Blues peter out

The adage says it's old dogs that can't be taught new tricks. But maybe that should be the Blues, for it seems they can endure limitless harsh lessons without taking a single thing on board.

They have a masochistic edge, in that they love self-inflicted pain and have an insatiable desire for humiliation. The more public, the more unlikely, the better. That all might seem a bit tough on the Chiefs, who last night pulled off the first major upset of the season. But it's hard to see how the Blues could have made this game any easier for them.

Which is difficult to fathom as in a manner befitting even the most inhospitable matron, Blues coach Peter Sloane spent last week warning his chaps they had to cut out all the nonsense.

Even in the pat-a-cake world of Super 12 you must have structure and obey the old rules of grafting up front before letting the Maureens swing their handbags.

No doubt Sloane also delivered a reminder, in language that would make a coal-miner blush, that the Chiefs came to Eden Park last year held together with sticky tape and rated as highly as Darryl Tuffey and still managed to leave with a deserved win.

Somehow the penny didn't drop and after a brief flirtation with the game plan last night, the Blues players decided they knew best and started to try the improbable.

The consequences were as predictable as you would imagine. The Chiefs got themselves into the game by pouncing on crazy passes when they inevitably bounced loose.

They didn't need to work for territory as the Blues gifted them field position by forcing the game in their own half. The visitors' generosity even extended to gifting the Chiefs a try when Mils Muliaina's quick lineout throw was intercepted by the frighteningly fast Sosene Anesi.

That score, midway through the first half, put the Chiefs up 15-0 and helped them realise that the Blues had come into this game equally short of form and confidence.

It was about this time as well that Golden Oldies rules were enforced after both John Afoa and Taufa'ao Filise retired injured. It brought an end to what was brewing as a delicious scrummaging battle and one which the Blues looked like they were starting to shade.

Whether it really made any difference is debatable.

The Blues still managed to dominate possession and territory. But when you knock the ball on, kick aimlessly, pick and drive too much and take the ball standing still, there's not much chance of ever breaking the defence.

Especially not one as organised and committed as the Chiefs.

They were under siege in the second half and stood resolute, defended in numbers and, unlike nearly every other team in this competition, defended legally, observing the offside line throughout.

In that regard Byron Kelleher and Sione Lauaki were supreme, as was Jono Gibbes who never once stopped barking orders.

This time last week the road ahead looked bleak for the Chiefs. Now it's the Blues who need to do the soul searching if they are to find their way to the playoffs.

Chiefs 18

Blues 9