First take: Blues lacking the basics

Frank Halai looks to fend off the tackle of Jason Emery in the Blues' loss to the Highlanders. Photo / Getty

Shelve the Blues, they have forgotten how to play. They neglect too many basics and rarely do any razzle-dazzle either.

They stemmed the discomfort of seven straight defeats last week but that turned into embarrassment in Dunedin.

Their list of faux pas was too extensive for coach John Kirwan to address at the interval as they stared at a 24-0 deficit.

The Highlanders reminded them how to play the game and several Blues rejects Malakai Fekitoa and Waisake Naholo were ruthless when they got the chance to find the chalk. They delivered a number of 'take that' messages.

Aaron Smith was equally merciless when he tapped a free-kick and sent Fekitoa over for his second try to add to the visitors' pain.

The Blues laboured over their choices. They turned down three penalty kicks for 5m scrums and lineouts and messed up the lot.

Kirwan turfed his senior ALL Blacks into the fray and the pattern changed. They grabbed three tries as the Highlanders went a man down to a professional foul.

The Highlanders quivered at the thought of defeat, the Blues trembled at the thought of another victory and wondered why they had to chase the game so hard. When that messy period ended the hosts still took the gold.

It was justice. The Blues put the slop into sloppy, the Highlanders put another win in the results column.