SEMI FINALS AT EDEN PARK BECKONS
The Blues move on with our 14th straight win into the semi finals of the DHL Super Rugby Pacific competition after dispatching the Highlanders 35-6 with five tries to none at Eden Park.
It brings the Blues to a semi final as top qualifier, to play at home in front of you all at Eden Park against the Brumbies this Saturday night.
The team carried for 619 metres to 425m from the Landers, and we only missed half the number of tackles as our opponents. We won all our lineouts and 97% of rucks with the only concerning stat being the 13-6 penalties conceded.
Leon said: “We got things going better later in the half and it was important that we came out after halftime and applied pressure. We did that really well – and once we got rid of some silly discipline issues, then our defence looked solid all night, so I was stoked with that part of the game,
You could tell the Landers mindset was to be really physical in that breakdown area and you are always going to roll the dice with the laws and the refs getting that right. If you come in really aggressively to the breakdown as they were early on then you run the risk which is what happened with the red card against them.
Looking ahead we will need to lift again. The Brumbies were torrid as we found a couple of weeks ago. Some of the things we got away with tonight, we won’t get away with against the Brumbies. We need to review really honestly, and get it right. It is a big week for us and we are excited.”
The side was without regular skipper Dalton Papalii who had an operation to remove his appendix on Friday.
“It says a lot about how passionate Dalton is that he came in to speak to the boys before the game. We want him back as soon as possible.”
Beauden Barrett stepped into the captaincy role. “When I found out about Dalts it was an initial shock. We rallied well together and got on with it. It was an exciting challenge for me personally to captain this side but I am well supported with many great leaders in the team and great coaches as well.
Tonight came down to us doing the basics right, to give us the opportunities. It took a while but we got there in the end. We saw Roger (Tuivasa-Sheck) impress tonight and I thought Rieko’s distribution was really good – he has come a long way, and Stevie (Perofeta) is a real handful for the opposition. We have a lot of backs with talent so we need to get them the ball in space and let them shine.
We are stocked to win this first finals game and give ourselves another opportunity next week.”