Blues answer critics but big questions remain

Blues 30 Bulls 17

The Blues staved off the executioner's axe by beating the Bulls 30-17 in a Super 14 rugby match in Auckland tonight.

The chopping block will remain in the franchise's gear room, however, so it can be put to use if and when the need arises.

Heavily criticised by all and sundry after being heavily beaten by the Waratahs a week ago in Sydney, the Blues kept afloat their slim playoff hopes by securing their third win from seven matches.

It was hardly inspiring, though, and the frown lines remained on the face of coach David Nucifora after his team's dysfunctional lineout allowed the Bulls to remain in contention when 10-20 down at halftime.

It took until the 39th minute before captain and hooker Keven Mealamu connected properly with his jumpers, leading to a loud, collective sigh of relief being heard around Eden Park.

Their incompetence in the lineout was best illustrated when the Bulls were gifted a try in the 23rd minute after a throw from Mealamu fell into the hands of an unmarked Bakkies Botha.

Botha did not need a road sign to direct him to the goal line just 5m away, with halfback John Senio offering token resistance before a wide-angled conversion from first five-eighth Derick Hougaard drew the Bulls up to 10-13.

An early try from Senio, when he ducked through some flimsy defence around the ruck, and a conversion and two penalties from new first-five Isa Nacewa had seen the Blues ease out to a 13-3 advantage despite their flakiness in the set piece.

The Blues' mood brightened heading into the break when the Bulls were again found wanting around the fringes as No 8 Nick Williams strolled through a gaping hole to score under the crossbar in the 30th minute.

The home side applied all the pressure early in the second spell to force a series of 5m scrums, which went unrewarded when a Nacewa penalty attempt hooked to the left.

He made no mistake shortly after from 38m to ease the Blues out to 23-10 heading into the final quarter before the outcome was settled 15 minutes from fulltime when right wing Viliame Waqaseduadua provided the individual highlight of the game with a cutting 40m run to the line.

The Bulls refused to go away and used their muscle up front to engineer a try for hooker Gary Botha while midfield back Dries Scholtz all but scored 90 seconds from the end before losing the ball on the line.

The Bulls arrived in Auckland in fifth place in the standings but they offered little after from brute force, being unable to string together phases until late in the piece and rarely threatening to cause the Blues any concern.

Nacewa, who has played in every backline position bar halfback at NPC level for Auckland, adapted well in his first Super appearance in the No 10 jersey.

He posed a constant threat with ball in hand, largely kicked well tactically while his goalkicking landed him a six-from-seven return and 15 points.

The Blues backs, with wing Joe Rokocoko and second five-eighth Rua Tipoki prominent due to their evasive running, showed promising signs after a season of indecision.

That may have had a lot to do with the side's willingness to push the pass, to challenge the Bulls defence and back themselves, a confidence missing in earlier matches.

There was a looseness, a freedom of thought and action, denied the Blues this year, but against stronger opponents their many errors would have cost them more on the scoreboard.

Mealamu absolved his players of all the blame for their lineout woes of the first half.

"The Bulls have two of the best locks in the world (Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield) and they put a lot of pressure on us."

He admitted his players and team management had been under pressure all week, and that would remain the case as they looked to recover from a poor start to the series.

"We need to find our consistency. We have the talent here but we have to put it on the paddock every week."

Bulls captain Matfield said his side paid dearly for failing to take their opportunities, namely two missed first-half penalties that Hougaard would normally nail, and the near-try to Scholtz.

"We had our chances and didn't take them. You can't do that in this competition."

Scores:

Blues 30 (John Senio, Nick Williams, Viliame Waqaseduadua tries; Isa Nacewa 3 pen, 3 con)
Bulls 17 (Bakkies Botha, Gary Botha tries; Derick Hougaard pen, 2 con).
HT: 20-10.

-NZPA