View photosKEY POINTS:
THE troubled Blues repaired their disconcerting late Super 14 slump to guarantee themselves a semifinal place next week - foe and location unknown.
Those playoff issues were irrelevant for the Blues, victory last night was the sole objective after three straight defeats had put their campaign in jeopardy. It was a difficult night at Subiaco Oval in Perth, not one to play catch-up rugby as drizzle fell throughout the match.
The Blues patched up enough of their problems to get in front and then push on with some concerted, driving forward play to give them a bonus point victory and reverse the run of rough results. They also had some fortune when a touchjudge blunder allowed Keven Mealamu to score from a quick throw-in using the wrong ball.
But other tries to his frontrow mates, Tony Woodcock and John Afoa were the results of determined, organised, patient forward work.
"The one thing we wanted to see was commitment," said Blues captain Troy Flavell.
Victory was not a total cure for the Blues but it was much better than heading home to inquests about why they had missed the playoffs for the fourth successive season.
That became a possibility once the Chiefs ended the Crusaders 26-game home winning sequence and surged into the top four ahead of the Blues. Had the Blues not won they would have been left in fourth place on the table and vulnerable to the Bulls and Brumbies who could overtake them in games to come this weekend.
However the Blues' victory pushed them into temporary second place on points differential behind the Crusaders and ensured they could not be overtaken as one of the final four qualifiers. Their semifinal opponent and the venue for that match will not be decided until tomorrow when the Bulls play the 91st and final Super 14 pool game.
The Chiefs are now at the mercy of the Bulls and Brumbies who can pass them with permutations of victories, bonus points and points differential. The Blues will fly to Sydney to wait for the decision about whether they travel to South Africa or New Zealand.
For most of the opening quarter last night both sides tried to play the match inside the other's half because of the wet ground. Blues midfielder Luke McAlister produced one cameo kick and retrieve but the scoring was restricted to penalty goals between McAlister and Matt Giteau until almost 30 minutes had elapsed.
Then in a bold move, Isa Nacewa broke from near his 22 and with supporting help from McAlister and Isaia Toeava, the Blues were halted just short of the Force tryline. They kept their concentration though, recycled the ball several times until left wing Rudi Wulf was given enough space to outpace the attempted covering tackle from Force captain Nathan Sharpe.
It was a precious score in the conditions while the Force wasted several strong chances when Giteau missed the touchline twice in the Blues 22 as he tried to crab a few extra metres from penalty punts. However he did convert a penalty on halftime when the Blues were warned any more professional fouls near their line would cost them players in the sinbin.
Halftime over, the Blues tightened the discipline, ramped up the pace and the pressure and the Force folded.
Blues 33 (R. Wulf, J. Afoa, K. Mealamu, T. Woodcock, tries; L. McAlister 3 pen, 2 con). Force 6 (M. Giteau 2 pen). Halftime 13-6.
