BLUES 50
CHEETAHS 26
KEY POINTS:
Star fullback Isa Nacewa will be missing from the Blues when the Super 14 frontrunners face their biggest challenge against the unbeaten Sharks this weekend.
Nacewa damaged his right knee in a freakish tangle of players late in the game as he tried to prevent the Cheetahs claiming their bonus-point fourth try. The uncertain prognosis for Nacewa was the only gloomy result for coach David Nucifora as he surveyed the 50-26 victory in Bloemfontein.
"It doesn't look terribly good at this stage. I would think that Isa will definitely be out next week," Nucifora said. "We will need to assess the extent of the injury over the next few days."
But elsewhere the verdicts were reassuring as the Blues stacked up another impressive set of numbers to claim their third straight bonus point triumph in a sweltering tussle on the Highveld. The visitors grabbed seven tries to four as they posted 50 points for the second week in the Republic before a final trip to Durban before their return home.
Two years ago the Blues had trouble playing the Cheetahs at home when they needed a late Joe Rokocoko try to ensure a one-point win and while the scoreline showed a significant margin yesterday, it did not reveal the full impact of the struggle.
The Cheetahs showed more structure and resistance than they had in the opening rounds, they carried the ball strongly and were just outdone by the Blues pace and ability to convert turnover possession.
"It was a very tough day," Nucifora said about a game which started in temperatures near 30degC.
"It was the most draining of the three games we have played. It was a very big contact game."
Those factors made loosehead prop Tony Woodcock's contribution even more remarkable. The coach said his test prop had been very sick overnight from food-poisoning and had been so debilitated that he was only confirmed to start two hours before kickoff. Worries about Woodcock lasting the match meant a late rejig of the bench with the experienced Nick White replacing Bronson Murray.
"It was really courageous [of Woodcock] to last until a few minutes after halftime," Nucifora said.
At that stage the Blues had bagged their bonus point and were 28-12 ahead after impressive midfielder Benson Stanley surged through the defence and offloaded for Isaia Toeava's second try. The centre later retired with an ankle injury although there was no mention of him missing the final stage of the South African safari in Durban on Sunday.
Rokocoko benefited from solid work inside him to score a hat-trick while the outstanding individual try came from replacement Anthony Tuitavake whose dancing feet took him past five defenders late in the game.
All the tries went to the backs but it was the ability of the pack to soak up the physical inquisition from the local forwards, to muscle-up in defence courtesy of Keven Mealamu, Kurtis Haiu and Nick Williams and then still have the energy to carry the ball, which allowed the backs to prosper.
The Blues had their moments. They messed up a few lineouts and coughed up Kabamba Floors' late try after they lost concentration in a scrum. Missed tackles and a high penalty concession in the first half meant the Blues had to work hard throughout the game before the score blew out in their favour with two tries in the closing minutes.
"It was a very hard-fought match - the Cheetahs forwards gave us a real fight," Blues skipper Troy Flavell said. "I think we can take a lot of confidence from our set-piece that should set us up for the Sharks."
So far, Nucifora said, his squad had ticked off some goals they had for the trip. Maximum points from two games was "promising", he said, but the target had to be to step up and achieve a clean sweep next weekend.
