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Firepower from the bench. Those were the demands from the Blues on their overhauled All Blacks.
Nothing elaborate, just make an impact. Within minutes of those instructions Ali Williams narrowly missed a try; Keven Mealamu scored one and then supplied the next for recordbreaker Doug Howlett. Job done,
players satisfied, coach happy.
After a scratchy first half where the Chiefs' flamethrowers scorched the Blues' ambition and pressured them into error, the competition leaders unleashed their reserves and added to their self-belief.
"We wanted to get a 25- to 30-minute burst out of the guys on the bench, that was always the plan," coach David Nucifora explained.
He has taken some flak for not enlisting immediately his All Black quartet who had returned from PE camp. But Nucifora had a strategy which complemented the work the deputies had done in their absence.
So even when captain Troy Flavell succumbed to a groin strain, he was replaced by Anthony Boric rather than Williams.
"We thought it best to ask the All Blacks to just go for it for a shorter time," the coach said. "It was a bit different for Tony Woodcock who had to play most of the match but it worked out, it was pretty physical out there."
The All Blacks' match fitness was improving, they had made a great contribution but there was no guarantee that they would be up to full speed for another few weeks.
The Chiefs had bullied his side in previous seasons and Nucifora was rapt that the Blues stood up to the onslaught. They had shown in other matches that they could stretch sides and in Hamilton on Saturday they had demonstrated they could also cope with trench warfare-style rugby.
There were mistakes - Isa Nacewa might not have made in a regular season the handling mishaps he did in the first half - but the Blues were able to soak up the pressure and then claim their first win in four matches against their neighbouring rivals.
"Our defence was very strong and we thought we should have scored at least another two tries," Nucifora said.
"Ian Foster said to me after the game that was his best team and their best performance this season and we were able to get over the top of them. So that says something."
The Blues worked the Chiefs over in the lineouts, claiming six of their throws when they were delivered well clear of the intimidating Keith Robinson and earning two of their tries from that part of the game.
When Luke McAlister retired with a fractured cheekbone, the Blues lost some of their clout until the forwards sorted out some decent ball for replacement midfielder Sam Tuitupou to barrel through the inside channels.
The momentum was repaired and Isaia Toeava chimed in with a few of his express excursions.
The centre's work has already won the acclaim this year of national coach Graham Henry and he would also have been impressed with Richard Kahui in his first full game at centre after a frustrating shoulder injury.
There were enough classy touches to suggest Kahui could be a contender for an expanded test squad.
If the Chiefs repeat this performance in every game to follow, they may reach the playoffs and will certainly affect the chances of other contenders.
If the Blues' form continues they should nail a lucrative home semifinal.
