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Brilliant Blues blitz Lions
By MARC HINTON - RugbyHeaven | Sunday, 24 February 2008
Brilliant Blues blitz Lions - Rugby news & coverage - Stuff.co.nz
Having watched their old mates at the Crusaders lay down a fairly emphatic Super 14 marker 24 hours earlier up the road in Pretoria, the Blues responded in kind with a 55-10 demolition of the Lions at Ellis Park to complete the second round of the new season.
Inspired by a stunning all-round performance from first five Nick Evans, who had a perfect night with the boot and tore open the Lions defence with his renowned running game, the Blues made the first-round winners look second-rate as they ran in seven tries to a late consolation score from the home side.
It was impressive stuff from David Nucifora's side, too, as they had things pretty much all their own way in an at-times consummate display of running rugby to which their outmatched hosts simply had no answer.
With the Crusaders showing their intent a day earlier when they demolished the defending champion Bulls 54-19, it was a timely response from the Blues who showed that they too are title contenders this year.
Their forwards laid the platform with some effective stuff up front and with quality front-foot ball to run on to Evans had a field day, as did the likes of Benson Stanley, Isaia Toeava, Isa Nacewa and Anthony Tuitavake outside him.
Athletic lock Kurtis Haiu was rewarded for a busy match (he also spent 10 minutes in the sinbin for a dangerous tackle) with two tries, while Evans, Jerome Kaino, Isa Nacewa, Nick Williams and Rudi Wulf also crossed the line for the runaway winners. Evans landed all nine of his shots at goal for a personal haul of 25 points.
The Blues, with their predatory backline running rampant behind a virtuoso display from Evans, led 31-3 at halftime and eased home in a second stanza of academic interest only. They now join the Crusaders at the top of the standings with the maximum haul of 10 points after two rounds.
It took only a half-dozen minutes for the fragile Lions defence to be breached, Haiu opening the scoring when he drove over from close after Evans had carved the opening with an angled run to get his side hot on to attack.
And though the Lions hung tough for the rest of the opening quarter, trailing 3-10, their resistance then folded as the Blues struck with three more tries in the run into the break.
Evans had the second off a beautifully worked scrum move in midfield, fabulous handling and a nice flat pass from Toeava putting the All Black over. Jerome Kaino, who looks in premium form and fitness, made it 24-3 with a jinking run to the line after Nacewa had provided the opening and Nacewa himself finished the first-half scoring following more great continuity from the Blues.
The Lions were pretty much spit-roasted at that point and it was only natural that the Blues eased off a little over the second stanza.
But still Nucifora's men added another three tries as they kept their standards as high as you could have hoped for.
Big No 8 Williams broke three flimsy tackles for the first seven-pointer of the second spell, replacement wing Wulf finished nicely in the corner for the second and Haiu had his brace eight minutes from time to finish the scoring from the visitors, after Evans had made yet another scintillating break from deep.
The Lions did scramble a late try to Jaco van Schalkwyk as they managed to sustain some greater attacking threats in the second spell, but they will have walked away knowing they had a close-up look at the standard required to win this competition.
The Blues revelled in a match that flowed just how they like it. Up front Keven Mealamu, Haiu, Williams and Kaino all showed out with ball in hand, the set piece was again on top of its game and the ability to secure quick phase ball was a key facet of the convincing victory.
Evans showed exactly why the Blues were so upbeat about his off-season signing, mixing a precision kicking game with a pretty running one, while outside him all bar the barely used Joe Rokocoko found time and space to show their skills.
Benson Stanley took another step along his education as a second five of some quality at this level, while Toeava unleashed the skills that have him so highly rated.
There will be bigger tests to come for these Blues this season, but there can be no doubt that their title credentials have been well and truly laid out for their rivals to assess.
Skipper Troy Flavell, who mixed his trademark muscle and hustle into another prominent display, said he was "thrilled" with the performance.
"This week we talked about improving on last week's performance and I think we did that," he added.
Lions 10: Jaco van Schalkwyk try; Louis Strydon pen; Chris Jonck con.
Blues 48: Kurtis Haiu 2, Nick Evans, Jerome Kaino, Isa Nacewa, Nick Williams, Rudi Wulf tries; Evans 2 pens, 7 cons. Ht: 3-31.
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