Rugby: Blues make it two wins on the bounce

Blues coach Pat Lam. Photo / Kenny Rodger

These are heady times for the Blues, the best streak they've had in Pat Lam's coaching tenure.

Two wins on the bounce and undefeated in their last four games - this is foreign territory for those who have watched the side's recent campaigns.

A grinding 16-13 away victory over the Chiefs on Saturday has nudged their win-loss record with Lam above the line while their hosts have slipped further into a mid-table dogfight.

The rain made conditions in Hamilton difficult. Handling and sensible rugby became priorities with the Chiefs holding those advantages and the 10-6 lead at the break.

But someone from the Blues finally succeeded in getting more messages through about wet-weather methods. Possession was turned into better territory, the mistakes rose from the Chiefs, fortune came with Jared Payne's try and a Luke McAlister penalty.

The Blues now head into a section of three home games against the Cheetahs, Waratahs and Rebels. Success for the Blues has to be a non-negotiable target to position them strongly for the second half of the Super 15 series.

While the local derby was being decided, the Highlanders were recuperating in their bye week, the Hurricanes were reeling from their ineptitude and the Crusaders were waiting for their overnight game against the Sharks at Twickenham.

The new Rebels side did little to dispel their easybeat status at the start of their game with the Hurricanes. However, from a initial 0-17 deficit, the under-powered Rebels romped away to a 42-25 victory in Melbourne.

Eight All Blacks were in the Hurricanes' starting XV, another on the bench, and they were made to look like a suburban combination.

After their hot start, they neglected their patterns, they went on individual instead of collective forays and paid the price.

Captain Andrew Hore was yanked early after the break but that did not arrest the downward spiral. The pack is getting little momentum apart from that driven by Victor Vito, the backline is stilted, anxious and error-ridden.

How they will go against the Bulls this weekend in Napier looks a lottery.

Meanwhile, the Stormers maintained their march as the only unbeaten side, rinsing the Force 51-16 in Cape Town.

The hosts scored six tries to cast off their reputation as solely reliant on Peter Grant's goalkicking.

Mind you, his flawless 21-point haul was invaluable.

The Bulls proved too strong for the Lions, winning 30-23.