Waratahs 17
The Blues were impressive at the start last night. I found myself thinking: 'Holy hell, this could be it. This could be when they put it together for 80 minutes.'
Wrong. They had a good first half and a bad second half and I'd call that an average performance as
a result.
If you compare them to the Crusaders, if those two sides were to meet again this season - as they may do in the playoffs - my money would be on the Crusaders still.
They are playing with more rhythm, continuity and efficiency over 80 minutes and that'd be the difference between them, in my book.
I know a lot of people will say the Crusaders weren't very good against the Chiefs on Friday; that they made too many mistakes. Yes, but look at the way the Chiefs have played all season. They have been messy and difficult to play against.
They drag sides down to their level and that's what happened on Friday.
Yet you have to say that the Blues showed some real stuff in the first half. If they can keep that going, they will topple anyone. But it's a big word ... if. We've all been waiting for the Blues to make that 'if' redundant. We still are.
I thought their best players were those who still delivered in that second half when they seemed to think they had the match won; they had a bonus point; had put the cat out and were heading for bed.
No 8 Peter Saili worked hard; he had a lot of messy stuff to deal with and did it well. John Afoa and lock Anthony Boric played well, as did Keven Mealamu again and, even though he had an armchair ride in the first half, halfback Alby Mathewson kept causing problems, as did Isaia Toeava.
In the first half, the Blues played the offload game about as well as it could be played. A meeting with the Crusaders who, with Sonny Bill Williams, are probably the leading offloaders, would be interesting. But, again, Blues fans would simply be hoping their blokes could maintain the quality. Crusaders fans know their team can.
I'd also tip my hat in the direction of the Highlanders. Their win over the Rebels was great to watch - as much for their fierce determination and drive as anything.
Their season enters a tough patch now with heavyweight opponents and their depth in question. Everyone is saying they'll miss Colin Slade but consider how many minutes he's played and what they've done without him.
They don't meet the Blues until round 18 and they might be a little leg-weary then but, if they were to meet now, I don't know that I'd bet on the Blues.
They have a terrific spirit. Adam Thomson just keeps getting better and you'd have to say he made the right decision - a hard one for an Ashburton boy - in not going to the Crusaders. He looks every inch an All Black just as some players - like Chiefs' Sitiveni Sivivatu - are not.
He wants to go to France. He might get there before the World Cup, do you think?
