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A new team in the making and dogged by injuries and unavailabilities for much of their Super 14 trip, the Blues completed their tour yesterday morning clutching an audacious 10 points.
Truth to tell, there was a touch of disbelief on the faces of several of the Blues staff afterwards but that was understandable. Who would have forecast such a haul from so difficult a trip?
Yesterday morning in a windy Cape Town, it seemed the 59-point hiding by the Bulls seven days earlier had never happened. The Blues won at Newlands because they had the greater structure and consistency against a wildly erratic, overambitious Stormers side which played like a collection of individuals. The Blues' cohesion proved crucial in a tight game.
"Getting 10 points from the trip is certainly pleasing" said coach Pat Lam.
"When games are tight like this one, it comes down to taking the opportunities when you get them. The score and the game reflected that: this one went right down to the wire and we're just pleased to get the win away from home. This is another step for us because good teams bounce back from adversity."
Lam added: "It was a tough week but we had a really good week's work. It was a big day for Justin Collins and he epitomises what we are about, what we try to strive for - courage, hard work and the team ethos.
"So we are happy but you don't win the tournament on one game."
It was a scrappy game, both sides making mistakes and taking wrong options at times.
But the Blues have finished their tour on a high. With nine of their last 10 games in New Zealand, who knows where their season is headed?
