Super 14: Blues back in the playoffs race

Blues winger Rudi Wulf is tackled by Lions flanker Ernst Joubert last night. Photo / Richard Robinson

Blues 36
Lions 12

A six-try dismantling of the Lions at Eden Park last night put the Blues firmly back in the Super 14 playoff picture.

In danger of slipping off the semifinal pace after two straight defeats followed by a week of inactivity, the Blues instead banked five points to move, temporarily at least, level with the fourth-placed Bulls.

Although they had far too much ability and ambition for the South African strugglers, it was far from a perfect display from the Blues, who were guilty of a host of handling errors in the greasy conditions.

A better side may have left the Blues ruing their inaccuracy, but after giving the Chiefs a scare in Hamilton last week, the Lions turned up at Eden Park with their claws firmly retracted.

That they took 69 minutes to construct a try-scoring opportunity against the competition's most brittle defence spoke volumes about the toothless tourists.

The Blues will say they have improved markedly in that area, but the test of that will come against better opponents in coming weeks.

Injury concerns will have also taken the gloss off their efforts, with both stand-in halfback Chris Smylie and first five-eighths Tasesa Lavea succumbing to what appeared to be hamstring injuries and John Afoa limping off in the closing minutes.

Smylie's injury, in particular, will concern a Blues camp already awaiting the outcome of a hearing into the off-field conduct of Taniela Moa.

They spent most of the first half camped in Lions' territory but a rash of handling errors and an overly-lateral approach meant they failed to reap the full reward their dominance probably deserved.

Smylie made a strong start to the match, scoring from close range in the 14th minute after throwing a neat dummy and breaking superbly from a Afoa turnover to set up a second Blues try that was neatly finished by Anthony Tuitavake.

The halfback rather blotted his copybook, though, making a hash of an attempted quick tap after the Blues had swept down field from the kick-off to within a metre of the Lions' line. His night then ended abruptly when a hamstring twinge forced him from the field. That the Blues were still just 14 points to the good at that stage was down to some tenacious Lions' defence.

They offered little in attack, their first serious foray into Blues' territory not coming until he 18th-minute and ending tamely with an errant Andre Pretorious drop goal attempt.

Losing key centre and captain Jaque Fourie to an injury mid-way through the first half further depleted the Lions' already minimal attacking options.

A third Blues try shortly after restart, to wing Rudi Wulf from a Lavea grubber, put the visitors in a hole from which they never looked capable of getting out of. The sight of Joe Rokocoko slicing through the Lions' defence would have been a welcome one for Blues' fans who had wondered when their star winger would begin to make an impact.

The answer came seven minutes later when the All Blacks wing dummied his way past hooker Willie Weepener

and scooted down the touchline to slide over for the bonus point try.

The Lions managed consolation tries to wing Henno Mentz and Jano Vermarak but late scores from Wulf and Peter Saili iced the victory for the Blues.