Road to the Final: Blues

Wed, Jun 16, 2021, 5:00 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
The Auckland Blues secure a home final next week despite shaky second half

The Blues enter Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Final as the team to beat following their impressive campaign.

From the outset, coach Leon MacDonald has had his team firing throughout the tournament after a disappointing finish to the Aotearoa competition, going undefeated across the five weeks.

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Rugby.com.au has looked back at how they got to the finals, pinpointing the key moments and matches that defined their season.

SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA RECAP

The Blues' inconsistency would come back to haunt them as they narrowly missed the Final.

Wins over the Highlanders and Hurricanes were offset by losses to the Crusaders and Chiefs as they failed to gain proper momentum.

This would come back to haunt them as they ended tied on points at the end of the regular season, missing the finals on a countback.

Fullback Sullivan scores on debut
DOMINANT OPENER

The week off after missing the NZ Final worked wonders for the Blues as they dominated the Rebels 50-3.

In the first Trans-Tasman game on free-to-air television, the Blues got off to a slow start as both teams traded penalties.

However, they would exit first gear after the break, running in five tries in the 28-minute period to seal a commanding win and top spot on the ladder.

A scintillating try by the Blues in Melbourne.
THE STATEMENT WIN

After two victories over the bottom two teams in Super Rugby AU, there was plenty of questions answered when the Blues welcomed the Brumbies to Eden Park.

With their near-full All Black pack firing, they dismantled the AU finalists, dominating possession and territory from the outset.

Their third major win in successive weeks ensured they had the necessary points difference to control their own destiny heading into the final two weeks.

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THE NEAR SLIP-UP

Sitting on top of the ladder, the Blues got a major scare from the Super Rugby AU champion Reds as they recorded a hard-fought 31-24 victory.

Despite missing James O'Connor and Bryce Hegarty, the Reds were eager to put on a show and looked set to snatch a draw when they reduced the margin to just seven points in the final minute.

However, the Blues did what the Brumbies couldn't - hold out the Reds late in the game- as they escaped Suncorp with the win and ultimately a home final.

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