It couldn't get any better for Blues fans as the Auckland side thrashed the Rebels at AAMI Park in Melbourne. What a way to start the season for 2017 and hopefully this is a sign for more great things to come for the club who hasn't made the playoffs since 2011. Before the match began the two teams paid tribute to greats of the game Sione Lauaki and Dan Vickerman. Both teams were off to a pleasing start, with the blues awarded a penalty. Ihaia West got the goal to get his team in front. But the Rebels speedsters took over and the captain Nic Stirzaker got a well-deserved try on his 50th super rugby game. Unfortunately for Rebels fans that would be the last time they saw Stirzaker for the night, Stirzaker was assisted by a medic into the changing rooms and didn't pass the concussion test. His disappointment was clear from the bench. But that didn't stop the rebels, as they kept in the fight until moments before halftime. Former Melbourne Storm winger Matt Duffie scored a fantastic try, following a feed and great decision making by Reiko Ioane and Blake Gibson. The first half was neck a neck, and both teams were looking to break through. Just minutes before the halftime buzzer, Ioane timed a parce to get an intercept try and this was just the beginning of what was going to be one of his best games in super rugby. The second half saw the Rebels score only 3 points and you could sense it was the Blues night. Even without 5 of their most experienced players, Sonny Bill Williams, Jerome Kaino, George Moala, Rene Ranger and James Parsons, the job was well down. Every single player on the field was exceptional and West should be proud of his efforts kicking 6 from 7 goals and becoming only the fourth person in blues history to kick 300 points. History spoke for itself and the 56 points was the most ever made by the Blues in their franchise history. The Melbourne Rebels now gear up to play the Hurricanes on their first road game and the Auckland Blues stay on the road and go to Hamilton to face the Chiefs next weekend. Rebels Blues Tries 2 7 Metres 456 525 Carries 122 102 Defenders beaten 19 26 Clean breaks 8 16 Passes 185 108 Offloads 9 11 Turnovers cncd 22 14 Tackles 88 118 Missed tackles 26 19 Turnovers won 6 10 Kicks in play 22 33 Conversions 1/2 = 50% 6/7 = 85.7% Penalty goals 2/4 = 50% 3/3 = 100% Drop goals 0 = 0% 0 = 0% Rucks won 79 59 Rucks lost 7 3 Rucks won % 91.9% 95.2% Mauls won 0 1 Lineouts won 9 6 Lineouts lost 4 2 Lineouts won % 69.2% 75% Scrums won 3 8 Scrums lost 0 0 Scrums won % 100% 100% Penalties cncd 5 11 Red cards 0 0 Yellow cards 0 1 Rieko Ioane: Auckland Blues
Position: Outside centre Tries: 3 Runs: 9 Run Metres: 150 Tackle busts 5
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The British and Irish Lions are coming back to New Zealand in June and will be playing against the Mighty All Blacks as well as 5 of the New Zealand super rugby franchises. The last time they visited was 2005 and this year around it's set to be an exciting and tough series.
Combining some of the World's best rugby players in a historic tour. So to get you ready for this big event, I'm going to countdown to the very first game and let you know some of the star players to look out for. Who will it be - All Blacks or British & Irish Lions? |
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