Derby ends in unwelcome draw
Honours shared was probably a fair reflection of far from one of the best but certainly the most closely contested Kiwi derby in recent memory.
Neither the Chiefs nor Blues were clinical or showed enough composure to land the definitive blow at Eden Park last night.
And, so, we are left to contemplate an underwhelming 16-16 Super Rugby stalemate that is ultimately likely to send the Chiefs to Africa for a playoff match.
As for the Blues, this was not the way they wanted to end their final home match.
The traditional battle of the Bombays turned into a proper dogfight. Pick-and-go, drives and grubbers in behind became the modus operandi as the Auckland weather packed in.
Chances were squandered – Blues first five-eighth Piers Francis missing a kickable penalty with seven minutes left – and territory became king.
This was a true grind.
With momentum against the Chiefs, Damian McKenzie once again provided a telling blow. With brilliant vision he noted the lack of wing and fullback for the Blues and put in a perfectly placed crossfield kick for Johnny Fa’auli to pick up and score. Aaron Cruden could not knock over the sideline conversion and that locked it up at 16-16, setting up a dramatic, frenetic finish.
Both sides had their chances. Neither were good enough to take them. With three minutes to play the Blues forwards controlled proceedings and a dropped goal seemed on, only for the ball to be pushed too wide and another mistake made.
With it went the chance to record just their second win in the past 22 Kiwi derbies, and snap an 11-game losing streak against the Chiefs.
There were few highlights to savour. But if ever there was an illustration of the quality of depth of young talent in New Zealand rugby then this was it.
Rieko Ioane and McKenzie are by no means certainties to feature for the All Blacks against the Lions. Neither are older than 22 but they were both, by far, the most influential players on the park.
Ioane regularly went looking for work off his left wing, making metres every time he touched the ball and crashing over for the opening try after a nicely timed Augustine Pulu pass.
McKenzie was also heavily involved coming into the line from the back. He popped through spaces he had no right to. Somehow he not only withstands being battered by much bigger men but often comes out better off.
His try one minute before half time was the ultimate coach killer for Blues boss Tana Umaga. McKenzie saw space outside Blues locks Scott Scrafton and Patrick Tuipulotu, and needed no second invitation to sprint 40m to the line virtually untouched.
Otherwise, though, there was little to get enthused about as the rain gradually got heavier.
The Blues’ finals hopes are over but they may well have put a significant dampener on the Chiefs’ chances, too.