Rugby: Hit or miss Blues in playoffs at last

Blues second five-eighths Luke McAlister is congratulated by Jared Payne and Lachie Munro after scoring against the Highlanders. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The Blues may not have regained all their mojo but they have graduated to the Super 15 playoffs.

Victory against the Highlanders last night took them to the finals for the only time in coach Pat Lam's three-year tenure and the first franchise advance to that stage since 2007.

Success guaranteed the Blues a top-four finish and a playoff match at Eden Park - probably next weekend, but maybe the one after, depending on other results.

It also staunched a four-match losing sequence that had been nibbling away at their self-confidence and belief. They had to deliver under pressure in slippery conditions and did with some sensible rugby.

Blues captain Keven Mealamu said the win over the Highlanders had been a real grind but his side had got into their work after 20 minutes.

"They were tough conditions out there - windy, rain and very slippery - and I thought we took good advantage of our work.

"We did the job tonight, and have given ourselves a good opportunity to go further in the competition."

Two months ago, the Blues travelled south and beat the Highlanders 15-10 on the back of Luke McAlister's five penalties.

Last night, they were at Eden Park, playing in front of a modest crowd in squally conditions against a tenacious Highlanders outfit playing their last match of the Super 15.


Not long after the sides' first clash, the Blues looked a certainty to make the playoffs of the extended series format.

They were not playing with tons of panache but were getting on the right side of the results ledger - something that had been a hit-or-miss prospect in the opening two years of Lam's reign. Then came the losing slide against the Reds, Stormers, Chiefs and Crusaders.

Quietly, then with a roar, the cast-iron finals berth was slipping away. Last night, they were facing an unwelcome franchise record of five successive losses.

The Blues began with intent but several sloppy set-piece decisions left them trying to defend their tryline against a tenacious pick-'n-go routine from the visitors.

You could almost see the relish from the Highlanders as they rolled their sleeves up in southern conditions.

With a sniff of the tryline, the Highlanders drove strongly and looked certain to cross.
They did, but it was from a Jimmy Cowan pass flipped out to wing Matt Saunders, who grasped an awkward catch and slid across the line.

It was a ropey start for the Blues' finals quest. They buzzed back into action but their only quick profit was Lachie Munro's penalty from a scrum infringement, while Tony Brown replied with a strong dropped goal.

Then, as the game moved into the second quarter, the Blues struck two vital blows, both from kicks that the Highlanders failed to defuse.

Defenders let both bounce, and from the mess and turnovers the Blues surged in for tries from five-eighths Stephen Brett and McAlister.

It gave the Blues a 17-11 lead at the break, an advantage that had looked out of their initial grasp.

The question was whether they could play soundly enough into the wind to claim the prize.

33

Tries: S Brett, L McAlister, J Payne
Cons: L Munro (3)
Pens: Munro (4)

16

Tries: M Saunders (2)
Pen: T Brown
Drop goal: Brown