A supreme defensive, high-pressure-at-the-coalface and skilful-in-the-wet performance by the Super Rugby Pacific table-topping Blues has seen them run out deserved 20-19 victors over a gallant Brumbies at Eden Park.
In rainy conditions, the Blues were better tactically, physically, and mentally. They pressured the Brumbies in all facets, particularly at scrum and ruck.
The Brumbies had gone into the match believing these were strengths. Not at Eden Park on Saturday night. Not for the most part, anyway.
Yet such was the momentum shifts of the match – the Blues twice had men in the sin-bin – the Brumbies still had a chance to snatch it at the death. Yet with 90 seconds to play, Noah Lolesio’s attempted field goal was charged down by giant front-rower Ofa Tu’ungafasi, and the home team had a famous victory.
“You want to do what the opposition wants least,” Stan Sport analyst Michael Cheika observed of Lolesio’s field goal attempt at the end.
“They needed to edge closer, edge closer, build pressure. If you could’ve asked the Blues what they wanted least, it was a shot at field goal.”
Fellow analyst Tim Horan was okay with the shot – but wanted a few more phases; while Allana Ferguson said the shot was “another example of the Brumbies’ decision making letting them down”.
Two minutes in, and an upset appeared on the cards: Irae Simone shredded the Blues’ line with a simple run, where he performed the crafty move of running straight at fullback Stephen Perofeta, up in the line.
A dipped hip later, and boom, Simone was through before he turned on the gas and burned Beauden Barrett, defending at 15.
The Blues’ counter-rucking was fierce and occasionally illegal, and the Brumbies took advantage. They came hard from quality lineout ball. They sent Tom Banks to the corner and went to their power-play: the driving maul from the lineout.
It didn’t pay off. And the Blues took plenty from it. Particularly when Tom Hooper kept playing with what looked a self-diagnosed dislocated shoulder. Then he knocked on the drop-out, and Luke Reimer replaced him.
If you wanted a momentum shift, that was it.
The Blues came hard. Nic White took a mark and then a head-knock from Banks. Perofeta nailed another penalty goal. Then again, another charge from the Blues – multiple runners, passes, forwards and backs interchanging, they went 70 metres before Hoskins Sotutu crashed over from the first ruck in the play. The Barbarians would’ve been happy with it.
The Brumbies kept fighting, but the mistakes were creeping in: Banks did his thing to the left off a penalty, while Folau Fainga’a immediately knew the error of his ways after a crooked lineout.
Through it all, momentum remained with the home team.
Barrett was pinged for a rugby league knock-on – it was really a knock-back – before Reimer actually knocked on. And the Blues grew an extra leg. They won a kicking duel after the ball was inexplicably kicked to Barrett, who passed wide to Perofeta, freeing Reiko Ioane for a 70m burst of running, offloading, supporting, stepping, and quick ball from two rucks, before Mark Telea iced the play with a try.
The ghosts of many Barbarians nodded as one: respect.
The penalty count was 5-3 against the Brumbies. Nepo Laulala was owning James Slipper in the scrum. And at half-time it was a 20-7 lead for the home side, and one foot in the final.
Rieko Ioane of the Blues is tackled. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)
“Too many mistakes by the Brumbies,” observed Horan.
“They look flustered.”
Cheika described the Blues’ play as “very New Zealand”.
“When we’re in trouble, we’re going up the guts; they’re dominating around the ruck and in the scrum,” he said.
Into the second stanza, and Scott Sio replaced Slipper in the 47th minute. Nick Frost came on, too, for Cadeyrn Neville. But the Brumbies’ lineout got no better. Nor did the scrum.
Then, almost out of nothing, the worm turned the visitors’ way. Kurt Eklund lifted Andy Muirhead, the winger landing on his shoulder. The hooker was off for ten minutes, and was perhaps lucky to get away with even that – it looked head-first.
The Brumbies ran the ball hard and wide, earning good yards through Muirhead and Banks. A lineout 15m from the Blues line begat further ball and man movement. The Brumbies went to their pet play: the driving maul. Backs got involved.
The ball went to Tom Wright who was held up by Stephen Perofeta. Banks went to the line again. The Brumbies went to their weapon, again.
This time: Lachlan Lonergan. Try.
Noah Lolesio hooked the conversion and the Brumbies trailed by eight, with 20 minutes remaining. It would prove a pivotal miss.
The Blues went into a huddle and breathed together.
Wright saved a try on a sliding Barrett, who was over had he not. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck knocked on. The rain continued to belt down. The Blues’ pressure in defence was telling, but the Brumbies were still up for the fight: Hudson Creighton grubbered the ball into touch with his team on the attack.
They won a penalty. A lineout close out. You knew what was coming.
The ball went left and right. Advantage went for many phases, the Blues’ defence immense in the wet. When Tom Robinson was hurled into the air to steal the lineout ball, that was the match. The Brumbies just didn’t realise it yet.
