Blues one step ahead

Luke McAlister breaks the line as the Blues go on the attack again at Carisbrook last night. Picture / Fotopress

Blues 30 Highlanders 14


The Blues cracked the capsule of uncertainty which every team carries into the start of each Super 12 season as they exposed some flaws in the Highlanders' reputation for rugged forward play.

In a reversal of standard forecasts, the Blues' young pack unsettled the more experienced Highlanders' scrum and regularly disrupted their lineout.

Tack on a physical defence and the foundation for the visitors' impressive win was set.

The only lament for the Blues - something which would have been quickly forgotten in the euphoria of victory - was that they were unable to score a fourth try for a bonus point.

That was insignificant last night as they made a vigorous start to their campaign.

The Blues erased any apprehension they carried from a couple of lethargic pre-season showings and wiped out memories of the way they were outmuscled the last time they visited Carisbrook when they suffered their solitary defeat in 2003.

Success for the visitors meant the Highlanders were denied victory they desperately wanted as a tribute for captain Anton Oliver's 100th Super 12 game.

After the Blues finished a disappointing fifth last season and then watched the Auckland and North Harbour provinces founder in the NPC, the Blues began the final year of the Super 12 vigorously.

Kickers Luke McAlister and Ben Blair swapped penalties for a 6-all scoreline after the first quarter before the Blues scored the only and controversial try of the first half.

The Highlanders claimed they were obstructed on defence as halfback David Gibson darted round the front of a lineout to send supporting hooker Keven Mealamu across the line.

Gibson, who started his senior rugby career in Dunedin, sent the second dagger blow into the locals soon after halftime when he charged down Blair's clearance and scored.

For a period the Highlanders regrouped and managed a smart try when draft five eighths Cameron McIntyre broke and manouevred replacement halfback Danny Lee in for a try to cut the deficit to 23-14.

Any local hopes of a miracle comeback disappeared soon after when the Blues' backline passing precision from a lineout created enough space for Joe Rokocoko and Mils Muliaina to menace the line.

Blues captain Xavier Rush was in support at the breakdown and barged over for a try.

Blues: (K. Mealamu, D. Gibson, X. Rush, tries; L. McAlister 3 pen, 3 con

Highlanders (D. Lee, tries; B. Blair 3 pen) Halftime: 13-6