The Blues have booked their spot in the semi-finals with a 41-12 win over the NSW Waratahs.
The Waratahs opened the scoring as Izaia Perese put Ned Hanigan over in the first four minutes.
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However, from here it was all the Blues as they raced away with the game.
They scored 38 unanswered points as they showcased the form that got them into last year's final.
Tries either side of the break helped take the contest away from the Waratahs, once again eliminated in the quarter-finals as Michael Hooper calls time on his career in the sky blue jersey.
The Waratahs made a host of late changes, headlined by the inclusion of Tane Edmed at flyhalf and Ben Donaldson at fullback.
It looked to prove dividends early when Perese, returning to his favoured outside centre position, had Waratahs fans dreaming of just their second win at Eden Park when he raced clear of the Blues defence, putting Hanigan over for the opening try.
However, the hosts managed to work their way into the game as Darren Coleman’s side struggled with their set piece.
Scrumhalf Finlay Christie proved key in the first half with a pair of great efforts in attack and defence.
Christie was there to finish off a great Blues try that started from their own 22. He then stopped a certain try to Dylan Pietsch, put into space by Hanigan via a looping cutout, knocking the ball out centimetres out from the line.
The Waratahs continued to pressure the Blues' defence with little success, with the hosts comfortable dealing with whatever was thrown at them.
It allowed Leon McDonald’s side to roll down the field and eventually cross before the break via prop Nepo Laulala for a 17-7 half-time lead.
The brutal physicality of the game took its toll on the visitors in the second half, with Lalakai Foketi coming on the field for Izaia Perese at half-time.
Langi Gleeson appeared hampered by a knee injury, subbed off in the 45th minute as Michael Hooper dealt with a stinger in his shoulder.
It meant the Waratahs were powerless to stop Ricky Riccitelli and the rolling maul from extending the lead, shortly followed over by fullback Zarn Sullivan.
From here, the game was out of reach for the Waratahs, continuing to fight with little success as Mark Telea scored his 12th try of 2023.
A perfect cross-field kick from Ben Donaldson found Dylan Pietsch for a consolation try as the Blues rolled into the semi-final full of momentum.
BLUES 38
TRIES: Christie, Laulala, Riccitelli, Sullivan, Telea
CONS: Barrett 4/4, Plummer 1/1
PENS: Barrett 1/1
WARATAHS 12
TRIES: Hanigan, Pietsch
CONS: Edmed 1/2
BLUES (1-15): Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Ricky Riccitelli, Nepo Laulala, Tom Robinson, James Tucker, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii (c), Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, AJ Lam, Bryce Heem, Rieko Ioane, Mark Telea, Zarn Sullivan
RESERVES: Kurt Eklund, Jordan Lay, Marcel Renata, Cameron Suafoa, Anton Segner, Sam Nock, Harry Plummer, Stephen Perofeta
WARATAHS (1-15): Te Tera Faulkner, Dave Porecki, Nephi Leatigaga, Jed Holloway, Ned Hanigan, Lachie Swinton, Michael Hooper (c), Langi Gleeson, Harrison Goddard, Tane Edmed, Dylan Pietsch, Joey Walton, Izaia Perese, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Ben Donaldson
RESERVES: Tolu Latu, Tom Lambert, Dan Botha, Taleni Seu, Hugh Sinclair, Charlie Gamble, Teddy Wilson, Lalakai Foketi
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe
Assistant Referees: Stu Curran, Jackson Henshaw
