It was wet, it was windy, it was cold, and overall it was a shitty night for the Waratahs. They made a promising start, but the Blues established dominance in the second half and ran out 26-13 winners.
An 18th minute try to TC (although there was a distinct lack of post-try monkey cloud) opened the scoring, and the Tahs looked good. They were stringing the phases together well, and their forwards were making good ground around the fringes. But the Blues hit back fairly quickly through a Lachie Munro try, and at half time were up 13-8.
It all came together in the second half for the Blues, with nearly 100 per cent possession for the first twenty minutes. This pressure eventually was converted into points, and a 63rd minute try to Ali Williams hammered the first nail into the Waratahs coffin. A late try to Lachie Turner added some spice to the last five minutes, but in the end it was a fairly comfortable victory for the Blues, who are gaining some momentum at the right end of the season.
On the whole I thought the Waratahs played well considering the circumstances. They tried hard, and no player really had a shocker. John Ulugia and Josh Holmes struggled with the pressure of finals football, but having played virtually no Super rugby all season that is no surprise. Kurtley Beale looked stifled at 10, though he still visibly troubled the Blues defence whenever he took on the line. Dave Dennis and Lachie Turner also had some classy touches, but in the end it wasn’t enough.
The Blues’ execution in wet conditions improved radically in the second half, and if they can keep that form going they will trouble their next opponent, probably the Reds. Jerome Kaino had a blinder, and is stamping his class on the competition after a slow start to the season. Ali Williams and Anthony Boric were also good. Overall it was not a display that will have the top sides shaking in their boots, but in the conditions it was never going to be.
In the end it was a season of lost opportunities for the Tahs, and now the long, painful autopsy begins. They can return with their heads high though, as I thought they gave a good account of themselves in trying circumstances.
Blues 26 (Lachie Munro, Ali Williams tries; Lachie Munro 3 pens, con, Luke McAlister con, pen) d HSBC Waratahs 13 (Tom Carter, Lachie Turner tries; Kurtley Beale pen) at Eden Park, Auckland. HT: Blues 13-8. Referee: Chris Pollock (NZL).
By the clock
18th – Tom Carter try; Kurtley Beale missed conversion. HSBC Waratahs 5-0
24th – Lachie Munro try; Luke McAlister conversion. Blues 7-5
31st – Kurtley Beale penalty goal. HSBC Waratahs 8-7
33rd – Lachie Munro penalty goal. Blues 10-8
36th – Lachie Munro penalty goal. Blues 13-8
51st – Lachie Munro missed penalty attempt
56th – Lachie Munro penalty goal. Blues 16-8
63rd – Ali Williams try; Lachie Munro conversion. Blues 23-8
74th – Lachie Turner try; Kurtley Beale missed conversion. Blues 23-13
78th – Luke McAlister penalty goal. Blues 26-13
