Ricky Riccitelli scored one of the Blues' nine tries against the Rebels in Melbourne. Photo / Getty Images
Blues 54
Rebels 17
Across two halves of rugby against the Rebels, the Blues displayed the importance of execution.
In the first half of their 54-17 win in Melbourne on Saturday night, the visitors enjoyed plenty of possession and field position, but at times struggled to make it count.
Instead, it was the hosts who went into the break with the lead, striking well on the counter-attack and around their set piece.
It was a different story in the second half. The Blues ran in seven tries after play restarted; scoring 41 unanswered points to run up the score and return to the winner’s circle.
With his form in the spotlight recently, Beauden Barrett looked assured with ball in hand and played a part in several of his side’s tries – including a lovely chip and chase under advantage which he regathered before putting boot to ball to send Mark Telea over out wide.
Playing with confidence on the ball, Barrett stepped up for his side, although his goal-kicking remained an issue as he hit just four of 10 from the tee.
He was well-reinforced in the playmaking roles by Finlay Christie, who provided good service from the ruck and was often there supporting a teammate on the run, while fullback Zarn Sullivan went looking for work and was rewarded with plenty of touches.
The Blues dominated the early proceedings, but it was the Rebels who opened the scoring through a penalty from the boot of Reece Hodge.
But as has been an issue at times for the Rebels this season, they were unable to fend off pressure from the restart, and the Blues put the pressure on. Eventually, lock Sam Darry crashed over from close range to get the first try of the night.
The Blues looked the more likely of the teams to get over the line again, but a counter-attack from their own goal line saw the Rebels go end-to-end and score through Andrew Kellaway, before the Blues hit back moments later through Ricky Riccitelli.
A try on the verge of halftime saw the Rebels take the lead into the break, but without both hookers for the second half as both Alex Mafi and Jordan Uelese suffered first-half injuries.
The Blues attacked from the set piece in the second half, using it as a weapon to get on the front foot.
The forward pack did a great job to give Barrett and the backline plenty of time on the ball, and they did not miss the opportunity to take advantage of that.
A try to Christie set things in motion, with the Blues seeming to find every gap in the Rebels’ defence and exploit it.
Both Christie and Telea scored second-half doubles, while Dalton Papalii, Zarn Sullivan and Ofa Tuungafasi were rewarded with tries in a free-scoring 40 minutes.
Blues 54 (Finlay Christie 2, Mark Telea 2, Sam Darry, Ricky Riccitelli, Ofa Tuungafasi, Zarn Sullivan, Dalton Papalii tries; Beauden Barrett 3 cons, pen)
Rebels 17 (Andrew Kellaway, Brad Wilkin tries; Reece Hodge 2 cons, pen)
HT: 13-17
Hagley Oval has a new head groundsman ahead of the first test of the summer.