Blues send clear message

By WYNNE GRAY

BLUES 29 HURRICANES 17

No change to the history books and not a lot different from some of the Hurricanes' previous attempts to topple the Blues.

That was the story last night at Eden Park where the visitors had enough chances to take out the Super 12 leaders, who will meet either the Brumbies, Highlanders or Waratahs in the semifinals next week.

They did bring a pack which rattled the Blues, but a lack of poise with the ball snapped the visitors' challenge.

That attacking mix of venom and serenity lived with the Blues where playmaker Carlos Spencer delivered another virtuoso performance.

He and Hurricanes captain Tana Umaga were the standout individuals, but Spencer had more ball and controlled the tempo of the game.

The Blues were better out of the blocks, the Hurricanes looked skittish. They felt the early weight of the Blues possession, their defence hanging on as the home side probed the gaps.

The visitors soon discovered the skills with which Spencer has tormented most teams this season.

The first five-eighths feinted to kick out of his 22 after his pack had rolled the ball forward, but sensed a chance to have a long-range crack at the Hurricanes. He slipped a pass to Joe Rokocoko and the lithe former sevens star cut up a couple of defenders in a dancing 40-metre run near the touchline until he was tripped by Christian Cullen.

However, the move did not die. Spencer regathered, flicked a reverse pass infield and human dynamo Sam Tuitupou surged over.

The message was clear for the Hurricanes; watch Spencer closely. They did as he created another try soon after. He curled a banana kick back against the traffic for the trailing Doug Howlett to score.

The fullback bagged his second courtesy of one of Keven Mealamu's trademark half breaks with an offload - degree of difficulty 9.25, but a move he makes regularly.

The Blues had not been special while the Hurricanes resurrected too many of their old habits - pushing too hard, turning over ball, making handling errors and struggling in the lineouts. However, the Hurricanes scrum was one of their strengths and they conceded fewer penalties.

There had been a late change for the Hurricanes which caused some serious rearrangements. Left wing Brent Ward strained his hip in a final team run and had to withdraw, Pita Alatini came into midfield and shifted Umaga and Nonu out a place.

Nothing the new backline tried could crack the outstanding Blues defence until late in the first half. Nonu made a slight bust, laid the ball back and Umaga picked up to score.

Somehow the Hurricanes had stayed in touch by the interval, only 19-10 adrift. But it was that man Spencer who hurt them straight after the break, scorching round and past a couple of tight forwards and then eased in for the try at the corner 50 metres away.

Spencer kicked a long-range penalty before Nonu, backing up a hopeful pass from replacement forward Kristian Ormsby, bashed through a 20 metres corridor to score.

Blues 29 (D. Howlett 2, S. Tuitupou, C. Spencer tries; Spencer pen, 3 con) Hurricanes 17 (T. Umaga, M.Nonu tries; D. Holwell pen, 2 con). HT: 19-10.


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