Patchy Blues unlikely to prosper in looming Super playoffs

Published date29 May 2023
AuthorRUGBY Liam Napier
Publication titleBay of Plenty Times
With one home match against the Highlanders to navigate before entering the Super Rugby Pacific finals, there’s a sense the Blues are trending towards peaking when it matters most

Beauden Barrett appears on track to return from stitches in his ankle this week. Inspirational captain Dalton Papali’i will be back the following week from his three-match suspension for the likely home quarter-final. Telea has claimed the mantle as the competition’s form wing; Bryce Heem continues to prove the late-blooming midfield glue and the powerful Blues pack can mix it with anyone.

Yet for all those compelling threats, it’s impossible to shake nagging doubts about the Blues. That’s because they’re yet to convince this season.

Saturday night’s wildly fluctuating win is merely the latest example. Good one minute, frustrating the next is the theme of their campaign.

Had it not been for Telea’s brilliance in scoring four tries, the Blues could well be contemplating a different result after the Hurricanes missed 12 kickable points.

“He’s on fire. He was the difference, really,” Blues coach Leon MacDonald said of the All Blacks right wing after the 36-25 win lifted the Blues to third.

“Close to the line, in the middle of the field, or wherever he decides to pop up, that’s probably his point of difference. He’s all over the place. You can’t get away from him and he’s always looking for opportunities. Whether he’s off the back of a ruck or inside, outside 10 or on the edge, he’s hungry to get his hands on the ball and dangerous. He was fantastic.

“There were periods of play we won’t look back at fondly. Unforced errors and some of our decision-making need a bit of tidying up, it’s fair to say.

“To beat a Hurricanes side when it’s all up for grabs is a good sign for us. We’re...

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