Rugby: Blues clinch playoff spot

Charlie Faumuina of the Blues is tackled by Tony Brown of the Highlanders. Photo / Getty Images

Blues 33
Highlanders 16

The Blues relocated their mojo to confirm a Super 15 rugby playoffs spot tonight.

They backed up from four consecutive losses to win their final round robin match 33-16 over the Highlanders at Eden Park in Auckland.

The best performed New Zealand franchise for much of the regular season, the Pat Lam-coached home side were clinical in their finishing on a wet, windy, cold night.

Super 15 standings

The result guarantees them a spot among the top six for the playoffs, but their final positioning will not be known until the closing round of matches are completed this weekend.

The Highlanders, who for so long impressed under new coach Jamie Joseph this season, struggled in the latter stages of the competition and end their campaign with a record of eight wins and eight losses.

They had the better of the early exchanges tonight before the Blues asserted themselves in trying conditions, with judicious kicking in general play proving important.

A high kick set up their third and most decisive try when the ball landed in space and bounced away from Highlanders fullback Ben Smith and into the arms of his opposite Jared Payne.

It enabled the Blues to ease out to a 24-11 advantage early in the second half before penalties by wing Lachie Munro, who finished the match with 18 points, extended their lead despite a second try to Otago wing Matt Saunders.

Much maligned first five-eighth Stephen Brett played a leading role in both of the Blues' first-half tries.

With his side trailing 3-8 in the 17th minute the former Crusaders outfoxed a lax defence, showing the ball before bursting through a weak tackle then skipping inside to find the line.

Just four minutes later Brett helped the home side hit the lead themselves when he timed his pass to perfection to put second-five Luke McAlister through a hole near the line.

Veteran Highlanders No 10 Tony Brown landed a penalty before the break to leave the Blues ahead 17-11 at the interval after he had earlier landed a 30m dropped goal to build on an early try to Saunders, who showed good hands to scoop up a loose pass and slide across in the right hand corner following a series of forward drives.

BLUES 33 (Stephen Brett, Luke McAlister, Jared Payne tries Lachie Munro 3 cons 4 pens) bt HIGHLANDERS 16 (Matt Saunders 2 tries Tony Brown pen drop goal) at Eden Park. Referee: Bryce Lawrence.

- NZPA