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Blues brothers down struggling Cheetahs

Brothers Rieko and Akira Ioane shared three tries as the Blues ran riot over a beleaguered Cheetahs side at Eden Park on Friday, the hosts winning 50-32.

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An early try from Francois Venter gave Cheetahs hope but they could not stop the bombardment from their hosts as they slipped to an eighth successive Super Rugby defeat.

Rieko Ioane levelled things up as Blues ran in 24 points before the break, Scott Scrafton touching down before Akira Ioane added a third try.

Their advantage at the break was six points but after the restart Blues quickly set about extending their lead, the Cheetahs’ defence unable to keep them at bay – the visitors missing 24 tackles as they wilted under the pressure.

Twenty one unanswered points – including a second try for Rieko Ioane – put the game out of sight as the Bulls secured a bonus point in their third win in a row.

Friday’s second game saw Lions move level with the Crusaders at the top of the table with a hard-fought 13-6 victory over the Brumbies.

The first half was a tactical battle featuring very little scoring, only a penalty from Brumbies fly-half Wharenui Hawera separating the teams at the break.

Buoyed by seven wins on the spin Lions picked up the tempo after the restart and that was enough to claim another victory.

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Kwagga’s Smith sensational 80-metre break brought the only try of the game after 55 minutes, with Elton Jantjies and Andries Coetzee doing the rest of the scoring with the boot to see them join Crusaders on 46 points – albeit having played a game more.

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Nickers 32 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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