The New Zealand Herald

Blues rise above the din

Rugby on an oxymoron of a mission to improve flow of game by whistling up a steady stream of penalties

- Chris Rattue chris.rattue@nzherald.co.nz

Blues loose forward Hoskins Sotutu did his best to steal the show but referee Mike Fraser was having none of it. A dominant performanc­e from Fraser in the second half ensured he will be the face most people remember when they reflect on a still wonderful occasion at Eden Park.

On a Sunday afternoon which brought back fond memories of yesteryear, the Blues announced themselves as outstandin­g contenders in the race to finish second behind the Crusaders in Super Rugby Aotearoa.

Rising players led by Sotutu were vital to an emphatic win over the Hurricanes, something that will no doubt delight coach Leon MacDonald and assistant Tom Coventry.

Coaches depend on old heads. But it’s only when young players pay dividends they know their methods are on the mark. There is a sense the MacDonald/Coventry partnershi­p is starting to click through the gears and Coventry’s troops had the Hurricanes lineout for breakfast.

But enough of that. Because this was Fraser’s match, at a packed Eden Park. Following a blistering penalty performanc­e from fellow whistler Paul Williams in Dunedin, Fraser started at a moderate pace before warming to the task of saving rugby.

With the occasion threatenin­g to turn into a rugby game, he shut it down by bashing everyone over the head with new rule interpreta­tions and a couple of much loved old ones.

No wonder this country is so good at doing stuff like lockdowns. We’re built for this sort of thing.

Give us a rule book and we go weak at the knees. You can’t go near a garden hose these days without someone dialling one-one-one.

I don’t want to blame Fraser outright, because he’s probably endured a searching performanc­e review by the time you read this. But if he really was operating to the rules, some of them are stupid.

What really bugged me about Fraser was this: he had no sense of fun. We haven’t spent the last three months hoarding toilet paper and wondering if it’s okay to drink bleach only to have our welcome back party ruined by noise control.

Anyway, I don’t want to heap all the blame on the whistler. He was probably doing his job.

Rugby has emerged from the virus hiatus with an oxymoron of a mission statement in which it aims to increase the flow by dishing out more penalties.

This will be a familiar ploy to Aucklander­s, who live in a city which is improving traffic flow by conducting more roadworks.

In both cases, it takes an enormous leap of faith but I’m backing the traffic plan to work before the rugby one.

Meanwhile, the Crusaders — who don’t need the help — have been left in the box seat, given the weekend to study how the refs are reffing rather than being caught unawares.

Scott Robertson’s crew is loaded with rugby’s finest essential workers, particular­ly a test quality tight five bolstered by the unexpected return of Sam Whitelock. In contrast, you’ll see Donald Trump press conference­s which work better than the Hurricanes lineout.

While the Hurricanes were their own worst enemy, there is hope with these Blues, and probably more than for the sport itself.

Beauden Barrett’s influence on his new team was there for all to see, if you looked real hard. What rugby should be doing is creating a game in which Barrett, among the most magical runners rugby has ever seen, gets to do magical runs.

HIs long line kicks from penalties and general demeanour were huge, but that’s not what people pay for with the wonderful Beaudie.

Sotutu, meanwhile, was magnificen­t. So was Rieko Ioane with the ball in his new position of centre, but the former wing was inept on defence.

Then again, rugby needs people who are inept on defence to compensate for the rules and the refs.

 ?? Photo / Getty Images ?? Beauden Barrett should be given as many opportunit­ies to run with the ball as possible — sadly, his time with ball in hand was limited on his Blues debut last weekend.
Photo / Getty Images Beauden Barrett should be given as many opportunit­ies to run with the ball as possible — sadly, his time with ball in hand was limited on his Blues debut last weekend.
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