Braid blasts Blues' lack of composure
The Blues’ dismal Super Rugby season continued Friday when they conceded a last-minute try to hand New Zealand rivals the Hurricanes – a 26-25 win at Eden Park.
The three-time champions the Blues have only one win from five matches and face an uphill struggle to rescue their season after the morale-sapping loss.
The Hurricanes secured a bonus point after scoring four tries to one, with skipper Conrad Smith’s second five-pointer in the final minute and a nail-biting conversion from fullback Beauden Barrett proving the difference.
The Blues’ stand-in captain, Daniel Braid, admitted his side lacked composure.
“We’re devastated, we’re just making a habit of losing,” Braid said.
“A lot of effort’s going in from the boys, we’re trying hard but we’re just lacking composure.”
Braid was standing in for regular captain Keven Mealamu who missed the match due to a calf muscle strain which led to him missing the second half of last week’s match against the Stormers.
Hurricanes captain and try scorer Conrad Smith was delighted with the victory as it took their record this season three wins from five matches.
“It’s funny. The message we talked about all week was to play for 80 minutes,” Smith said.
“We didn’t think it would work out quite that way.”
