Blues down fumbling Force

Blues down fumbling Force

7 Jul 2012

GARETH DUNCAN watched the Blues record their third win of the season as they beat the Western Force 32-9 in Auckland.

This season will be the Blues’ worst Super Rugby campaign in the franchise’s history. But they gave the Auckland faithful some rare joy as they scored four tries in an easy contest against the Force.

The Perth visitors trailed 13-9 at half-time, but failed to score any points in the second stanza as the Blues rallied to victory in their last home game of the season.

The hosts only crossed the chalk once during the opening 40 through flank Steven Luatua after an extensive period of frustration. Poor handling at key moments and ill-discipline cost them early on, and gave Force pivot Ben Seymour the platform to slot three penalties.

Luatua eventually crashed over near the half-hour mark, while wing Lachie Munro’s conversion and two penalties secured a four-point advantage at the break.

Fullback Charles Pitau’s try in the 54th minute opened the floodgates for the Blues in the second half. While it wasn’t a convincing performance thereafter, they did enough to grab the bonus point with scores via inside centre Ma’a Nonu and No 8 Luke Braid. It was Nonu’s 100th Super Rugby career try.

There were more opportunities to punish the Force, who were dismal on attack and defence in the final quarter, but they failed to finish them. The Blues will be happy with their win, which sees them move out of the bottom two in the overall standings.


52 Comments

  • 1.Ex: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 09:20 am

    when will the IRB and/or NZRU get rid of Bryce Lawrence. he is incompenent. Useless as a referee and useless as a TMO decvision maker. Like father like son? Crusaders got a try that wasn’t…..thank you Mr Joke lawrence

  • 2.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 09:35 am

    Go the BLUES!!!!!!!!!

    Pre season I was certain the Blues were the Kiwi team to beat, and that the Chiefs would struggle in the forwards, and the canes would struggle full stop.
    How wrong.
    Then again, the Sharks were supposed to walk the SA conference, and the Stormers were supposed to have played dead after Rassie’s departure.

    Pre season predictions…….gotta love them.

  • 3.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 09:57 am

    Thrilling stuff.

  • 4.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 10:00 am

    This is a game that promotes the game of soccer, hate to say it but this is terrible, horrible, ugly rugby. Fundamentally these two teams should never be shown on tele again.

  • 5.Pencil: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 10:02 am

    I really feel for Daniel Braid. A few times this season he has been pinged for offenses which weren’t penalties, he seems to have the poorest luck. I feel like the guy can’t catch a break.

  • 6.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 10:04 am

    No try

  • 7.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 10:08 am

    Blues players fell off the ugly truck

  • 8.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 10:09 am

    Please bring on Orene Aii for Hobbs

  • 9.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 10:11 am

    Dawn,

    They fell off and the truck reversed back over them

  • 10.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 10:16 am

    @CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-4: Don’t say that. The Blues really are my 2nd fave team on the planet, and this season has just been a dog show from start to finish for a multitude of reasons: Injuries, coaching etc.
    When the Blues get a decent 10, and a few traditional hard as fecking nails loosies, AND they go back to what it is that has made them great in the past – BINGO :)

  • 11.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 10:17 am

    @Dawn(Dawn)-7: He didn’t fall, he was PUSHED by his fellow passengers HG and Fern.

  • 12.gonzo: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 10:25 am

    Are the fans booing their own kicker?

  • 13.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 10:32 am

    I know its your second fav team, but I’ve had weigh of these jokers, its almost these guys have never played the game.

    Agree we need a good clean out and I have a list of players that blues should target.

  • 14.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 10:40 am

    @CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-13: I hope you email that list of names to whom ever it is taking over post-Pat :)
    It has just been the most frustrating thing in the world watching them play this year (bar the Bulls game, when they caused me to celebrate like it was 1999).

    Who would you get rid of in the current squad?

  • 15.cab: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 10:44 am

    That Fijian flyer import for the force Nalaga is the best strikeruumrr I seen in ages what a break, gdam those Fijians ate born syrikrunners noone can touch that agility speed and size in one package.

  • 16.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 10:46 am

    What a brilliant display of fast-paced running rugby from our ANZAC friends :roll:

  • 17.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 10:49 am

    This is how sad it has become for those of us who dig the Blues. Celebrating a try against the Force like it’s the try that takes the Blues into the playoffs.

  • 18.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 10:51 am

    Most of the players that I would like to see go are already on the way out at seasons end. Also like to see Ali Williams and Both half backs go. There are fringe players at other franchises that I’d Like to acquire. Fritz Lee is one player we should get from chiefs, Tyler Bleyendaal, Ben Afeaki, the youngest of the Whitelock brothers, with the lions future in doubt, we can take a timbre lock.

  • 19.Spiesisworthless1: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 10:51 am

    I feel bad for the Force. They have such great fans (compared to the typical Aussie fairweather fans) and they really are having a tough time in SR. I wonder if Pocock will stick around :/

  • 20.Spiesisworthless1: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 10:52 am

    @cab(cab)-15: He’s great. Geez the Force have wasted him this season.

  • 21.cab: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 10:53 am

    U not wrong kaksoek – helluva game – see the force have imported 3 or 4 Fijians and def looking alot better

  • 22.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 10:56 am

    @cab(cab)-21: That was sarcasm, pal.

