Blue blitz buries Brumbies
19 Mar 2010
Three quick tries after half-time propelled the Blues to a 39-34 win over the Brumbies in Auckland.
The Brumbies’ tactics were flawed from the outset, as they allowed the Blues to run at their defence. They also tried to attack from their own half far too often, and the boot of Matt Giteau wasn’t utilised to the point where their territorial dominance could have set the stage for a comfortable victory.
Brumbies coach Andy Friend will be having nightmares about that period after the break. The Brumbies held a 16-10 advantage at half-time, but saw that lead eclipsed almost immediately. The Blues added two more tries in quick succession, and another before the game entered the final quarter. The visitors fought back bravely, but had too much ground to make up.
The Blues continue to thrill as much as they disappoint. Their speed and power in open play is constantly undermined by poor decision making and untimely handling errors, while their inconsistency at the set-piece means they battle to place opposition teams under sustained pressure. If they manage to get their set-pieces right, they’re going to be a threat to even the most organised defensive teams.
There was plenty of emotion evident in this outing with Keven Mealamu winning his 100th cap. The Blues’ defence flew at the Brumbies and it was unsurprising to see several white jumpers stained red with blood after just 20 minutes.
By contrast, the Brumbies allowed the Blues to run at their defence which resulted in linebreaks and offloads that led to several promising surges. Initially, the Brumbies’ scrambling defence was excellent and their decision-making at the ruck superb. If they had stuck to a territory-based strategy from the outset, they may well have romped to a comfortable victory.
A clinical build up saw the visitors scoring through prop Salesi Maafu in the 11th minute, but the Blues struck back four minutes later. Centre Rene Ranger produced a penetrative effort, setting up a much-needed try for Joe Rokocoko. Mealamu opted to turn down a kickable penalty and the Blues eventually flung it wide to Ranger, who bulldozed Christian Lealiifano before offloading to the Rocket Man.
Matt Giteau and Stephen Brett exchanged penalties before the Wallabies flyhalf reclaimed the lead in the 27th minute. Brett had an opportunity to level the scores again, but sent his attempt horribly wide.
The Blues spurned subsequent opportunities through skew lineout feeds and a Brett-dummy that only resulted in a turnover five metres from the Brumbies line. Giteau received another penalty before half-time and banked the points.
The complexion of the game changed after the break as the Blues scored three tries in the space of 15 minutes. Ranger corkscrewed his way through three tackles to touch down, while Benson Stanley flew in at the corner soon after. Giteau kicked a penalty at the other end, but it hardly mattered when Isaia Toeava ghosted through the midfield in the 56th minute to take the hosts lead to 29-19.
The Brumbies’ relaxed defensive strategy was backfiring, and a beautifully-weighted crosskick by Brett found Rokocoko in space. At 36-22, the contest was seemingly over.
The Blues continued to battle with their structures and allowed replacement hooker Huia Edmonds to bash his way though in the 59th minute. Giteau missed the conversion, his first failure of the night, but the Aussies never lost hope of a comeback.
For the first time in the game, the Blues played for territory, Brett and Daniel Kirkpatrick punting for the corners. The Brumbies were forced to conjure a try-scoring opportunity from deep in their own half, and under pressure from the rushing defenders, battled to make inroads.
It took a run up the middle by Patrick Phibbs to keep dreams of an upset alive, but they’d left their fightback too late. The Blues began to control the possession and remain in Brumbies territory, and when the visitors defence looked impenetrable, Brett slotted a drop goal to give the Blues some breathing room.
By Jon Cardinelli
73 Comments
19 Mar 2010, 07:29 am
go blues
19 Mar 2010, 07:42 am
Bad weekend this for all the Blue teams……
Stormers to top the log come Monday…..
Go Stormerrrrrrrrrrrsssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
19 Mar 2010, 07:48 am
I picked the Brumbies on Superbru!
Come on convicts!
Sorry Poppa
19 Mar 2010, 07:57 am
@WP_: no dramas..
Big Kevvies 100th game SHOULD be the motivation, 5 ABs in the pack (well four ABs and one Pseudo AB *Afoa*), so no excuses…
went with the heart on this one…
19 Mar 2010, 08:06 am
@poppa69: Ya I’ll be happy for the Blues if they can win this one, I just coulnt bet agianst the Brumbies, loaded with Wallabies and all that…
Will be very tough to knock over…
19 Mar 2010, 08:11 am
#2 Verry funny!!
