Blues' horror run continues

The Blues’ dry run against New Zealand opposition continues.

The Chiefs overcame a sluggish start after trailing 5-14 after 20 minutes, fighting hard to secure a 27-21 Round Three win and put their campaign back on track in the wake of last week’s hammering at the hands of the Crusaders.

The Chiefs were dealt a double blow before kickoff when All Black lock Brodie Retallick and fullback Shaun Stevenson withdrew ahead of the game through eye and leg injuries respectively.

Already missing 15 players through injury, this pushed Mitchell Brown into the starting line-up in Retallick’s place while 20-year-old Tiaan Falcon replaced Stevenson to make his Super Rugby debut.

For the Blues, it is a drought that continues – 14 matches without a win against all New Zealand opposition, dating back to February 2016.

It is also 14 matches without a win against the Chiefs, dating back to March 2011 – a Super Rugby record for most consecutive losses against one team.

The Auckland franchise got off to a fast start in the first half thanks to a pair of blockbusting tries from captain Augustine Pulu and Number 8 Akira Ioane.

The Chiefs scored two tries of their own in the first half through Taleni Seu and Sean Wainui – the latter earning a start despite not being in the initial Chiefs squad to start the season – to head to the sheds down 14-10.

A two try blitz after the break turned the game on it’s head, with Sam Cane and Brad Weber scoring twice in the space of two minutes to push the scoreline out to 24-14 in their favour. A Damian McKenzie penalty not long after pushed it out to 27-14.

The Blues managed to get back in the game through a Bryn Gatland try – the young No 10’s second of the season.

Blues fans held their breath as time expired, with one last chance from a lineout on the Chiefs’ five metre line. However, replacement hooker Leni Apisai couldn’t keep the throw straight and the Chiefs held on for a tough victory.

CHIEFS 27 (Seu, Wainui, Weber, Cane tries, McKenzie 2 con, 1 pen) BLUES 21 (A. Ioane, Pulu, Gatland tries, Gatland 3 con) HT 10-14

Courtesy of @rugby365