The Auckland-based Blues are on track to contest the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final after dealing with the Queensland Reds 31-24.
The Reds couldn’t repeat their win over the Chiefs so what did we learn BBC at Suncorp Stadium.
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1. WILD ABOUT HARRY
Harry Wilson was huge with 17 runs for 70m. He just never calls it quits. When Wilson burst through late off a fine Hamish Stewart pass he cursed his grubber kick ahead not bouncing right for Suliasi Vunivalu. He made a big turnover tackle and ran the excellent line for the first try. Quality.
2. DAUGUNU BACK IN FORM
It’s good news for the Wallabies. Winger Filipo Daugunu spent a lot of time on bench for the Reds this season because of his error count.He’s roared back to form. He made 14 runs for 66m, often into the teeth of the defence. He made one great kick catch over his head before the super grab for his try off a Hamish Stewart cross-kick.
3. YELLOW CARD
The Reds could not recover from conceding a 14-0 run when hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa was sin-binned dubiously for collapsing a maul. BPA was excellent in general play with a big run upfield, a few neat passes and a try but four lost lineouts in the second half was miserable.
4. CROWD COUNT
The Reds drew 13,218 fans. It was a disappointment coming off a win. It’s another pointer to how hard it is to woo a big crowd these days.
5. PASSING SKILL
That 20m pass left to right, at full pace, in the first half was supreme. It arrived perfectly in front of the winger who didn’t have to check his stride at all. It’s a quiz question...but we all know it was Kiwi skill. That’s learnt by hard work so work harder Aussies.
