The Waratahs have a date with the Blues in next week’s Super Rugby quarterfinal in Auckland after the Kiwi team finished the regular season with a tough 16-9 win over the Highlanders in Auckland.
The Blues will start strong favourites next week, having already put a half century on NSW his season in a 55-21 win – easily the most points conceded by Tahs in a single game this season.
Blues coach Leon MacDonald said he expected Test star Beauden Barrett to return for the game next week after missing out through an Achilles injury.
“He’s started to run again and the hope always was that he was going to be ready to go for the quarterfinals,” said MacDonald. “He had 20 stitches in the back of his Achilles – a really unlucky injury – he competed for the ball and a player came down on the back of his foot. He’s a classy player and you want him to be out there.”
The Highlanders got a bonus point and moved level with the Reds on 24 points but well below the Queenslanders on point differential. They need the Drua, Force and Rebels to all lose this weekend to sneak into the last eight next week – or for Queensland to lose by more than 61 points.
It was a dour battle in Auckland – the Blues scored the only try through Patrick Tuipulotu in the 29th minute and the second half was scoreless until the final three minutes.
The Highlanders fought hard to stay in the game, and had a late try overturned for a knock on as a recovery looked possible.
A penalty goal in the 77th minute gave them a chance to take the match into extra time but the Blues held on despite some willing play. The Blues then had a chance to deny the Highlanders a bonus point but kicked for touch instead.
“That’s what you call a throwback game like 50 years ago,” said former All Black star Jeff Wilson on the Stan coverage.
“One try, scrum battle… clearly neither team will be satisfied with their performance. I think the Blues will be bitterly disappointed with the fact they didn’t put the game away well into the second half. I don’t think it was a great game but they got the points.”
Wilson said Barrett’s return would be crucial against the Tahs.
“They need Beauden Barrett back. You need experience in big moments and Barrett understands that. The ability to play and make the right decisions that’s what you need to go one more phase. He’ll bring composure under pressure.”
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