Lens after inept display
This is really a team award but Patrick Tuipulotu is the appropriate representative after the Blues’ error-prone performance in their loss to the Highlanders. Having, against all odds, worked their way into a position to steal the game, the Blues saw their opposition reduced to 14 men and had one last chance to cross for a match-winning try against a short-handed defence. Enter Tuipulotu who, in a routine carry within five metres of the line, coughed up possession to commit his team’s 24th and final turnover of the match, undoubtedly leaving Tana Umaga tearing his dreads out in the coaches’ box. slotted the penalty after the final siren. His counterpart at the Blues, West, however, did not have such a good evening, and Umaga suggested afterwards that Piers Francis could be given a chance in the No 10 jersey.
Francis’ arrival for the final quarter coincided with a reversal of momentum for the Blues, who should have won it at the end given their possession and territorial advantage but for some fierce Highlanders defence and yet more errors from the hosts.
“We had more ball too and we looked after it a lot better,” Umaga said of his team’s finish. “Piers has been wanting to play No 10 and he . . . played well. There will be some hard decisions going forward.”
The fitness of tighthead prop Charlie Faumuina, a late withdrawal from the starting line-up after his back went into spasm, will also be a factor this week, but it was unlikely to be the reason behind why the Blues’ lineout went into freefall. They lost Missing three first-choice forwards and facing a pack featuring four players who have worn the All Black jersey, Elliot Dixon helped ensure the Highlanders were never over-powered at Eden Park. His team might have been suffering from a horrendous injury toll but Dixon was his dependable self, making a match-high 15 tackles and winning a turnover as the Highlanders grimly defended their lead. The flanker’s physicality was perfectly suited for a game that never reached great heights and Dixon was also a disruptive presence in the visitors’ lineout as the Blues lost five from their own throw. five lineouts on their own throw, with returning hooker James Parsons struggling to find his mark, and gave up a whopping 24 turnovers.
Unable to build pressure, their main strike weapon Rieko Ioane, who scored three tries against the Rebels in Melbourne, didn’t get the ball in his hands enough.
“We just couldn’t get anything going,” Umaga said. “We’ve got to find ways to get our own ball. It’s not as if we didn’t work on it [in] the week.”
Blues halfback Augustine Pulu enhanced his reputation, and probably got the better of his Highlanders and All Black opposite Aaron Smith. Pulu was increasingly dangerous with the ball in the second half despite receiving a finger in his left eye in the first half which left him with blurry vision.
Chiefs No 8 Michael Leitch will miss a week for a dangerous tackle in the Hurricanes win and will sit out the Rebels game on Friday.