19 Mar 2010, 08:15 am
2 NZ wins in 2 weeks … the sheep shaggers are desperate for a win!!
19 Mar 2010, 08:15 am
Brumbies to take it. Blues have been a bit inconsistent this season.
19 Mar 2010, 08:16 am
2/1 Brumbies to win under 13 points
19 Mar 2010, 08:17 am
Blues had a rest, they might just be better than 2 weeks back!
19 Mar 2010, 08:40 am
Come on the Blues. Teach theses Aussies a lesson.
19 Mar 2010, 08:43 am
Brumbies dominating so far…
19 Mar 2010, 08:55 am
Cmon Blues!!!!
19 Mar 2010, 08:58 am
go blues
19 Mar 2010, 09:06 am
anyone got a link for this match ?
19 Mar 2010, 09:10 am
@Black Panther: Someone posted a radio link some weeks ago. Does anyone have that radio site from NZ?
19 Mar 2010, 09:10 am
I also need it!
19 Mar 2010, 09:15 am
close match – what’s happening?
19 Mar 2010, 09:15 am
@Black Panther:
http: //www(dot)justin.tv/projectvanillascented#r=VwfVgvo~
moderated for posting a link, yet you can let the insults fly on this blog… nice priorities there Keo..
19 Mar 2010, 09:32 am
Good try BLUES!
19 Mar 2010, 09:34 am
Blues can do it!!!
19 Mar 2010, 09:34 am
Another try BLUES!!!!
MY BOYS BLUES!
19 Mar 2010, 09:36 am
lol….I guess cardenelli and vrede are starting this weekend 0/1.
19 Mar 2010, 09:38 am
C’mon Blues make it work for my Superbru
19 Mar 2010, 09:38 am
Now thats what I am talking about! Come on Blues.
19 Mar 2010, 09:38 am
@WP Till I Die: who scored?
19 Mar 2010, 09:40 am
@WP_:
Benson Stanley, in the corner.
Tries for the Blues: Rockokoko, Ranger, Stanley
For the Brumbies: Maafu
19 Mar 2010, 09:40 am
BRILLIANT TRY!!!!!
AMAZING!
BLUES GET THE BONUS POINT!
19 Mar 2010, 09:41 am
Stephen Brett, with pinpoint precision, launches the crosskick straight into the hands of Big Joe Rockokoko, who goes over for his second try…
19 Mar 2010, 12:18 pm
I had the Blues by 4.
Not bad for a first try on superbru.
The Blues were awesome in that period right after half time.
19 Mar 2010, 12:32 pm
I guess some teams just can’t cut it and aren’t meant to be anywhere near the top 4.
19 Mar 2010, 12:48 pm
@Kobus Kitty:
well look whos back
its Keos own self-deifying Orakkkle
19 Mar 2010, 12:49 pm
Great game to watch. Especially the second half.
Bad luck Brumbies. Great fight back and “never say die” attitude.
Well done Blues.
19 Mar 2010, 12:51 pm
@Black Panther:
I never left.
19 Mar 2010, 12:56 pm
@cane:
Yeah, great game. Lots of passion n’claret the reward for fans in the 1stH and stunning skills to turn it around in the 3rd Q. Blues still dont look the biznoss to me and have no real threat at setpiece meaning results will be inconsistent, but no opposition team will want to face them come knockout time, Bulls incl. No better than NZs 3rd-best team tho and possibly less so.
Brumbies not out of it. Like the Blues their best hope is scrambling enough BPS to challenge for 4th. These are tough away fixtures, and neither the Bulls nor Stormers have that pedestal from which to talk yet this season.
Early days still. Loved that game tho, and so did my mates going by the calls Ive received as they made their way to the Corner Bar….
19 Mar 2010, 13:01 pm
@Kobus Kitty: Post 31.
“I guess some teams just can’t cut it and aren’t meant to be anywhere near the top 4.”
What’s this Kitty Litter!
These two Teams have won more Super Rugby titles the your entire Country.
19 Mar 2010, 13:05 pm
@Black Panther:
Hey Black Panther…?
Just want to hand you the ol’ olive branch… and apologise for past run ins…
no agendas…
and not saying we’ll always agree on stuff…
just because….
