Blues
23
Match Complete
Chiefs
8
| G. Cowley-Tuioti |  | 81 | ||
| O. Tuungafasi | | 59 | ||
| H. Plummer |  | 49 | ||
| M. Nanai | | 37 | ||
| 34 | | M. McKenzie | ||
| H. Plummer | | 31 | ||
| 16 | | M. Karpik |
| 4 | Tries | 1 | ||
| 0 | Conversions | 0 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Blues and Chiefs will go fight it out to keep their respective finals hopes alive when the to meet in Auckland as Round 14 of Super Rugby continues on Saturday.
Both sides know that the finals are a long shot but technically still possible and a win in this match will be a small step in the right direction.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of this exciting match starting from 5:35pm AEST on Saturday.
After a good run of wins, the Blues have struggled in recent weeks. On the good side the team’s performances have still been good, especially last week against the Hurricanes, but they’ve lacked the clinical finishing ability that their hard work requires to turn pressure into points.
Coach Leon MacDonald has kept much of his starting line up the same from last week.
Alex Hodgman, Jonathan Ruru, Caleb Clarke and Scott Scrafton will all join the starting line up with the Blues needing their forwards to put in a dominant performance to give their backs the quick, clean ball they need.
The intensity of last week with a new found error free edge could cause the Chiefs serious problems.
For the Chiefs they’ve got the bragging rights over the Blues – not only did they win the reverse fixture in Round 9, but they haven’t lost to the Blues in the past 15 games overall.
The Chiefs have worked hard in recent weeks to put together some brave performances but they are really missing key talent.
The challenges of missing talent get worse when you consider that Luke Jacobson – who has put in some really good games this season – is out after a training injury and flanker Lachlan Boshier hasn’t recovered from his injury yet.
Angus Ta’avao will be back though bringing 99 games of experience.
Irrespective of the result, this game will be a special one for all Chiefs and All Blacks fans as heroic back rower Sam Cane could well make his return to rugby having recovered from a broken neck seven months ago.
It’s an incredible story and there will be huge cheers from the crowd when Cane comes off the bench.
The Chiefs have missed his ability and his leadership this season and while it might be too late to save their season, having him back in active duty will be very good for the club.
Prediction
The Chiefs do have the better form going into this game but if the Blues can recreate the intensity of their game from last week then they should get home in this conference derby.
Blues to win by 7.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 5:35pm AEST on Saturday.
Where: Eden Park, Auckland
Date: Saturday 18th May 2019
When: 5:35pm AEST
TV: Foxsports
Betting: Blues $1.46, Chiefs $2.72
Blues
15 Melani Nanai
14 Caleb Clarke
13 TJ Faiane (vice capt)
12 Ma’a Nonu
11 Rieko Ioane
10 Harry Plummer
9 Jonathan Ruru
8 Akira Ioane
7 Blake Gibson (co-capt)
6 Dalton Papalii
5 Scott Scrafton
4 Patrick Tuipulotu (co-capt)
3 Ofa Tuungafasi
2 James Parsons
1 Alex Hodgman
Replacements
16 Matt Moulds
17 Lua Li
18 Karl Tu’inukuafe
19 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
20 Tom Robinson
21 Augustine Pulu
22 Otere Black
23 Matt Duffie
Chiefs
15 Solomon Alaimalo
14 Sean Wainui
13 Tumua Manu
12 Anton Lienert-Brown
11 Etene Nanai-Seturo
10 Marty McKenzie
9 Brad Weber (capt)
8 Tyler Ardron
7 Mitchell Karpik
6 Pita Gus Sowakula
5 Mitchell Brown
4 Jesse Parete
3 Angus Ta’avao
2 Nathan Harris
1 Atu Moli
Replacements
16 Liam Polwart
17 Aidan Ross
18 Nepo Laulala
19 Mitchell Jacobson
20 Sam Cane
21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi
22 Shaun Stevenson
23 Alex Nankivell
Referee: Glen Jackson
Assistant Ref: Nick Briant and Dan Waenga
TMO: Glenn Newman
2019 Form (last 5 games)
Blues – LLBLL
Chiefs – WLLDW
Played 31
Blues won 10
Chiefs won 20
Drawn 1
Neel
Roar Guru
All five of the Blues victories have come at home. They finally broke the hoodoo against the Chiefs and keep their slight playoff chances alive.
