Runaway success for Blues At a glance

They came in their thousands to witness the Beauden Barrett debut show, and left with the sneaking suspicion they just might have a Blues side worth making the trek to Eden Park for.

Barrett launched his Blues career in style with a solid, if not spectacular, contribution to an outstanding 30-20 opening-round Super Rugby Aotearoa victory over the Hurricanes yesterday.

But the smile on his face at the end said it all as he walked off to the cheers of the sellout 43,000-strong crowd, a winner and a grinner in his first match for his new side, against the one he had made 125 appearances for. They don’t come much sweeter than that.

It was a pretty polished effort all-round by Leon MacDonald’s Blues as they won a fifth straight match for 2020 (including the now abandoned Super Rugby proper) and a second straight over the Canes.

The Blues split six tries in the contest but put the match away with a clinical second-half effort, the win iced by three straight Otere Black penalties between the 54th and 66th minutes. Black was a picture of poise all afternoon in the pivot for the Blues, nailing all six shots at goal and taking his options smartly.

Barrett never found the space to unleash his attacking arsenal, but was safe at the back, linked

Blues 30 (Caleb Clarke, TJ Faiane, Dalton Papalii tries; Otere Black 3pens 3 cons) Hurricanes 20 (Dane Coles, Ben Lam, Jamie Booth tries; Jackson GardenBachop pen; TJ Perenara con). HT: 14-13.

GETTY IMAGES Blues wing Caleb Clarke runs in for a try during his team’s 30-20 win over the Hurricanes at Eden Park yesterday. Inset, a huge crowd flocked to the game on the opening weekend of Super Rugby Aotearoa.

Beauden Barrett, left, celebrates a try for the Blues in his much-awaited comeback match against his former team.