Force with the Blues

Justin Collins is tackled in the match against the Western Force last night. Sandra Mu / Getty Images

Blues 43 Force 5

Early days but early promise from the Blues last night in their win against the Force at Eden Park, a victory which completed their Super 14 preparations.

Judgement had to be tempered though because the visitors, while exhibiting a willing pack who were also solid in the set pieces, had issues with their defence and backline attack in the hitout at Eden Park.

The Blues had most of the attacking ball in the first half and showed the combined signs of structure and a cutting edge which suggests they will trouble most defences when the expanded competition starts next week.

With injuries removing Steve Devine and Tasesa Lavea, the Blues used the untested combination of John Senio at halfback and the utility Isa Nacewa at first five eighths. They varied their play impressively and served a backline which was too organised for their opposites.

Senio sent a strong message to coach David Nucifora about his credentials to start the Blues opening Super 14 match against the Hurricanes while Nacewa can cover most backline positions.

Nacewa began the scoring when he broke for a try in the third minute and the Blues had crossed for an additional four tries by halftime as they maintained the pressure through the weight of their possession.

The contest was far more even in the scrums and lineouts where the Force built on the experience of forwards like Brendan Cannon, Dave Fitter, Nathan Sharpe and Scott Fava. There was not that solidity from the Force backline which fell away with their tackling and direction.

The Blues starting pack looked close to their best choice, certainly with a tight five which, except for the useful Greg Rawlinson, all made the latest All Black tour to Europe.

There will be room for discussion about the looseforward combination though. Opensider Daniel Braid sat out last night's game and Nick Williams went off with a leg injury after a spell at blindside flanker. There may yet be some positional tinkering with Williams, another All Black Angus Macdonald and the workaholic Justin Collins.

* The Chiefs flew out to South Africa this morning after pipping the Hurricanes 27-26 in their final hitout in Rotorua yesterday.

A late Loki Crichton penalty ensured the Chiefs their second win in as many leadup games and coach Ian Foster rated the performance a step up from the Highlanders game in Queenstown last week.

He liked the look of the scrum and the lineout was encouraging if not consistently strong.

"But overall the flow of the team felt better and defensively we were coming up off our line more positively," he said.

"It was certainly not a complete picture but there were some steps forward from the week before."

The three All Blacks having their first outing of the year, Mils Muliaina, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Byron Kelleher, had good 50-60 minute hitouts and although some of the combinations were not as fluent as he'd like, Foster saw signs of good things to come.

* SCORING

The Chiefs led 17-14 at the break, and got tries through Sivivatu, Sione Lauaki and Kristian Ormsby, with Stephen Donald and Crichton kicking the rest of the points.

The Hurricanes got four tries, to Tamati Ellison, Lome Fa'atau and Ma'a Nonu along with a penalty try.