The Blues captured their first Super Rugby title in 18 years by beating the Highlanders 23-15 in an all-New Zealand final of this season’s trans-Tasman tournament.
Blake Gibson’s try three minutes from the end clinched the win after the Highlanders, trailing 13-6 at halftime, rallied with three penalties in seven minutes to lead 15-13 after 66 minutes.
A penalty to replacement flyhalf Harry Plummer gave the Blues the lead again in the 70th minute and Gibson’s try, after a break from No.8 Hoskins Sotutu, sealed the win when Plummer’s conversion created an eight-point margin.
Time ran out for a Highlanders’ comeback and the Blues celebrated in front of a home crowd of 36,000 at Auckland’s Eden Park.
“This is a weight off our shoulders,” the Blues’ All Blacks backrower Dalton Papalii said.
“To be honest, we had a tough start in Super Rugby Aotearoa but we had a second chance at a bit of silverware and to come away with a win like that … it just goes to show we believed in ourselves.
“When we had to dig deep, we trusted each other and we trusted the process and we came out on top.”
Blake Gibson of the Blues celebrates after scoring the match-sealing try. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
The Blues won Super Rugby in 1996, rugby’s first year as a professional sport, again the following year and for a third time in 2003.
But the years since have been lean for New Zealand’s largest and richest franchise, which has become a graveyard for coaches as it fruitlessly pursued a fourth crown.
Each of the Blues’ four New Zealand rivals has enjoyed Super Rugby success since 2003; the Crusaders six times, the Chiefs twice, the Hurricanes once, and the Highlanders when they won the full four-nation tournament in 2014.
The Blues again came up short of the final in this season’s New Zealand domestic tournament – Super Rugby Aotearoa.
But they won all five matches against Australian opponents in the regular season of the trans-Tasman competition to reach the final which they won by two tries to nil.
“It’s a pretty surreal feeling to have a full Eden Park like this. It brought us home,” Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu said.
“This is something we’ve been looking forward to for a long time and we’ve got to enjoy it.”
Buk
Roar Rookie
They almost 'snatched defeat' in the last quarter - it was actually quite an overwhelming performance by the Blues, except the Highlanders 'forgot' to get overwhelmed, their doggedness was outstanding. That kick by your guy Plummer to put them back in the lead was an outstanding under pressure kick. Enjoy the trophy over the summer !
taylorman
Roar Guru
oh look if I could count how many key decisions like that have gone against the Blues over the years it would fill a book. Between that and them causing their own 'snatch defeat from the jaws of victory' moments havent served them well but it would be a stretch to find another match where Blues could be considered 'lucky'. Its hard enough finding the wins for a start. :stoked:
Buk
Roar Rookie
Sorry Tsuru - it was in the lead up to the non-try kick for the winger, called back as penalty.
Buk
Roar Rookie
I wish that was reality. :) Of course if we play them at cricket at the Gabba, it may be.
Harry Jones
Expert
Yes. Exactly. Really front foot. And they didn’t even have TOM!
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
The Blues pack are fronting up like the Bulls pack of yesteryear mate! I love it
Harry Jones
Expert
It wasn’t really a head scratcher. In KO matches, if there’s a superior pack, that’s where I go every time!
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Congratulations on topping the tipping panels “Roll of Honour”, H. A good view down from that lofty height :happy:
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Great pressure final. The Blues FINALLY lift some silverware! How good is that back-row, even sans Robinson. Congratulations to Leon, Patrick and the lads...
Harry Jones
Expert
High quality match. Nothing easy. Good to see the big Blues loose forwards playing tight. Hard men. Could be some good news there for AB fans wanting to avenge the RWC SF and RC.
Lux Interior
Roar Rookie
Yes, that was the one Tsuru. Bad miss by the officials. Also missed or ignored were two blatant jersey pulls by the Blues on Highlander players who were in the box seat to swoop on loose pill from Blues errors. The Blues were extra keen to win that game.
tsuru
Roar Rookie
Adding another B to his handle.
tsuru
Roar Rookie
I've checked back on the replay and I can't find any forward passes leading up to either of the Blues' tries, Phantom. Perhaps you mean just before the Blues penalty at about 37 minutes?
tsuru
Roar Rookie
Thanks for clearing that up Buk. I spent about 20 minutes going back over the replays before the first try and couldn't find any sniff of a forward pass. But now I see the one you mean - at about 37 minutes, about 20 metres out.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
I find the talk about taking the armband off Cane crazy. The only thing wrong with him is he's not McCaw - but he's as close as we have in terms of hardness and attitude. As for the Blues loose forwards, let's see them do the hard yards against top test teams before anointing them. Or even the Crusaders and full strength Chiefs. Aussie teams and understrength Highlanders can only be the start. Papalii I think is Cane's heir apparent and already almost there just needing experience, Sotutu not far off I hope (can he handle test match intensity?) but Akira really has to show that he can work harder in an international dogfight. I'd put Frizzell and Jacobson ahead of Akira.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
The big question is whether they can do it when it matters against full strength Crusader and even Chiefs teams. Both will have lots of players back from Japan or injuries next year so they will be stronger too. The Blues are still more fragile up front than them, for all the big names.
JamesD
Guest
Is Ardie going overseas? Where to? I never thought of Frizell as being injury prone, he's had a couple this year, but previous years?
Ben
Guest
"If Ardie is going overseas as he is.....". Has that been announced? Cant find anything on that.
Scotty P
Roar Rookie
Lol
Phantom
Roar Rookie
No penalty play on.