  • 23.cab: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 10:57 am

    Spiesie – yeah u obviously seen him before – holy **** did u see that break – didn’t veer more than 3m off a straightline drill sidestepped and powered thru 3 runners would have been the solo try of the season. They got a factory line of them – if sa produce loosies, Fiji produce strikerunners

  • 24.cab: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 10:59 am

    Oh right pal, u must be blind – this is a helluva frenetic pace and hard game

  • 25.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 11:00 am

    @CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-18: From your lips to the rugby gods ears. Then again, I guess a heckuva lot in terms of squad newcomers and purchases will depend on who gets the coaching gig.
    In an ideal world, Wayne Smith will get his own franchise . :) – The Blues. Is there ANY chance of this happening – or just a lot of wishful thinking?

  • 26.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 11:01 am

    That must be why the crowd is so big.

  • 27.RL: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 11:03 am

    One more try to the Blues and these teams swap places on the log – even without the bonus point Blues climb a place?

  • 28.xtremebull: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 11:05 am

    Toeava off to japan 4 2years according writers on planetrugby

  • 29.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 11:05 am

    Personally I’d like to see John Kirwan and Wayne Pivac as coaches for the blues next year. Orene now there’s a side stepper if there ever was one.

  • 30.Spiesisworthless1: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 11:07 am

    @kaksioek(kaksioek)-26: Auckland is rugby league town now domestically. Even if the Blues were having a great season the main attraction for the general public would be the Warriors.

  • 31.gonzo: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 11:10 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-17: Yeah, I never thought I’d be here at the end of the season cheering for the Lions to beat the Rebels so the Blues have the chance to move into 12th place next week. To think I actually meant it in January when I said 2012 would finally be the Blues’ year

  • 32.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 11:11 am

    @Spiesisworthless1(Spiesisworthless1)-30: When last was there a decent crowd for any Super Rugby match played anywhere in New Zealand?

  • 33.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 11:13 am

    Kaksioek

    Last nights crowd was great, sell out, as are most of the highlanders and crusaders home games

  • 34.Spiesisworthless1: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 11:16 am

    @kaksioek(kaksioek)-32: Crowds have generally been alot better than last season but they’ll never look big compared to what we’re used to.

  • 35.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 11:16 am

    @CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-33: 25,000 apparently – not bad. But we all know that doesn’t happen very often.

  • 36.RL: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 11:17 am

    @CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-33: it helps having a small stadium – easy to sell out. :grin:

  • 37.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 11:23 am

    Agree with you guys, but add to that the blues are poor this season and no one wants to watch them. Look at the crowd numbers from the glorious and yet distant and fading memory of the 2003 season, it was electric :-)

  • 38.whatever: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 11:24 am

    Yawn……was so boring I had to flick over and watch the Raiders down the Storm in the NRL

  • 39.Spiesisworthless1: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 11:33 am

    @CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-37: Best backline ever in those days. What a team.

  • 40.gonzo: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 11:35 am

    @kaksioek(kaksioek)-32: Considering NZ has about a quarter of the rugby playing population as south africa, I’d expect the crowds to be in proportion. If 15,000 turn up during the worst Blues season ever, the Lions should pull 60,000

    Eden park needs to knock over one stand, it would make it look a little less depressing. Although I guess that won’t change the fact we suck :)

  • 41.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 11:37 am

    @CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-37:

    96/97 they were superb, the Garden of Eden was near capacity every week, Lions for the wooden spoon then.

  • 42.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 11:39 am

    @CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-37: Now THAT was a Blues team. Feck me, I still have some of those games recorded. CauCau, Joe, the car jumper Dougie, Carlos man oh man oh man.
    Xavier Rush was a fine captain as well it must be said. Hard as nails with a rugby brain to match the muscle.

  • 43.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 11:40 am

    @kaksioek(kaksioek)-35:

    why do you give a shite about our crowd sizes, concentrate on winning trophies like we do you’ll be better off

  • 44.RL: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 11:40 am

    @NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-41: I’d rather win the wooden sponn than nothing.

    Oh wait again, we’ve dominated this thing for ages now.

  • 45.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 11:40 am

    @RL(RL)-36: Apart from my Stormers, no other SA team has the right to question the Kiwi attendances I reckon…. :)

  • 46.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 12:00 pm

    96-98 and the greatest back three in Super rugby in 2003: caucau, Joe and Dougie. Now we have…….

  • 47.rewa hard: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 12:01 pm

    Michael Hobbs must be the worst 1st 5 ever to play for the Blues. The first half of this game was atrocious as befits their positions on the log. After watching the Chiefs game and then this the difference in intensity and skills was huge.
    Where can the Blues go from here? The cupboard looks bare for any decent forwards. I look forward to checking out the ITM Cup for newbies.

  • 48.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged by Mad Eye Productions.: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 12:08 pm

    @CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-46: Whoever is fit on game day?

  • 49.stormerforlife1: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 12:15 pm

    @RL(RL)-36: At least they’re not that stupid playing rugby at a massive stadium knowing full well that they only have ten supporters.I am not having a dig at the lions here now. :D

  • 50.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 12:16 pm

    @RL(RL)-44:

    nice one

  • 51.stormerforlife1: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 12:37 pm

    Not much of a crowd at KP last night,but I guess Sharksgirl will be around soon enough declaring that it was a sell-out. :D

  • 52.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    7 Jul 2012, 12:40 pm

    Haha, yes, whom so ever is available and is a member of pat lams family or circle of trust aka drinking buddies. Hobson should never be allowed in a blue Jersey again. other kiwi franchises have depth at 10 and don’t.

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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