Blues run rampant in Perth
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A stunning opening assault from the Blues powered them to a 40-14 win over the Western Force in their Super Rugby clash in Perth on Saturday.
The Blues produced some of their best rugby of the season in the opening 20 minutes to shock the Force, who were desperate to win to keep their finals hopes on track.
However, it was the visitors that made all the play from the outset to keep their own slim playoff hopes alive and turn around their poor away form, storming to a match-winning 26-0 lead on the back of four tries in the first 17 minutes of play.
The carnage started in just the fourth minute, when Ihaia West took advantage of a great bounce from a chip kick and ran in the opening try.
West then backed the try with a great conversion to give the Blues the perfect start.
The Force haven't beaten the Blues since 2008 and the New Zealanders doubled their lead in the ninth minute, when Charlie Faumina stormed over for a try and West again converted.
Alarm bells were sounding for the Force, who have been one of the surprise packets of the season, and they only got louder when the Blues crossed again just three minutes later, this time through the pace of Lolagi Visinia after some impressive ball movement.
Although West missed the conversion, it didn't hurt the Blues as Ma'a Nonu added a fourth try in the 18th minute.
The Force, missing the impact of Wallaby Nick Cummins who was a late withdrawal due to a neck injury, did create a couple of opportunities of their own in the first half.
However, they couldn't capitalise and they were never going to recover from a 26-0 deficit at the break.
A comeback was a forlorn hope and it became a mission impossible when the Blues pushed over under the posts in the 56th minute, with skipper Luke Braid becoming their fifth tryscorer.
The Force finally got off their duck in the 65 minute when newly-capped Wallaby Nathan Charles got over the line from a few metres out.
The Blues were not quite done as Pita Ahki got them their final try about nine minutes from time.
However, it was the Force who had the last say of the game with a Brynard Stander try in the final minute to add some respectability to the thrashing.
Man of the Match: There was very little space for praise in the Force camp but Solomoni Rasolea took his opportunity after being handed a start due to Nick Cummins late withdraw. On the Blues team, Ma'a Nonu did really well alongside Ihaia West in the early spree of tries but it was Steven Luatua, who also took his opportunity with both hands, that was the stand out player in all facets of the game.
Scorers:
For Force
Tries: Charles, Stander
Cons: Hayward 2
For Blues
Tries: West, Faumuina, Visinia, Nonu, Braid, Ahki
Cons: West 5
Yellow Card: Tom Donnelly (Blues, 47 – Repeated infringement at the breakdown)
Western Force: 15 Jayden Hayward, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Marcel Brache, 12 Chris Tuatara-Morrison, 11 Nick Cummins, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Matt Hodgson (captain), 6 Hugh McMeniman, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Sam Wykes, 3 Kieran Longbottom, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Pek Cowan.
Replacments: 16 Heath Tessmann, 17 Tetera Faulkner, 18 Oliver Hoskins, 19 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 20 Brynard Stander, 21 Ian Prior, 22 Zack Holmes, 23 Solomoni Rasolea.
Blues: 15 Lolagi Visinia, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Pita Ahki, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 George Moala, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Luke Braid (captain), 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Patrick Tuipulotu, 4 Tom Donnelly, 3 Charlie Faumuina/ Angus Ta'avao, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 James Parsons, 17 Angus Ta'avao/ Tom McCartney, 18 Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 19 Hayden Triggs, 20 Peter Saili, 21 Piri Weepu, 22 Francis Saili, 23 Tevita Li.
Referee: Rohan Hoffmann (Australia)
Assistant referees: James Leckie (Australia), Michael Hogan (Australia)
TMO: Steve Leszczynski (Australia)
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