Kashmir Pete
Roar Guru
Oliver Thanks for commentary - good to catch up on game. Cheers KP
taylorman
Roar Guru
Finally a nicely deserved win. Blues are still a side of hot and cold all over the place but the basics are there more this year.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yeah that seemed obvious even in real time. Glad it didn’t affect the result.
Oliver Matthews
Expert
FINAL SCORE!!!! Blues: 23 Chiefs: 8 The Blues have beaten the Chiefs 23-8 at Eden Park and have kept their season alive....just. The scoreboard might lead you to believe that the Blues won easily but they had to work very hard. They dominated the first half with possession and territory but again lacked the clinical edge to turn that into points. The second half though the Chiefs offered very little and the Blues found a way to keep rolling and get the points on the board. In the end points came at crucial times for the Blues - early and late in the second half that allowed them to pick up the bonus point win as well. The Blues will know that they need to step up another level to beat the better sides in the competition but they will take confidence from this win. Loads more rugby on The Roar so get involved - next up is the State of Origin clash between the Reds and Tahs!! Thanks for all your comments and chat and have a great weekend.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Yesterdays tippong not very crash hot, but started today in better form. Lets go 2 from 2 now!
Highlander
Guest
After a few first half brain f@rts the Blues managed that second forty superbly. Some big performances from emerging players in Scrafton and Hodgeman Have held back on endorsing Nonu for the big show but his ball carrying and kicking has to have him in the squad. ALB is a slam dunk on this years form. Add Crotty and Goodhue means Laumape and SBW will be a little nervous. Some nice touches and solid hits for a very fit looking Sam Cane. Congrats Blues, earned that one.
Oliver Matthews
Expert
CONVERSION!!!! Can Plummer wrap this up nicely??? Nope! He's missed again but that's a great win for the Blues! Their first since 2011! Blues: 23 Chiefs: 8 Time: 82:30
Oliver Matthews
Expert
TRY!!!! Final siren has gone and the Blues are going for the bonus point try. They've won the line out and drive forward and the Chiefs have got nothing left and can't stop them getting over! Blues: 23 Chiefs: 8 Time: 81:30
81
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Congrats Blues, great to see, esp with the BP try.
Oliver Matthews
Expert
Blues win their line out and the maul starts to roll - they also have the advantage. Plummer grubbers the ball through but it's covered well by the defence but we'll come back for the penalty. It's about 15m out from the line and right in front but they choose to go for touch. Blues: 18 Chiefs: 8 Time: 80:30
Oliver Matthews
Expert
PENALTY!! Blues earn the penalty and Plummer knocks it into touch - Blues will have a line out on the Chiefs 22. Blues: 18 Chiefs: 8 Time: 79:30
Oliver Matthews
Expert
Blues are running down the clock well - just keeping it close in the forwards with lots of support at the ruck to make sure the ball comes back. Blues: 18 Chiefs: 8 Time: 78:30
Oliver Matthews
Expert
Blues win the line out and look to break down the short side from the maul but it gets a bit scrappy as they try to off load. Chiefs get the line out off the back of that loose off load but then they lose their own throw and the Blues have it back. Blues: 18 Chiefs: 8 Time: 78:10
Oliver Matthews
Expert
PENALTY!! Blues scrum has done so well there and earned the Blues a crucial penalty to relieve the pressure. Plummer kicks to touch and the Blues have a line out just near their own 10m line with 3 minutes to go. Blues: 18 Chiefs: 8 Time: 77:10
Oliver Matthews
Expert
NO TRY!! TMO suggested that actually that should be a penalty but ref has gone with a scrum to the Blues for the knock on. Blues: 18 Chiefs: 8 Time: 74:40
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Should have played on and then come back. Poor reffing.
Oliver Matthews
Expert
Oh what's going on here - ref is asking TMO to double check whether Cane has got the ball over. Ref thinks it was lost but lets see. Would be an amazing return for the club hero. Blues: 18 Chiefs: 8 Time: 74:40
Oliver Matthews
Expert
Little pods of forwards of Chiefs trying to get the final few metres over the line but the Blues defence is solid for now. Cane is close - wouldn't that be a story!? Blues: 18 Chiefs: 8 Time: 74:40