19 Mar 2010, 13:09 pm
@Black Panther:
At the start of the Comp, I listed my top 4 as, (in no particular order):
-Bully Boys.
-Crusaders.
-Brumbies.
-Sharks.
I still think I’ll get 75%.
P.S. I’d like to see Renee Ranger get a run for the AB’s. And Toeava is maturing year by year. Joe is getting his mojo back.
19 Mar 2010, 13:13 pm
@cane: doubt it, based on previous matches Brumbies aren’t much cop really
19 Mar 2010, 13:23 pm
@ufo:
on ya
your name, to me, doesnt ring any alarm bells however, unlike….
I cant promise to not p*ss you off in future tho. We cant all be as gentlemanly as Puma always seems to be. Man that guy is 1 tolerant dude, I think my wife would like me to be more like him !
I prefer bloggers like G10 and Skoppie tho. I dont always agree with em (G10) and I dont often understand what the fark theyre going on about (Skop) but atleast they make me think outside the square and its – mostly always – about footy. Thats my only criteria right here right now.
haere mai, haere mai, haere mai. Tena koutou kato, hoa.
19 Mar 2010, 13:24 pm
@cane:
Wow, you thought the Sharks were going to make the top 4?
19 Mar 2010, 13:27 pm
@Black Panther:
cool…
not important what’s past… just important to me to do this…
obviously have no idea what you said in that last sentence…
cheers
19 Mar 2010, 13:30 pm
@Big Hit:
Brumbies are 4 from 6 Biggles.
The lights are still on.
I see the Jocks got themselves a moral victory over the Sassenachs last week.
Outnumbered 64 to 1. Marty’s day of Judgement must be nigh.
19 Mar 2010, 13:33 pm
@Kobus Kitty:
“Wow, you thought ….”.
Those three words make me, at least one step up the ladder of evolution from the average Bonehead, now does it not?
19 Mar 2010, 13:33 pm
@ufo:
it was a Maori welcome/invitation-of-friendship of sorts. Dont worry, I wouldnt force a ‘hongi’ on you tho.
Rivalry is to be relished; it makes us feel alive, no ?
19 Mar 2010, 13:37 pm
Should any Bonehead be offended by the above……………….sorry.
Oops….I apologise….make that 2 steps.
19 Mar 2010, 13:37 pm
@Black Panther:
I am offended to have been omitted from your list of preferred bloggers.
19 Mar 2010, 13:40 pm
@Black Panther:
thought as much and welcome it…
good thing about the hongi as I won’t have to call in my sangoma as back up…
yeah… the rivalry is great… and long may it continue…!!
now that’s out the way… I’m sure we’ll both piss each other off in future…
but that’ll be great too!!
a word of advice… batten down the hatches…
The Stormers are coming…!!
gotta go… another time…
19 Mar 2010, 13:40 pm
@cane: Lol I do it all the time…p***es my wife off no end cos she’s afrikaans
19 Mar 2010, 13:41 pm
@Dawn:
No offense taken, Peaches.
19 Mar 2010, 13:45 pm
@ufo:
I like the Stormers. Always have. The only SA team I ‘support’ 9vs non-NZ opposition, obviously). My ’101 Great Tries’ (VHS – worn out to death at Otago Uni mid-80′s) was riddled with WP moments. Carel du Plessis et al………!
haere ra, bro.
19 Mar 2010, 13:47 pm
kumbaya my lord kumbaya!
19 Mar 2010, 13:50 pm
@Black Panther:
how could I have doubted you…!!
now THOSE were the days when WP ruled…!! great moments…
really gotta sign off now…
later!!
19 Mar 2010, 14:07 pm
@cane: @38
Yes, Ranger looks the biz. Puma put me on to him early last season as 1 to watch out for and he’s usually an astute judge of talent.
I like him so much more than Wulf. I would still prefer Ranger on Wulfs wing and Toeava moved back to centre (and left there !!!). Clearly Lam is not convinced by Son Of to keep him at FB, so Toeava draws the short straw again.
If Blues had Ali W there, a better TH than Afoa (a bencher, at best), and a more disciplined loose-trio (partic at 8), then they would threaten more. Until then, Brotown just will not learn.
Albi looks a good buy tho, better than Weepoo.
