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Blues secure Trans-Tasman final place despite not scoring in second half versus Force

(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

The Blues have secured their place in the inaugural Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final with a 31-21 victory over the Western Force in Auckland, but the win wasn’t as pretty as it could have been ahead of next week’s title decider against the Highlanders back at Eden Park.

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The Blues were unable to score a second-half try after taking a 28-0 lead into the break. Despite enduring a winless campaign, the Force were Australia’s most consistent outfit and displayed their resilience once again on Saturday night.

Tries from Feleti Kait’ui and Tevita Kuridrani slashed the Blues’ half-time advantage before Force replacement Rob Kearney’s 77th-minute cross created some anxious final moments for the home side.

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“It was a hard-fought game and when you have got a home final you have got to look forward to that,” said Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu. “We were happy with the first half. It’s fair to say we didn’t turn up for the second half.

“We knew the Western Force were a team that fights to the end and it’s quite disappointing for us to finish like that, but we can’t dwell on it too much. We have got to look forward to next week and be grateful that we have another week together.”

Tuipulotu said another half-hearted effort wouldn’t be good enough to win the title. “Forty minutes is never good enough,” he said. “We are always struggling for a perfect day, 80-plus (minutes) and against the Highlanders. We know they are a dangerous team. They go 80-plus as well. Look, it was a hard-fought game and we get a home final – we have got to be happy with that.”

Force captain Ian Prior was proud but disappointed. “I’m really proud of the fightback,” Prior said. “They’ve been pretty special, this group this year. We have earned a bit of respect across the ditch. We went pretty close against the Chiefs, against the Crusaders and the Highlanders, but you can’t give away 28 points in the first half and expect to get the win. Really proud of the fightback but we have got a lot of areas to work on.”

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RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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