Blues boosted by promising derby display

THE cynics will see Friday’s fabulous Kiwi Super Rugby opener in Dunedin as Groundhog Day for the Blues. Another ‘‘honourable’’ defeat. Another big, glorious, tight occasion where the boys from the big city stumbled over their own feet when it mattered most.

And the numbers back that up. The Blues have now gone 12 straight matches without a victory against New Zealand opposition; they have lost nine of their last 12 and six straight on the road against the Highlanders; and you still have to go all the way back to 2012 for their last win away from home against a Kiwi rival. As Yogi Berra would say, it’s de´ja`-vu all over again.

But Tana Umaga, Steve Jackson and the brains trust at New Zealand’s most underachieving rugby franchise have an entirely differing viewpoint. Their sky is less a will see this team growing and getting better and better. We outworked the Highlanders and we’re ready to do the same against the Chiefs, with a different result.’’

Jackson liked the set-piece work, that key tighthead scrum apart, and lauded backs who ‘‘got gain-line all night’’, as well as the stickability of a group that ‘‘didn’t stop coming’’ for 80 minutes. ‘‘We keep telling them ‘we are close’.’’

Bryn Gatland had an outstanding night, in all aspects, Akira Ioane unleashed one of those performances (with two tries) that reminds you why Steve Hansen refuses to write him off, and Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Matt Duffie and Ofa Tu’ungafasi all showed their class.

Williams’ banged knee, said Jackson, was not thought to be serious, though loose forward Glenn Preston’s calf injury is. The return of Kaino and possibly Tupou should help, as focus switches to the Chiefs. ‘‘I wouldn’t