Blues and Nonu fire another warning shot
PRE-SEASON REPORT: The Blues made it two wins from two matches in their pre-season when they edged the Hurricanes 38-31 in Mangatainoka on Saturday.
The win follows the Blues impressive showing against the Chiefs when they won 43-10 in Kaikohe last weekend.
After going down 0-14, the Blues fought their way back to 14-14 at half-time against the Hurricanes.
The Blues started the second half well and they scored two tries, one of which was scored by new signing Ma’a Nonu.
The rest of the second half was a see-saw encounter with both teams crossing the whitewash with the Blues holding on for the win in the end.
The Blues will open their Super Rugby campaign with a home match against the Crusaders in Auckland next Saturday.
The Hurricanes will travel to Sydney to face the Waratahs in their opening match.
The scorers:
For Hurricanes:
Tries: Blackwell, Lam, Aumua, May, Goosen
Cons: Smith 2, Jackson Garden-Bachop
For Blues:
Tries: Nanai 2, Apisai, Sotutu, Nonu, Plummer
Cons: Black 3, Perofeta
Hurricanes: 15 Chase Tiatia, 14 Vince Aso, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Billy Proctor, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Fletcher Smith, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Reed Prinsep (captain), 5 Liam Mitchell, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Jeff To’omaga-Allen, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Chris Eves.
Replacements – from: Asafo Aumua, James O’Reilly, Ben May, Alex Fidow, Fraser Armstrong, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Geoff Cridge, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Sam Henwood, Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Carlos Price, Jono Hickey, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Danny Toala, Wes Goosen, Salesi Rayasi.
Blues: 15 Michael Collins, 14 Melani Nanai, 13 Ma’a Nonu, 12 TJ Faiane, 11 Tanielu Tela’a, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Matt Matich, 6 Tom Robinson, 5 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 4 Josh Goodhue, 3 Sione Mafileo, 2 Leni Apisai, 1 Alex Hodgman.
Replacements - from: Marcel Renata, Matt Moulds, Mike Tamoaieta, James Tucker, Evan Olmstead, Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa, Adrian Choat, Jack Grooby, Jonathan Ruru, Otere Black, Caleb Clarke, Levi Aumua, Harry Plummer, Tomas Aoake.