Rugby: Blues keep eye on Woodcock's neck

Rene Ranger fends off Waratah Lachie Turner. Photo / Getty Images

International loosehead prop Tony Woodcock will have scans of his neck injury today as the Blues regroup to try and halt the unbeaten Bulls on Saturday at Eden Park.

Woodcock was a bit-part contributor in the side's 39-32 loss to the Waratahs after being injured early, trying to play through the pain and then being replaced before halftime.

His injury graph was a bit like the Blues' production. They were slow to start, conceding a 21-7 lead, bounced back with an all-action portfolio to a 32-29 advantage and then blew apart with a late litany of mistakes.

Captain Keven Mealamu hinted at his side's frustration with rookie referee Garratt Williamson as he spoke about decisions not falling the way of the Blues.

But he also accepted that his side "blew it" once they had regained the lead.

In the final 10 minutes, the Blues kicked two penalties to touch, but lost both attacking lineout throws, conceded a penalty and also gifted an 85 metre try when Lachie Turner intercepted a pass from replacement halfback Taniela Moa.

It was a sloppy end to a rousing fightback. The Blues gathered two bonus points, but this was a game they will review grimly and mourn a wasted chance to claim their first victory in Sydney since 2003.

The Waratahs had three tries inside the first quarter with the Blues guilty of waspish and disorganised defensive lines before they claimed several vintage touchdowns to Isaia Toeava and Rene Ranger.

That surge continued after the break when Ranger claimed his second to counter some early wobbles.

All the signs suggested that the Blues would pull away. Maybe that was their trouble.

Waratahs captain Phil Waugh wandered off injured, Wycliff Palu headed the same way and all the early venom appeared to be evaporating from the hosts.

They were starting to miss too many tackles but the error rate from the Blues was also rising.

They missed a trick when Tatafu Polota-Nau pulled a swifty from a returned short lineout throw to run 20m and smash over for a converted try.

The sides headed into the final quarter with the scores deadlocked.

Advantage went to the Blues from a Stephen Brett penalty before he and halfback Alby Mathewson were subbed and, coincidentally, the game slipped from the visitors' grasp.

Instead of closing the game out, the replacements offered hope to the hosts which they embraced.

It must have been a weird aftermatch. The Blues must have brooded about how they came to lose the game while the Waratahs should have been equally bemused by their bonus point triumph.

For the vanquished, the lessons will be all about discipline.

They were punished because they were sloppy in the opening quarter, they did not switch on quickly enough. When they did, their attacking edge was glorious.

But the Blues' lapses which bookmarked this match must be detailed for more attention this week if they are to inflict the first defeat this season on the Bulls.