Source: Radio New Zealand
Blues winger Caleb Clarke scores a second half try during the Super Rugby Pacific – Blues v Crusaders at Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand. Photosport
Prior to the weekend, an uncomfortable question had started to form in the Blues camp.
An increasingly one-sided rivalry against the Crusaders had the Blues begin to wonder whether a mental block had crept in when facing the perennial powerhouses.
Heading into Saturday night’s 29-13 win at Eden Park, the Blues had won just three of 23 against the Crusaders dating back to 2014.
Skipper Dalton Papali’i, playing in his first home game since bringing up his 100th cap the previous weekend against the Brumbies in Canberra, has endured a rough run against the Cantabs during his Blues’ career.
“I’ve only beaten them twice before in my career, third time tonight. So it’s always been a tough ride against them. Every team has that one team you always struggle with.”
Blues coach Vern Cotter said earlier in the week that the record against the Crusaders spoke for itself, and may have acted as a motivator for his troops.
“It was said, so I think the players said ‘we’ve had enough of that.’ I think it was more about us than the record. It was about us playing our game, imposing our game on them and you see what happens. I think that’s a real turning point for this team, knowing that when we do it right and we focus on it during the week, then put it out in the paddock.”
Papali’i said the head to head history can be given too much credence.
“You talk about that mental barrier, and in the years that we’ve played them and we’ve lost, we maybe push it a bit too much throughout the week and talk a bit too much about them.
“But the times I have beat them, we focused on ourselves. You study the other team as you always do, but then you’ve got to look within yourselves and actually find the buttons that push you to go forward.”
The All Blacks flanker said despite dropping two of three to start their campaign, the confidence did not wane.
“Tonight was no surprise, the whole week we were building and we weren’t panicking on the results, we talked our forward pack wanting to be dogs out there.
“I feel like when we have our attitude right, then we’re a team that can decide games and it’s all on us. I felt like we had the foot on the throat the whole game.
“I always think it is for a statement game as a forward pack to go against these guys.”
Elsewhere, the Hurricanes continued their dominance over the Waratahs, picking up their ninth win on the trot to shoot back up to third after the Lautoka slip.
The pace-setting Brumbies suffered their first loss, coming in dramatic and controversial fashion against the Reds.
Moana continue to look listless without Ardie Savea, with the Chiefs maintaining their unbeaten run against the bottom-placed battlers.
Jamie Joseph put the disappointment of missing out on the All Blacks job in the rear with a quality Highlanders win over the Force, with Caleb Tangitau continuing his stellar season in Dunedin.
Try of the round: Cody Vai’i’s miracle at Eden, launching himself to sensationally snag a Beauden Barrett crosskick and expertly grass it inches inside the line.
Stock rise: Highlanders flanker Veveni Lasaqa put in an absolute shift against the Force, bagging a try, three pilfers and making 17 tackles.
Stock drop: Taha Kemara was given the fullback jersey in Will Jordan’s absence, but made little impact from the back against the Blues, and was subbed at half-time.
Super Rugby standings after four rounds:
1. Brumbies
2. Chiefs
3. Hurricanes
4. Blues
5. Waratahs
6. Reds
7. Highlanders
8. Crusaders
9. Fijian Drua
10. Force
11. Moana Pasifika
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
