Blues vs Crusaders

2022 - 6 - 12

Blues narrowly beat the Brumbies to secure spot in all-NZ Super ... (RNZ)

The Blues have beaten the Brumbies 20-19 in a thrilling semifinal to secure their spot in the Super Rugby final against the Crusaders.

With the Australian side on the hunt for a comeback, the Blues were forced to put in a huge amount of work at the set piece to disrupt the Brumbies' desperate attacks. The Brumbies were given a boost when the Blues lost another player to the sin bin with flanker Adrian Choat receiving a yellow card for a dangerous tackle. After a perfect start by the Brumbies the Blues quickly took control of the game, playing open running rugby which ultimately led to their first try of the game through number-eight Hoskins Sotutu.

Blues edge Brumbies 20-19 to set up Super Rugby Pacific final ... (Stuff.co.nz)

A charge-down from Ofa Tuungafasi clinched a knife-edge Super Rugby Pacific semifinal at Eden Park.

To lift the silverware, though, they are going to have to get past the mighty Red and Black machine. Wet conditions and the stakes meant it was always going to be less than free-flowing. The Red and Blacks won at Eden Park, back in 1998; the Auks gained revenge for that with a triumph in the ‘03 final at the same ground. Tom Robinson'’s 73rd-minute lineout steal, with the Brumbies readying for another drive at the line. Two second-half yellow cards gave the Brumbies a route back as they charged back to within a single point in the closing minutes, and it was replacement Blues prop Ofa Tuungafasi who emerged an unlikely hero as he got up to charge down an attempted match-winning dropped goal from Brumbies flyhalf Noah Lolesio. Ioane and Barrett, who combined for 123 first-half running metres, featured prominently in the surging finish.

Super Rugby Pacific: Blues barely hold out ACT Brumbies ... (Newshub)

The 20-19 win confirms a much-anticipated all-NZ championship showdown against archrivals the Crusaders at the same venue next week, but not without a desperate ...

LIVE: Blues extend lead after early Brumbies try (Rugby.com.au)

Dan McKellar's men are coming into the contest full of confidence after their comeback victory over the Hurricanes in Canberra. They are boosted by the return ...

The Blues' clash with the Brumbies will be shown LIVE on Stan Sport and the Nine Network. HOW TO WATCH BRUMBIES V BLUES The Blues have hit back to take a 20-7 lead over the Brumbies in Auckland.

Blues hold off Brumbies to set up Super final against Crusaders (The Sydney Morning Herald)

Two rolling-maul tries for Brumbies' substitute hooker Lachie Longergan created a grandstand finish, with five-eighth Noah Lolesio having a drop goal charged ...

Blues hooker Kurt Eklund was sin-binned for a dumping tackle on Andy Muirhead and the Brumbies tried to make immediate use of the man advantage through Tom Banks, but Barrett was once again on hand to deliver a try-saving tackle in the corner. “But they just iced it at the end.” The Brumbies made a flying start with centre Irae Simone bursting through the Blues’ line off the back of a scrum and running 40m to score easily for 7-0 lead.

The Blues' big work on ahead of crunch showdown with Crusaders (RugbyPass)

The Blues may have survived a late-game onslaught from the Brumbies but they face a somewhat more formidable challenge next weekend when the Crusaders come ...

“I think we’ve had a lot of good ‘what if?’ moments in the last two weeks and we need to learn well from those moments in order to be a little bit more clinical against a quality Crusaders side. The Crusaders, like the Brumbies, boast an impressive driving maul and if the Blues are forced to play with men in the bin next Saturday, they could find themselves under immense pressure. The Crusaders, on the other hand, have enjoyed plenty of success at Eden Park in recent year.