First Take: Blues back in winners' circle

Blues head coach Sir John Kirwan (left) and Blues wing Frank Halai embrace after the win. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Back on Eden Park, back in the winners' circle.

If only it was that easy for the Blues. But they did it, they won which is something they have been unable to do since the Super Rugby series kicked off in February.

It did not matter how, it did not matter that they squandered a 13-0 lead at the break. For once they could sleep contently without untangling all the reasons behind another mishap.

They had won. They had repelled an ugly losing sequence and captain Jerome Kaino could stop grinding through losing speeches as he waited for the losing pain to cease.

The Blues offered another true grit performance crowned by another gladiator performance from Kaino.

He drove his men forward, he pushed them to hit another ruck or make a tackle as he did with a magnificent late save when Tim Dargaville threatened to score from a Blues mistake.

Four years ago on the same ground, Kaino grabbed Digby Ioane and hauled him back from the All Backs line when the Wallabies threatened in the World Cup.

This time he turned and gunned that huge motor of his, reached out a lever arm and hauled Brumbies outside back Dargaville to the Eden Park turf. A rare Brumbies threat was extinguished and the Blues stayed in the fight.

They have been in most of their battles this season but drifted in the final stages. This time, like Kaino, they held on.