Blues break Super Rugby title drought with big win

The Blues broke a 21-year Super Rugby title drought, beating the Chiefs 41-10 in tonight’s grand final at Eden Park to claim the title.

It was the first time in New Zealand’s 28-year history that the teams had faced each other in a final and the Vern Cotter-coached side dominated.

Winger Caleb Clarke scored a hat trick but it was the Blues’ forward line-up that laid the foundation for the win in slippery conditions.

Chiefs face a tough task as the Blues have not lost at Eden Park since March 2023.

Simon Parker scored Chiefs’ first goal of the night with 15 minutes remaining, but by then the damage had been done.

The Blues opened the scoring with their first real attack of the game, with Akira Ioane breaking through from close range.

The Japan-bound wing and his brother Rieko combined for the first and best of Clarke’s three tries, as they managed to keep the ball in and pass it to the All Blacks winger for him to score in the corner.

The Chiefs were in even worse shape 10 minutes into the second half. As the pressure and penalties mounted, referee Nick Berry lost his patience and sent George Dale off for a face-off violation.

After Parker’s consolation try, AJ Lam scored the fifth try for the Blues and sealed the win.

team:

Bruce: 15 Stephen Perofeta, 14 Mark Telea, 13 Rico Iwan, 12 AJ Lin, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Finley Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali, 6 Akira Iwan, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi.

replace: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Joshua Fusitua, 18 Angus Tawavo, 19 Josh Beeler, 20 Adrian Choate, 21 Taufa Funaki, 22 Bryce Heim, 23 Cole Forbes.

Chiefs: 15 Sean Stevenson, 14 Emoni Nalawa, 13 Anton Linate-Brown, 12 Lameka Poisipi, 11 Etne Nanai-Seturo, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortes Latima, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Luke Jacobson (captain), 6 Samipenny-Funno, 5 Tupwai, 4 Jimmy Tupou, 3 George Dale, 2 Tyrone Thompson, 1 Aidan Ross.

replace: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Jared Proffitt, 18 Reuben O’Neill, 19 Manaki Selby Rickett, 20 Simon Parker, 21 Xavier Rowe, 22 Quinn Tupaia, 23 Daniel Rona.