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Perofeta snatches victory for Blues in Samoa

Stephen Perofeta (centre) scores for the Blues

Stephen Perofeta’s late try got the Blues back to winning ways on Friday as they beat Reds 34-29 in a thrilling Super Rugby contest in Samoa.

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Perofeta profited from a lung-busting break from Akira Ioane and Melani Nanai to touch down with six minutes remaining, the replacement diving over from short distance after Nanai had been held up by James Tuttle.

It was a fifth try for the Blues as they denied a spirited Reds comeback in the second half that saw them leading just after the hour, having been eight points adrift at the break.

Rene Ranger, Rieko Ioane and Kara Pryor all touched down in the opening half hour for the Blues as they flew out of the blocks to hold a commanding position at the break – Piers Francis also adding five points with the boot.

The Reds – who lost captain Samu Kerevi to a left-ankle injury in the first half – were boosted by Andrew Ready’s try late in the half and they used that momentum to surge back into the match after the restart through Quade Cooper and Adam Korczuk.

That gave the Reds a two-point lead but just after the hour the Blues were back infront as Gerard Cowley-Tuioti capped a wonderful team try to touch down.

Quickly the momentum shifted again as Tupou scored his second try of the match to leave the Reds in sight of victory, but there was one final twist as Perofeta grabbed the win for the Blues.

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And their winning margin would have been greater as Akira Ioane touched down, but the TMO ruled it out for offside.

https://twitter.com/BluesRugbyTeam/status/870570207516819456

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Nickers 26 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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