19 Mar 2010, 14:16 pm
@ufo:
Juan de Jongh is the most exciting new-WP player to emerge on the scene for a while. Loved watching him emerge on EOYT. Its moments when you remember those bloggers here who had called him a ‘quota’, pre-tour, followed by a silent interim period, ending in glowing praise this season, that you really do realise there are some abolsute major plonkers out there.
de Jongh was superb vs Canes, some of those lines he takes are so good, you’d think he was a Kiwi.
19 Mar 2010, 14:22 pm
yes, South Africa is showing the world how rugby should be played. Dominating for the last 2 years
19 Mar 2010, 14:30 pm
@Mapoe_Quota:
*cough*
19 Mar 2010, 14:32 pm
@Black Panther:
de Jongh can tackle well for his size. That’s about it. He rarely passes, and when he does its an awful hospital pass which leaves Habana/Fourie nothing to work with.
19 Mar 2010, 14:35 pm
@Kobus Kitty:
You just described Fourie, not de Jongh.
Fourie is awesome with ball in hand. Couldnt pass a urine sample tho.
19 Mar 2010, 14:36 pm
@Kobus Kitty:
I imagine you’ve just qualified yourself as an “absolute major plonker”…
19 Mar 2010, 14:41 pm
@Black Panther:
Juan de Jongh played for Hugenote High in Wellington, where the backline consisted of very small players – he claims that because he was small and he played in a backline of small players who played other backlines with much bigger players, he had to sharpen up his defensive game.
He says he learnt a lot about attack at the WP Institute, and credits his stepping to Dawie Snyman, who coached him there.
19 Mar 2010, 14:41 pm
@Kobus Kitty: @58
I wondered what brought the weasel out of the hole and then realised, to my horror, that I had inadvertently hit the ‘KKK-mating call’ button on the jukebox during my entry @55.
I apologise to everyone else here for the inconvenience.
So, KKK, hows the farming Empire going – figured out how to weave maize in to gold yet ?
19 Mar 2010, 14:43 pm
@WP Till I Die: @60
Did you just somehow Google my entry before I hit ‘submit’ ?!
that is uncanny, my friend, youre good. Real good.
19 Mar 2010, 14:47 pm
@WP Till I Die:
Incidentally, Dawie Snyman played fullback for the Springboks during the 1974 Lions Tour. He, like Juan de Jongh, was also a small player: 1.73m tall and 77kg.
19 Mar 2010, 14:50 pm
the only KKK in SA = ANC youth league and malema
19 Mar 2010, 15:44 pm
Juan is good, but like Dippenaar and Ebersohn, will come to the fore after 2011. Let them develop now, without all this hype!
19 Mar 2010, 15:52 pm
@Johan Fourie:
Agreed.
By the way, seems your “brave” picks (as you called them) of the Blues and the Sharks have so far paid off!
19 Mar 2010, 16:37 pm
@WP Till I Die: @WP Till I Die: Dawie Snyman was the coach at Maties when i was there in the ’80′s. Great coach. Good Maties outfit too:
Guy Kebble
Andrew Patterson
Balie Swart
Johan Burger
Faffa Knoetze
Tiaan Strauss
Kobus Burger
Mike Bayly
Hans Sciba
Ernst Scriba
Stef Nel
and a bunch of other guys that I can’t think of
19 Mar 2010, 17:21 pm
@WP Till I Die: So far so good! Had the Blues by 3, just 2 out. Have Sharks by 5, maybe they’ll win by 3. Still 3rd in the muppits group.
19 Mar 2010, 17:54 pm
@stormersboy:
not many from cape town. in those days maties poached bedonnerd
19 Mar 2010, 22:05 pm
watching a replay of the game, Toeava was huge in attack… his link play especially..
20 Mar 2010, 00:37 am
Well done Kevin on your milestone! Legend.
Glad to see the Brumbies get rolled.
As for our future centres Ebersholm is by far the best at the moment. Does not have the jinking run like Jaun but has the defensive organisational skills and definetly offloads more the Jaun and Jacque.
Now we need the Sharks and the Lions to deliver!
20 Mar 2010, 01:49 am
@Black Panther:
How witty. You can say that about anyone, the fact is that Fourie sets up tries all the time. Just last week he stood up three players before passing out wide for a try, and nearly set up Habana in the corner. Obviously I watch more games with Fourie playing in than you do, so my opinion means something, while yours does not.
@WP Till I Die:
Why? Because I don’t have man-love for an overhyped player? Grow up.
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