Get Newsletter

Blues eager to tick one box against the Stormers

For the Blues, there was much to rejoice over from their stunning victory. Not only did the win halted a winless start, it simultaneously ended the Lions' unbeaten run.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Blues' resilience and Murphy Taramai's dramatic last-gasp score handed the New Zealanders the shock win against the Lions, who were runnersup the previous two seasons and who are seldom toppled at their home.

This week Tana Umaga's troops face – what some pundits would label as an easier task. They head to Cape Town to take on the struggling Stormers side, who returned from the back of a three-match winless Australasia tour and a growing injury list.

But the coach realized to secure back-to-back wins over South African sides, his side will have to tick the box 'consistency'. A phenomenon which has always eluded them in recent years.

"In terms of confidence [the win] was great, yet we've still got to put in the work," said Umaga. "We know what it took for us to get to this stage and we've got to get that consistency in our preparation so we can get that in our performance.

"We can take a lot from this performance yet we can't let this be an individual performance for us. We've got to keep building."

Blues stand-in captain James Parsons acknowledged that the win over the Lions could instigate a turning point in their season. But has warned the side not to get absorbed by the hype especially with the memories of last year's 22-30 defeat in Cape Town.

ADVERTISEMENT

"There's no need to get carried away. The Stormers are next and we've got to make sure we sharpen our spears during the week so we can go out there with the same hunger and want.

"The focus is on replicating the week in our preparation and making sure we go towards it together because that's what we did really well [against the Lions]. Then it's keeping that composure and togetherness,"

Source: @NZstuff

Join free

Chasing The Sun | Series 1 Episode 1

Fresh Starts | Episode 1 | Will Skelton

ABBIE WARD: A BUMP IN THE ROAD

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 9

James Cook | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

New Zealand victorious in TENSE final | Cathay/HSBC Sevens Day Three Men's Highlights

New Zealand crowned BACK-TO-BACK champions | Cathay/HSBC Sevens Day Three Women's Highlights

Japan Rugby League One | Bravelupus v Steelers | Full Match Replay

Write A Comment