The Blues were impressive in their win over the Highlanders in Dunedin. Photo / Photosport
Highlanders 20
Blues 60
Thirteen All Blacks in their starting team suggested the Blues possessed far too much firepower for the Highlanders to contain, and so it proved in their one-sided season-opening meeting in Dunedin.
As they started their bid to improve their bridesmaid Super Rugby Pacific status there were patches of Jekyll and Hyde about the Blues first-up effort.
Yet the Blues scoring eight tries to two in a record result - 60 points their highest against the Highlanders - is a scary prospect for their rivals.
In a first half counter-attacking blitz and clinical finishing, the Blues underlined why they are among the favourites for this year’s title.
Mark Telea carried his impressive form on the right wing, where he made his debut for the All Blacks on last year’s northern tour, to tear the Highlanders apart.
Telea’s fend, step, pace and elusive qualities were on full display in his compelling two-try effort. Whenever Telea had a hint of room to move, he made the Highlanders pay with inflation. Even when cramped for space, Telea made his own.
Beauden Barrett showed no signs of rust in his return to first five-eighths, despite coming in cold after missing the pre-season, to complete a full match and collect 25 points that included one try and a sound goal-kicking performance.
Blues captain Dalton Papali’i also grew in prominence to snaffle breakdown turnovers and claim a try on the edge.
While dominant, the Blues have plenty to improve. In a too-hot-to-handle period in the first half, they ran in four tries that combined instinctive individual brilliance, silky offloads and support play to savour.
Leading 31-6 at that stage, the Blues took their foot off the throat with two yellow cards allowing the Highlanders to close within 11 points by halftime. Discipline was a major issue and the Blues struggled at times with the breakdown pressure applied by Highlanders captain Billy Harmon in particular.
Restored to their full contingent though, the Blues turned the screws to score 29 unanswered points in the second half.
When the Blues control the ball to stitch together multiple phases, they are incredibly difficult to deny.
Defensively the Blues will be satisfied too, after holding the Highlanders scoreless in the second spell to celebrate Nepo Laulala’s 100th Super Rugby match.
Last year the Blues lost their opening match after a stunning comeback from the Hurricanes in Dunedin. Having rectified that result, they will now hope to emulate the 15-match unbeaten surge they then went on.
Akira Ioane’s knee injury will be a concern, but it’s not as if the Blues will sweat on a lack of depth.
The Highlanders, attempting to start a new era under Clarke Dermody and a revamped coaching team, weren’t helped by losing star wing Jona Nareki prior to kick-off and powerful No 8 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u to a rib complaint in the opening minutes.
Unlike the stacked Blues, the Highlanders do not boast replacements to cover such significant losses.
All Blacks loose forward Shannon Frizell was a standout presence for the locals but he often appeared something of a one-man band. Aaron Smith’s decisive absence from the base was telling, too.
One look at the stacked Blues backline told you everything about their potency. They didn’t need any invitation to showcase their skill – yet the Highlanders provided multiple opportunities on a platter.
The Blues were sublime on the counterattack to ruthlessly pounce on four Highlanders errors and punish those with four captivating tries.
In a sign of the devastation to come, Telea sparked and finished the Blues’ first try.
Telea combined again with Finlay Christie for Barrett’s 80m strike. A Papali’i turnover and Barrett cross-field kick then had Caleb Clarke charge past Peter Umaga-Jensen. When Rieko Ioane finished another brilliant breakout, the Blues seemed unstoppable.
The Highlanders weren’t happy when halfback Folau Fakatava was denied a response, with referee Paul Williams ruling a double movement.
The Highlanders were on the ropes but a procession of penalties and yellow cards against Blues lock Cameron Suafoa and midfielder Roger Tuivasa-Sheck for repeated team infringements opened the door to an unthinkable comeback.
Clinical the Highlanders were not but, eventually, the weight of pressure told with Mitchell Hunt and Josh Timu exploiting their one-man advantage.
That was as close as the Highlanders would get, though, as the gulf in talent was brutally exposed.
Highlanders 20 (Mitch Hunt, Josh Timu tries; Sam Gilbert con, 2 pens)
Blues 60 (Mark Telea 2, Rieko Ioane 2, Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Marcel Renata, Dalton Papalli’i tries; Beauden Barrett 7 cons, 2 pens)
HT: 20-31