Blues (13) 26 / Waratahs (8) 13 (Final Score)
The Blues hosted the Waratahs at Eden Park, Auckland at 09:35 SA Time. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
This was the first of the two play-off matches to decide who will be in the semi-finals. No 4 on the Combined Log (Blues) at home against No 5 on the Combined Log (Waratahs.
The Blues were just more clinical, more hungry and it showed on the final score. It was a good game of rugby, considering it is about knockout rugby and not silky bonus point rugby.
Well done Blues.
Scorers:
Blues: 1 Conversion & 1 Penalty Luke McAlister, 3 Penalties & 1 Conversion & 1 Try Lachie Munro, 1 Try Ali Williams
Waratahs: 1 Penalty Kurtley Beale, 1 Try Tom Carter, 1 Try Lachie Turner
*******************************
Teams:
Blues: 15 Jared Payne, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Benson Stanley, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Lachie Munro, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Luke Braid, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Anthony Boric, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (captain), 1 Charlie Faumuina.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Tevita Mailau, 18 Chris Lowrey, 19 Daniel Braid, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Winston Stanley, 22 Sherwin Stowers.
Waratahs: 15 Lachie Turner, 14 Atieli Pakalani, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 Tom Carter, 11 Sosene Anesi, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Josh Holmes, 8 Dave Dennis, 7 Phil Waugh (captain), 6 Dean Mumm, 5 Sitaleki Timani, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Paddy Ryan, 2 John Ulugia, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Elvis Taione, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Pat O’Connor, 19 Chris Alcock, 20 Hugh Perrett, 21 Brendan McKibbin, 22 Bernard Foley.
Date: Friday, June 24
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT)
Expected weather: There is rain expected to arrive in showers during the afternoon and evening accompanied by a southwesterly wind. Cold conditions with a high of 15°C and a low of 11°C.
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Stuart Dickinson, Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
TMO: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
@ grootblousmile:57 – OldG will know better than me. Think around 22 million. Not sure.
Replacements now coming thick and fast, both sides
@ grootblousmile:
Aus population: 22.4m, and growing by the minute.
@ Tripples:
From your lips to the Big man’s ears 😉
Try Lachie Turner for the Tahs
Try to Turner. Too late????
Blues 23 / 13
5 minutes to play.. 10 points in it
@ Old Griquas 14 in Sydney:58 – OldG, Money talks sometimes. But it also gets to me the loyalty thing. Pity Beale is off to the Rebels. See O’Conner is going there next year as well. After the Force really got him up and running to where he is today too.
That is the professional era for you. No-one is loyal when huge amounts of money is offered I suppose.
Anyhow think Reds have done really well this year. If Blues face them next week. Go the Reds. If it is my Sharks then 100% behind Sharks. Though it will be a massive task for Sharks to win tomorrow.
@ Puma:
G’day Puma, have you settled back into the mundane after your globetrotting???
McAlister slots a penalty
Blues 26 / 13
@ Old Griquas 14 in Sydney:63 – I almost guessed right. About a half million of those are South Africans…….hahaha. 🙂
Seconds left
Final Score: Blues 26 / Waratahs 13
@ Old Griquas 14 in Sydney:70 – Unfortunately yes….hehehe. Though it is good to be back.
Overcast today so your meal and wine you having right now, sounds just right for us tonight as well…haha.
@ Puma:
Hey mate, a big game for you tomorrow night. You’ve got my support, I fancy the sharks for an upset win.
When it comes to player loyalty these days, you and I must be a couple of dinosaurs, living another era.
Congratulations to the Blues on a resounding win and my best wishes to my favourite rugby player: Kevan Mealamu. Have you heard how Kevan saved the life of a wallaby prop a few years back?
Well done Blues. Sorry OldG about your Tahs. Think my team will also be out after tomorrow. But just hoping like crazy. If we don’t do it both our teams at least done well to get to the play offs.
Got to go help Father in Law start his car, he’s gone to go fetch Wyeboude’s son, fat boy, from school… now can’t get the Double Cab going…
Cheers!
@ Old Griquas 14 in Sydney:76 – No never heard that about Kevan. Plenty respect for him now after reading that OldG.
Okay I am out of here too. Plenty to do today. Catch up later or tomorrow.
Good to catch up again OldG. Enjoy the rest of your eveing mate.
Cheers all.
@ Puma:80 – typo. evening.
@ Puma:
puma mate, let me tell you the story, as told by former wallaby prop Ben Darwin.
ABs v Wallabies, scrum called; packed down and engaged; Darwin didnt get his bind right; on engagement, Darwin called the Panic call: May Day. Mealamu pulled his pack back. That moment saved Darwin’s life. He injured vertebrae in his neck and never played another match. He tells the story of how Kevan’s action saved his life.
Marvellous story during the professional era.
… and suddenly there are only 5 contenders for the title…. after tomorrow morning only 4..
gbs @ 83
who do you think will not be there this time tomorrow?
84@ Ashley:
The Tjarkies, unfortunately
Hello I guess better late than never, well done Blues good to see my mates team getting through to the semi-final. Even more overdue well done Sharks on last weeks win, hope Sharks and Stormers win tomorrow!
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