This article was originally published on Stuff and is reproduced with permission
The Blues’ devastating attacking spree in the first half lifted last year’s runners up to an emphatic 60-20 win over the Highlanders to start their title pursuit in Super Rugby Pacific.
All Blacks winger Mark Telea was outstanding in a memorable onslaught of running rugby that left the gallant southerners chasing a game that always felt out of reach.
There were 51 points in an extended first half on Saturday night in Dunedin and the Blues were too quick and clinical, leaving Highlanders coach Clarke Dermody with a heavy loss in his first match in charge.
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When they needed to, the Blues put the Highlanders away.
Fittingly, Telea completed his brace of tries in the final minutes and gave Rieko Ioane his second with another fabulous break.
In the absence of star All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith, Folau Fakatava made his comeback from a knee injury for the Highlanders, after opting against ACL surgery in his bid to make the Rugby World Cup squad, and he showed glimpses of his qualities.
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But opposing halfback Finlay Christie had a stronger game, guiding the Blues around the park who, at times, looked unstoppable when their attack had momentum.
The Highlanders, led by skipper Billy Harmon, troubled them at the breakdown despite the blow of losing talismanic No.8 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u to a suspected rib injury in the third minute.
However, they crumbled and conceded a whopping eight tries on home turf for a truly miserable defeat.
Everything the Blues touched inside the first 28 minutes turned to gold.
They were helped, too, by the Highlanders gifting them their first points when they were marched 10 metres for dissent.
The penalty was shifted to within Beauden Barrett’s range.
He took the three points before the Blues scored four tries in 15 scintillating first half minutes.
The terrific Telea started and finished a sweeping move for their opener, Christie pounced on a loose ball to sprint away and Telea was in support to give Barrett their second, then Barrett’s booming cross-field kick was successfully chased by Caleb Clarke, beating the dazed Highlanders defenders after running more than 50 metres.
Rieko Ioane finished another swift, clinical move down the right flank, combining with Telea, and the hosts were lucky to only be trailing by 25 points after Sam Gilbert’s two penalty goals.
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There was some respite, however, and Fakatava’s contentious disallowed try sparked a reaction.
The Highlanders’ relentless pressure before half time resulted in two yellow cards for the Blues, to Cameron Suafoa and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, and tries for Mitch Hunt and Josh Timu.
Meanwhile, it was Pacific Islands rugby at its best at Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday afternoon, and it was fittingly decided by a dazzling try at the death as the Fijian Drua outlasted Moana Pasifika in a furiously entertaining slugfest.
There were 11 tries all told in a splendid, fast-paced encounter, with the Drua’s sixth score, in the 77th minute to replacement wing Taniela Rakuro, deciding a contest, 36-34, that really could have gone either way.
It wasn’t perfect rugby – too many errors and infringements for that – but it was a delight to watch as both teams threw everything into it and played very much to their strengths.
For Aaron Mauger’s Moana side that was very much up front, with the home side dominating the forward arm-wrestle, and getting a brace of tries from prop Abraham Pole and another from fellow front-rower Chris Apoua.
They also thrived with some outstanding power running from centre Levi Aumua and wing Timoci Tavatavanawai.
But the Drua were never out of the contest with their explosiveness and strikepower out wide, and they enjoyed strong performances from skipper and hooker Tevita Ikanivere, loose forwards Joseva Tamani and Kitione Salawa and backline stars Iosefo Masi, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre and Selestino Ravutaumada.
It was hard to believe that these were the bottom two teams of 2022, such was the quality of the contest and the array of skills on show.
On this, you will take either lightly this year at your peril.
Mauger’s men got off to an explosive start, crossing for a try apiece to starting props Pole and Apoua inside the first 10 minutes for the early 12-0 lead.
Both came on the back of standout runs by backs, Aumua for the opener and Fijian winger Timoci Tavatavanawai for the second.
But in a half that played out at a frantic pace, the action continued to come thick and fast.
The Drua got on the board at the end of the opening quarter when skipper Tevita Ikanivere drove over after a series of tapped penalties, and loose forward Mike Curry replied for the home side soon after to get them out to 19-5.
The Drua then struck twice to punish their hosts for a yellow card to lock Sam Slade, Joseva Tomani (off a quick tap) and Olympic sevens gold medallist Masi (from a brilliant move off lineout, with Tomani laying on the assist) crossing to level the scores at 19-19 in the shadow of the break.
Moana, though, were not done, inside centre Danny Toala punishing the Drua for a handling error when he danced 30-odd metres down the right touchline for a seven pointer that gave the home side the 26-19 halftime lead.
The contest continued to surge back and forth over the second 40, Ikanivere’s early second score answered by Pole’s, before Masi completed his brace to level the scores at 31-31.
Skipper Christian Lealiifano then put Moana back in front (34-31) with the only penalty shot of the match before the Drua produced the razzle dazzle to clinch the victory, Salawa and Samusamuvodre breaking down the left touch, and Ravutaumada laying on the magic to put Rakuro in for the winner.
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