Blues bash Saders

Blues bash Saders

1 Mar 2013

Rene Ranger rocked in the Blues fabulous win against the Crusaders.

The Blues scored five unanswered tries in a 34-15 win and Ranger was influential in attack and especially in defence.

The hosts, who scored a bonus-point win against the Hurricanes in Wellington a week ago, had the bonus point for four tries within the hour.

The new coaching staff of John Kirwan, Mick Byrne and Graeme Henry have made an immediate impact and turned a decade of home team Blues into a night of bliss.

The Blues led 20-12 at halftime and Dan Carter reduced the deficit to five points early in the second half, but that was the last of the Crusaders threat as the Blues combined brutal defence with clinical finishing to dominate the match and the result.

Carter’s goalkicking and Matt Todd’s tireless efforts at the breakdown were the only positives for the visitors, who played like a team who hadn’t had a competitive match for some time. This was the Crusaders tournament opener and they were shocking.

Israel Dagg, playing on the wing, had a night to forget and so did most of his teammates as the Blues physicality in defence forced mistake after mistake. The Crusaders made 12 handling errors compared to the four of the Blues.

The home team promised to give it a full crack on attack, as they did against the Canes a week ago, but it has been their desire on defence that has defined the two bonus-point wins in the last fortnight.

Ali Williams was inspirational as captain, Chris Noakes was composed at flyhalf, Ranger was ruthless in everything he did and the back three were lethal with ball in hand.

The Crusaders were too lateral on attack, the running lines of the support runner was poor and physically they were never in the contest in the collisions.

Dagg controversially was denied a try by a TMO ruling that would have made the score 27-20 with 10 minutes to go but the Blues immediately scored a seven pointer from 80 metres as the scoreboard reflected the on-field superiority of the hosts.

Piri Weepu, good in most aspects, succeeded with only two from six strikes, which gives an indication of just how messy it got for the Crusaders. Had Weepu been more accurate the scoreline could have been closer to 50 than 30.

By Mark Keohane


377 Comments

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  • 201.gunther: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:03 am

    @the curse-191:

    You have a rich fantasy life indeed my trouser browsing maori buddy.

    :lol:

  • 202.Sharks_are_gonna_get_you: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:03 am

    Excellent call by the TMO, i sat here saying no try as he never released the ball when tackled and his knee had been on the ground
    Commentators can blabber away all they wany, NO TRY

  • 203.the curse: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:03 am

    impressed with the Blues hooker

    and that seals it..

  • 204.skopdiekan: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:03 am

    Ranger saves the day again. Rene Ranger beat
    Crusaders all on his own worth about 20 points this game.

  • 205.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:03 am

    Try blues

  • 206.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:03 am

    Yesssss……….Blues

  • 207.RL: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:04 am

    TRY :mrgreen:

  • 208.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:04 am

    Even the Rongotai commentator is amazed

    Bluesw!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • 209.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:04 am

    Yesssssssssssssssss

  • 210.the curse: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:04 am

    @gunther-201: hehe 2 wins from 2 will do that for ya “buddy”

  • 211.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:04 am

    5 tries to nil
    No one can complain about this result

  • 212.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:04 am

    It’s a hiding.

  • 213.gunther: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:05 am

    That’s a whupping.

  • 214.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:05 am

    @the curse-210:

    Gunthers boys are up next.

  • 215.the curse: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:05 am

    shame UFO doesnt post anymore, the “I told you so’s” would have been worth it :D

  • 216.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:06 am

    The Blues have strangled the try scorer?

    31,0000 official crowd.

  • 217.skopdiekan: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:06 am

    19 point win over NZ conference champions 5 tries to zip. Who picked that ?

  • 218.Jeez: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:06 am

    How did the Blues turn a disastrous 2012 around? It must be said that they received the support they needed from their Union. Its a shame that SARU never really helped the Cheetahs or the Lions while they struggled…

  • 219.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:07 am

    Carrying on with my Superbru where I left off last week.
    What a stupid game Superbru is :-D

  • 220.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:07 am

    @Jeez-218:

    GH

  • 221.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:07 am

    @Sharks_are_gonna_get_you-202:

    I do not think he was held but it does not matter now.

  • 222.the curse: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:08 am

    @NZINCHINA-214: grudge match… we should be thankful, Bakkies wont be casting his myopic eye over it..

    hes missing some great rugby though

  • 223.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:08 am

    PROUD AUCKLANDER :-)

  • 224.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:08 am

    Who is the Japanese guy in the Blues’ coaching box?

  • 225.Taahirah: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:09 am

    @NZINCHINA-214: We normally do well in our first game on tour.

    Dont write us off completely.

  • 226.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:09 am

    @the curse-222:

    The Blues will run all over the Bulls next week, 50 wouldn’t surprise me.

  • 227.the curse: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:09 am

    @nortierd-219: lmfao before next week, can you tell me who you tip so I can go the opposite..

    cheers bru

  • 228.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:10 am

    Go Zinny!

  • 229.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:10 am

    @Taahirah-225:

    Okay 40

  • 230.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:10 am

    @Jeez-218:
    How did Nzrfu help the Blues?

  • 231.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:10 am

    @the curse-227:
    :-)
    Lol
    Will do

  • 232.the curse: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:11 am

    @NZINCHINA-226: not so sure, intense competition and it takes its toll.. think our midfield will be the difference though

  • 233.RL: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:11 am

    @the curse-222: @CSI:Rugby-223: well done boys a stunning victory that was.

  • 234.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:11 am

    @NZINCHINA-229:
    YEAH CHINA…..Skin those Bulls next week…..

  • 235.Rhys7: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:11 am

    Wow wow wow had Blues by 15+ ahh what a gamble

  • 236.Taahirah: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:11 am

    @NZINCHINA-229: Based on today’s performance it sounds about right.

  • 237.polaris: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:12 am

    Very well done, Blues, looks like they may clinch top spot in the ladder. Very impressive.

    @skopdiekan-217: Chiefs were champions.

  • 238.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:12 am

    Well done Blues supporters.
    A very deserved victory.

  • 239.the curse: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:12 am

    @RL-233: cheers, still early days and a week is a long time..

  • 240.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:12 am

    @NZINCHINA-229:

    45,000 next time!

  • 241.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:13 am

    @the curse-232:

    Can’t see the Bulls living with the pace.

  • 242.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:13 am

    Blues top of the log?

  • 243.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:14 am

    @Jeez-218: SARU helps nobody…

  • 244.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:14 am

    5 – 0 even Arsenal would take that!

  • 245.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:14 am

    @the curse-232:
    Pops……the gut feeling about the Blues coming to fruition…..playing a positive brand of Rugby

  • 246.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:14 am

    @Rhys7-235:
    Nice pick

  • 247.NZINCHINA: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:14 am

    I’m out – cheers all.

  • 248.the curse: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:15 am

    @NZINCHINA-241: will be a tough game..

  • 249.nortierd: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:15 am

    @NZINCHINA-247:
    Cheers
    Enjoy the celebration
    :-)

  • 250.Delki: Reply to this comment
    1 Mar 2013, 10:15 am

    Finally my team have got their mojo back. It’s been a long time between drinks…………

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