The Auckland Blues answered their critics with a 30-17 win over the Northern Bulls in Auckland on Friday to produce their third win from seven matches and put a dent in the Bulls’ hopes of making the Super 14 top four.
The inconsistent Blues have been under the microscope in the past week, with a host of New Zealand rugby brains called in to help exorcise the ineptness that has plagued their season.
”We need to find our consistency. We have the talent here but we have to put it on the paddock every week,” said captain Keven Mealamu, who acknowledged it was still not a convincing performance.
While they may have achieved some salvation by running in three tries to beat the Bulls, the South Africans were in part victims of their own high count of 30 missed tackles.
In one Joe Rokocoko-inspired 60-metre break by the Blues backs, his opposite, Akona Ndungane, popped up three times in defence and missed a tackle each time.
But where the Blues gained in attack, particularly with centre Rua Tupoki and wing Rokocoko carving through the almost non-existent tackling by the Bulls backs, they suffered particularly with their line-outs.
South African locks Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha won six against the throw, with one wayward delivery going straight to an unmarked Botha, who strolled five metres to score. The try converted by Derick Hougaard narrowed the gap to 10-13.
An early try from Blues halfback John Senio, when he ducked through some flimsy defence around the ruck, and a conversion and two penalties from flyhalf Isa Nacewa, had seen the Blues ease out to an early 13-3 advantage despite their flakiness in the set pieces.
Ten minutes before half-time they pulled further ahead when backrower Nick Williams took the Senio route through a hole around a ruck for the easiest of tries.
Nacewa’s conversion put them ahead 20-10 at the break.
Soon after the resumption of play the Blues won a series of penalties close to the Bulls line and opted for a scrum three times, but without success. Nacewa was then asked to take a shot but he missed from close range.
But he made no mistake shortly after to ease the Blues out to 23-10, and the outcome was settled inside the final quarter when right wing Viliame Waqaseduadua provided the individual highlight of the game with a cutting 40-metre run to the line.
The Bulls signed off the scoring with a late try to Gary Botha converted by Morne Steyn. — Sapa-AFP