The Blues have overcome the Crusaders 27-23 in a match between the top-ranked New Zealand teams in Super Rugby Pacific on Friday, claiming their first win in Christchurch in 18 years.
The Crusaders lost lock and captain Scott Barrett to a red card in the 46th minute when they were trailing 17-10.
With centre David Havili already in the sin bin the hosts were down to 13 men, and conceded a converted try which gave the Blues a 24-10 advantage.
But the Crusaders rallied with two second-half tries to winger Sevu Reece to cut the Blues’ lead to four points and ended the match on attack.
A try-saving tackle by Blues captain Dalton Papalii and centre Rieko Ioane on Crusaders lock Dominic Gardiner in the 78th minute allowed the Blues to clinch a long-awaited win.
Gardiner was put into space on the right flank and seemed to have the goal line at his mercy but Papalii, dazed from a previous tackle, got up and with Ioane’s help forced him into touch.
“I don’t really have the words. For me it was quite emotional out there in those last 10 minutes,” Papalii said.
“The boys just dug deep and I couldn’t have asked any more of my lads in coming down here and doing the job.
“All week we said it was finals footy and the Crusaders had the platform for too many years. To come down here and get the win was truly special.”
In the contest between All Blacks No.10s, Beauden Barrett for the Blues had the upper hand early over Richie Mo’unga for the Crusaders and created two first-half tries.
Fullback Will Jordan scored the first try of the match for the Crusaders from a dominant scrum, combining with Reece who put him into space.
But Barrett broke the Crusaders’ defense in the 21st minute to create a try for No.9 Finlay Christie and sparked a short-side movement which led to a try to Papali’i in the 31st.
With a two-man advantage, Blues hooker Kurt Eklund scored a try from a lineout drive in the 47th to put his team ahead by 14 points.
Beauden Barrett then was part of a tactical meltdown by the Blues who resorted to a pointless and inaccurate kicking game while still with a one-man advantage in the second half.
The tactic gave the Crusaders endless counter-attacking opportunities and brought Mo’unga into his own.
Mo’unga created a 50/22 in the 54th minute and from the lineout a long pass from Argentina back-rower Pablo Matera sent Reece over for his first try.
In the 71st minute Reece scored again in a movement which appeared to feature both a forward pass and knock-on.
That cut the Blues’ lead to four points and they were under pressure for the remainder of the match but held on to go top of the championship table.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Im just glad the Blues won. The refs tried to give it back to the Saders as hard as they could. Reece lost the ball forward and it hit a Blues players knee and went back into his arms before one of his tries and the ruling at the end where the ball was ruled to have gone out in-goal from the charge down was taken out by Jordan. 2 really bad errors that they didnt even check. Those could very easily have cost the Blues this historic win but luckily it didnt. The game was very high quality right from the go and the Blues won because of the first hald performance even tho their defence in the second half was great. Reiko really starting to make the 13 his position. BB very good ( as was Mounga ) and looks like he is getting back to his best in his preferred possie. Jordan is just quality isnt he.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
The fact it was done constantly tells me he was following instructions from the coaching staff.
WEST
Roar Guru
I was impressed by the Blues.. At least the first half. But the Blues Defense was impressive! Scott Barrett and his reckless ways needs to be under control, he’s becoming a ref magnet and it’s going cost his career if he can’t get a handle on it. But it was the Blues who conquered their Christchurch demons! Dalton Papalii!! The Blues captain was everywhere, made a number of breaks. Relentless at the breakdowns, falling back and helping out with the Blues exits. He also smashed Dominic Gardiner into the corner with Rieko Ioane to win the match. Dalton made 21 tackles at %100 completion. A great player and a possible All Black Captain of the future. Hoskins Sotutu was awesome! Everything he did was with force and intensity. Sotutu is a guy who’s not afraid of the collisions, the Blues needed him maintain the solid defence to subdue the Crusaders. Wasn’t sure about Finlay Christie.. But his ball presentation is excellent! He’s great at rushing defence .. even though it bit him after getting KO, but he’s getting better and better. Beauden Barrett, had a world class game, the wheels came off a bit in the second half, but the first half was impressive! Setting up Christie to score, then ten minutes later he set up the Papalii try. Just aimlessly kicking in the 2nd half was a bit annoying to watch. Rieko Ioane, was solid on Defense, dominating Ennor at the collision.. That tackle at the finish was incredible. Blues are looking very Good! With a solid pack made up of players like Romano and Ofa Tuungafasi to smash and dominate up front it’s giving the Blues backs a great platform to work with.
WEST
Roar Guru
Who doesn’t like a good joke occasionally :laughing:
Tim J
Roar Rookie
The only pain is in my sides, laughing with your passionate but unrealistic post. :boxing:
Wowser
Guest
Boring game , so many errors.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Dammit mate! Seriously? You better have it changed back by next week, that’s all I’m saying…
Warwick Todd
Guest
To quote the great Peter McNeeley the Reds will wrap the Kiwi sides in a cocoon if horror. Prepare for pain! :boxing:
El Flash
Roar Rookie
This was not great news for the Australian sides. There is not a franchise in Australia that will come within 20 pts of these 2 sides if that is the quality they produce over the next 6 weeks. It wasn't necessarily the attacking that caught the eye. It was the speed of the cleanouts, the accuracy of the passing, and of course the superb defence from both sides. It was a great spectacle & I personally cannot wait to see whether the Blues (in particular) can keep producing that quality. The Crusaders you know can play like that week in week out.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
The loss came because I added to my name, I take full responsibility for the Crusaders losing…
smoothy
Roar Rookie
That would be my one critique too, shared by a few, during or after the game: the kicking tactic was shown to be faulty very quickly, but it wasn’t changed, and nearly cost the match. If MacDonald did try to adjust, it wasn’t taken on-board. Or if he was leaving it for the players to work out themselves… unfortunately, they didn’t. Hopefully the lesson was learned, at least, for future scenarios.
Pedro
Roar Rookie
When BB was aimlessly kicking the ball away. Surely the captain or the coaches, through their 'water boys', could have told BB to put the boot away. Other than that, this game has restored my faith in NZ rugby. So many players stepped up when required.
KiwiHaydn
Roar Rookie
Great result for the Blues (and NZ rugby). To be fair, the Crusaders still so close to winning it at the end, especially after playing with 14 (and still getting overlaps!) and 13 at times. Luckily the referees finally cracked down on the cynical play from the Crusaders. Also great to see BB getting back to his best!