Stunning comeback against Chiefs underlines Blues' danger

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a day ago

Analysis: The Blues' win against the odds in Hamilton revealed there is still plenty of fight in the defending champions, writes Patrick McKendry.
Rieko loane's warning after the Blues beat the Waratahs at Eden Park eight days ago to qualify for the sixth and final Super Rugby Pacific playoff place appears a little more ominous after his side showed enormous resolve to knock off the top-seeded Chiefs last night.
'Don't let us win one,' was the midfielder's response after the defending champions, their hopes of retaining their title hanging by a thread, thrashed the Sydneysiders.
It seemed a slightly hollow threat due to his side's inconsistency to that point, but the Blues' comeback from 19-6 down to win 20-19 at Waikato Stadium last night, a victory which was not secured until the 83rd minute and which featured an elite level of ball control in the desperate final seven or eight minutes, has put a different complexion on their season and the competition.
It means the Chiefs have dropped a seeding place to second behind the Crusaders and are no longer assured of a home final if they beat the Brumbies in their semifinal in Hamilton next Saturday. That honour will go to the Crusaders should they progress.
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The Blues, meanwhile, will travel to Christchurch and their semifinal against the Crusaders on Friday night with the confidence of knowing they did what no other team has managed this year in beating the Chiefs on home soil and they did it in the final quarter with discipline and poise – two qualities they have not been known for this season.
Replacement lock Josh Beehre's late try from close range put them on the brink after an earlier one by Hoskins Sotutu was ruled out by the match officials for an alleged crawl to the line.
Daniel Rona scores for the Chiefs against the Blues. (Source: Photosport)
It appeared a slightly harsh decision, so credit must go to the Blues' leaders, including skipper Patrick Tuipulotu and backline general Beauden Barrett for the way the team maintained their focus.
The Blues, helped by the Chiefs' ill-discipline and particularly that of loose forward Samipeni Finau who gave away two late needless penalties, kept hammering away and, against the odds, they did it.
It was fitting that Barrett had the final say with the crucial conversion from near the posts because he was hugely influential.
Barrett has become known for us extraordinary luck with the bouncing ball but it eluded him late in the first half when he attempted to gather it in a dive short of the line for what would have been a spectacular try.
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Nevertheless, the sight of him controlling such an important game with ingenuity and no small amount of bravery will be a boost not only for Blues head coach Vern Cotter but also his All Blacks' counterpart Scott Robertson.
As Barrett's influence grew under the glare of the spotlight, so his opposite Damian McKenzie's waned.
Indeed, McKenzie's failure to land a penalty from a relatively difficult angle with five minutes remaining was significant. It was his only miss of the night but from there the Blues, still in the game, went on the attack and never relented.
Robertson will have firm views about who he wants in the No.10 jersey for the first Test against France on July 5. After becoming the incumbent All Blacks first-five last year, Barrett's control with the Blues' season on the line will have done his chances of retaining that position no harm.
Brumbies players celebrate after beating the Hurricanes in Canberra to qualify for a Super Rugby semifinal. (Source: Photosport)
Finally, the Blues will travel to Christchurch in the knowledge they should have beaten the Crusaders in mid-April, but for a James O'Connor penalty in the 82nd minute.
The Crusaders were far too good for a Reds team who lacked confidence and composure from the kick-off in their qualifier on Friday.
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That suggests the Blues will have to dig as deep as they ever have to overturn the Crusaders' 30-0 home playoff record but they are sure to ask some searching questions.
From a Kiwi perspective, the most disappointing result of the weekend was the Hurricanes' 35-28 playoff defeat to the Brumbies in Canberra, a place where they had won in late April.
Had the Chiefs won last night, the game at GIO Stadium would have been meaningful only for semifinal seeding positions but as it was the Hurricanes were knocked out of the competition after failing to get to grips with the Brumbies' driving game.
Known for their mauling style, four of the five tries scored by the Brumbies were from close range.
None of it should have come as a surprise to the free-wheeling Hurricanes, who threatened to the be wild card of the playoffs, but they were almost powerless in the face of it.
If nothing else, it again underlined the importance of playing at home at this time of year.