The Blues were looking like a championship team on Friday night in Auckland, with some early breakdown discipline issues making way for a convincing win.
The Blues have called upon young lock Sam Darry to step up and fill the absence of injured captain Patrick Tuipulotu.
Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu will miss the rest of the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs after suffering a knee injury against the Fijian Drua.
The Blues have emerged victorious after a quarter-final encounter with the Fijian Drua at Eden Park, setting up another semi-final birth for the Auckland club.
The Hurricanes' supremacy atop the Super Rugby Pacific table is under threat, with the Blues sitting just a single bonus point behind the Wellingtonians with the same winning record.
All Blacks wing Caleb Clarke will look to add impact off the bench on Saturday night when the Blues take on the Queensland Reds.
The household of Laghlan McWhannell was divided last week when the Blues played Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby Pacific at Eden Park.
All Blacks Rieko Ioane, Finlay Christie, Mark Tele’a and Dalton Papali’i will see the field for the first time this pre-season when the Blues take on the Chiefs in Takapuna.
All Blacks lock Patrick Tuipulotu will captain the Blues in their first pre-season clash of 2024.
The Blues have joined the Chiefs in bringing their full contingent of international stars to Japan for two preseason fixtures against the best League One sides.