They scored through Lachlan Lonergan again. But when Lolesio took his pot-shot and Tu’ungafasi repelled it, as that old Scottish song goes, the Brumbies were sent home to think again.
ozziedude
Roar Rookie
Who said Edmed was the messiah? Also no one wrote off Noah.. best not to deal in extremes.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Agree with all that Ozzie. We need more Tiers, or we’re in for more tears.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
No need for a kiwi top up, Wigeye. And I’m not feeling great ‘bout where ya were goin wid dat? :silly: Reminds me of the paddy backpacker travelling the world who liked to ask girls in bars if they had an Oirish in them? So I’m guessing you are in the Little England Pony Club, rather than the JAFA, camp? I’m thinking that Mounga and Barrett will be the big argument in this game. Is Barrett the best NZ 10, or just NZs best back? I’m thinking that RM might win that battle. Will Saders’ smarts be enough to counter the Blues all over firepower? We are having a game to find out. No , I’m not a kiwi, but I’m close enough to know a few insults – like Shackle Dragger. :happy:
ozziedude
Roar Rookie
Agree KC there are no clear answers to the infrastructure of the development of our 10s, we really need that tier below for them to develop but the long faced travails have been many for that and it really needs to be addressed and marked ‘urgent!’ to the ARU. Failing that id like to see more head ‘across the detch’ and take the place of a young or not so young kiwi in the NPC like Manny Edmonds did years ago and a few have since. Even the Currie cup like Knoxy and Carlos did a while back could be a choice. Their managers may be advising them differently to head elsewhere but there are good development options. At least its pleasing to see the Australia A program back and hopefully becomes a mainstay on the calendar with regular friendlies against Japan/Canada/ USA/ Nz Maori etc.. interestingly we do have good #9s coming thru so thats something to be happy about!
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Markus I resonate with you here about giving these kids space and patience. (But can we stop using words like Messiah, and saviour etc?). We are short on 10s, and we need to invest wisely and with priority in the prospects we have. My personal hunch is that, down the track, Edmed will draw out from the pack. That is a thought without hard evidence. Rennie has much more data on all the kids. I suspect that Quade’s understudy next year will play Australia A this year.
Markus
Roar Rookie
Let's see Edmed play more than half a season before deciding he is the new messiah. Or let Lolesio make it to his 23rd birthday before writing him off as a test flyhalf.
Call it fair
Guest
Call it fair people that wasn’t rugby that was a game of kiwi ball Just another example of why all teams struggle to win in NZ. THE BLUES WERE GIFTED THAT MATCH . VERY POOR AND NOT GOOD FOR RUGBY.
Pogo
Roar Rookie
I hope this is not prophetic as coach larkham 1.0 was also 1 dimensional.
Wigeye
Guest
Have you got any kiwi in youold m8 Ken !! I can top you up :silly: . Well i was around for the blues domination back in the day and being a southerner what you think, But seriously and all the big words aside i don't believe the blues can win it if ITS close 60 minutes in ken :thumbup:
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Simone
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Lineout 18.29.b : Catch or deflect the ball. A jumper may catch or deflect the ball with the outside arm only if they have both hands above their head. Sanction: Free-kick. https://www.world.rugby/the-game/laws/law/18 So to paraphrase, you may contest for the ball with both of your arms if they are above your head. If not, you may only contest with your inner arm. So… I think you’ve become quite confused and conflated a couple things. “None of this statement is correct. If both hands are above the players head they can only use their outside arm to deflect or catch the ball.” Wrong, see above Law, reference, and link. What you’re suggesting is if both arms above your head, you can only use one arm, that being the outside. That is what you have written, but if you mean something else, then maybe rephrase as I don’t interpret any other meaning from your statement, and it is very clearly wrong. “No mention in the laws of not being able to use 2 hands if the ball is below head height. In fact no mention at all of the ball being below head height in the lineout laws.” - You’re confusing ball height and arm position. I never referenced ball height, I referenced arm position. Read it again. Law I reference very clearly discusses arm position. Leading in with such an arrogant sentence, “ Sorry. Way to many mistakes in your post to let it just slide. You seem to be the guy at the ground cheering the ref, but you have no idea. Means you need to be really spot on with what you’re saying. You seem to have the laws wrong about arms above your head, and conflated me referencing arm position with ball height. Have a good night.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Good point wigeye. Which side would be the Most kiwi?
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
:thumbup:
jeznez
Roar Guru
All good mate. I could have been clearer in my opening sentence but didn’t want to use the word development a second time there.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Sorry Jez. Speaking of ‘nuanced’. My reading was not. Apologies.
Danny McGowan
Roar Rookie
Of course you did, and someone who shall remain nameless misread your post! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: Apologies mate.
Fox
Roar Guru
Blues have been the better side all season nroko and that’s why they were minor premiers. Blues dominated the 1st quarter after the Brumbies scored early and began dominating the scrums and contact from that point on in the 1st half. The Blues won because they shredded the Brumbies D in 1st half with two of the best tries of the season. From then on the Brumbies were playing catch up and that is not a good place to be against the Blues at Eden Park. And you don’t deserve to win when your 10 attempts a drop goal from 45m out with no time on the clock left.
Mikeylivez
Guest
That comment makes exactly zero sense. Not sure where your chip comes from, but Jez regularly posts reasonable and informed comments. You are incessantly barking
upat the wrong tree. Give yourself an uppercut :boxing:jeznez
Roar Guru
George, the Great Pretender! This will surprise you but I’m not on the Brumbies board. The decision to appoint Larkham was nothing to do with me.
ozziedude
Roar Rookie
It’s definately a lot of ramens and onsen time