Blues vs Waratahs: Curtains fall, a prickly prospect, Rieko Ioane strikes

Six teams will make the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific playoffs, and five of those teams had already been decided before the final day of round-robin competition kicked off in Auckland.

The Blues and Waratahs were two of the three contenders for that final playoff berth, with a masterstroke from the rugby gods seeing the two collide with it all to play for at Eden Park.

The Sydneysiders were looking for just their second win at the Auckland stronghold in Super Rugby history, while the hosts still had hopes of repeating after their drought-breaking title run a season ago.

The Blues showed some game-breaking form early, claiming a commanding lead by halftime that was only furthered in the second period.

In what was the final home game for the likes of Mark Tele’a, Harry Plummer, Ricky Riccitelli and Adrian Choat, the Blues put themselves in prime position to make next weekend’s qualifying finals.

Here are some takeaways from the contest.

A prickly prospect, potentially

The Blues dominated the 2024 final, which may well be the same matchup awaiting them in next week’s qualifying final.

The Chiefs are safe regardless of the outcome of that game under the new competition format, but a loss could see them lose their top seed ahead of the semi-finals.

While the matchup isn’t confirmed at the time of writing, it’s a tasty prospect as both outfits can claim a mental edge going into the contest.

The Blues still have the bones of their competition-leading defence from last season and didn’t concede a single try on Saturday evening, while allowing just three linebreaks.

This is a team that can make a game slow and ugly, things that don’t suit the free-flowing Chiefs.

Curtains fall on unerwhelming Waratahs 

Hopes were high for the Waratahs this season, with marquee signings prompting pundits to go as far as considering the team as title contenders.

For stretches early in the season, that take didn’t seem so far-fetched, but the final month of competition has seen a dramatic fall from grace.

Since beating the Chiefs in round nine, the Tahs have claimed just one win – last weekend’s golden point victory over the Western Force.

Coach Dan McKellar has been vocal in his disappointment and promised change beyond just the playing squad, and Saturday’s loss highlighted why that’s needed.

Like in the first half against the Crusaders two weeks ago, the Waratahs didn’t look energised in this game, submitting to the defeat without much of a response.

22m Entries

Avg. Points Scored

4.6

10

Entries

Avg. Points Scored

0.4

7

Entries

Rieko Ioane strikes

A Rieko Ioane hat-trick doesn’t happen too often these days, and the All Blacks flyer had a few try celebrations locked and loaded for the occasion.

After being dragged down by Andrew Kellaway just shy of the line earlier in the contest, Ioane was on a mission to prove his pace is still supreme. The All Black scored two tries by winning the race to chip kicks, and scored another by going straight through the chest of Wallabies prop Angus Bell close to the line.

The 28-year-old claimed two linebreaks from his eight carries, after making just six all season to date. The three tries more than doubled his season tally in that area, too.

One of the biggest questions that hangs over the 2025 All Blacks season is the future of Rieko Ioane’s place in the midfield. There is no shortage of doubts over his playmaking in the midfield, and with the form of Billy Proctor, Ioane will no doubt be feeling the selection pressure. A hat-trick with your team’s season on the line won’t hurt one bit.

Ioane is now equal with Doug Howlett for most tries in Blues history with 55.