaking up SANZAAR for good can begin.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
That's truly scary
Puff
Roar Rookie
For the rugby devotee all NZ teams displayed qualities and depth but the performance of the boys from the deep- rooted south are worth another look. They remind me of a poem by Rudyard Kipling “The wolf.” For the strength of the pack is the wolf and the strength of the wolf is the pack. The Blues, will not find Eden Park, their garden of Eden. They are the sum of numerous talented players who at times display intimidating individually, then somehow loses direction. Never underestimate the clan.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Lacked that knock out punch - that's the perfect way to sum it up. It felt like you had enough to put a team on the ropes, but then didn't know what to do or didn't have someone where you needed them. I think your right about TK, he should have been that person. Instead they had to rely on Kahui to a degree, and he is good, but this is really 2-3 years too late him to be that x-factor player.
robel
Roar Pro
Have to say I have been really impressed with the attitude of the Force side this year. Many years they would try to give it to the oppo in the last 10-20 mins, but this year they have tried pretty much from the start of the game. That's how you get wins. Now the Force just need a bit more attacking nous and the W's will follow
piru
Roar Rookie
I guess kiwi sides need to work on their discipline then eh
piru
Roar Rookie
It's called defence
piru
Roar Rookie
This year we lacked a knockout punch in the backs. I think Kuridrani was intended to be that but he seemed to be asleep for most of the year. Godwin consistently gets a step on his man and/or gets his arms free in the tackle, if TK had been running hard off him there should have been plenty of opportunities there.
Lux Interior
Roar Rookie
Mainland bro's before K Rd ho's every time, Paulo.