Saved from season-ending cut

Blues first five-eight Isa Nacewa is tackled by Bulls captain Victor Matfield at Eden Park last night. Picture / Kenny Rodger

Blues 30 Bulls 17

The Blues grimly stopped the Super 14 coffin shutting on them last night.

It was a respite, an answer to the humiliating loss against the Waratahs last week yet there was little to convince the 20,197 crowd the Blues were about to uncork a miracle run to the play-offs.

Attacking licence and a strong scrum allowed them to overcome the unsophisticated Bulls and gave them a week's grace in their sudden-death voyage into the latter stages of the competition.

But there will be scant relief from criticism, they will cop some April Fools gags.

The Blues lineouts were easier to skim than an Auckland bank, players dropped passes, had kicks charged down and were ill-disciplined. They played with the nerves of a side sensing the guillotine.

They avoided the ultimate chop, the season-ending slice and remain an unlikely but rogue threat to the rest of the competition. They also put a dent in the Bulls ambitions to make the semifinals again.

The Blues got off to a fast start with ring-in first five-eighths Isa Nacewa chipping and charging the defence to get the Blues into the red zone. Halfback John Senio flipped out of one tackle and then punctured the middle of a ruck to score after two minutes.

After that sharp beginning the Blues lost their edge, making the sort of basic mistakes which have littered their season.

The worst blunders were at the lineout where they conceded five of their own throws while Keven Mealamu had several other crooked throws.

The concession of a try to Bakkies Botha near their own line was the Blues most heinous offence. Botha almost dropped the ball, he was surprised Mealamu threw to him so accurately for an unopposed flop across the tryline.

Despite their troubles, the Blues were assisted by the visitors' lack of midfield nous, a reluctance to shift the ball wide and several inexplicable close-range kicking misses for usual deadeye Derick Hougaard.

Throughout the match though the Blues scrum was rock solid, good enough to take one tighthead from the tourists which gave the Blues the opportunity to use the individual talents of their backline.

Form and injury drew three important changes from coach David Nucifora and Nacewa, Brent Ward and Troy Flavell all delivered.

New five-eighths Nacewa gave a sparky display. He did not get the swiftest service but he attacked the line and offered much-needed variety and ambition about his play.

Ward was similarly adventurous from fullback in his first start for the season while Flavell's return brought the physical intensity needed against such a huge foe and an ingredient which was so deficient last week.

Other encouraging signs were Joe Rokocoko getting some ball and having the confidence to attack his markers, Rua Tipoki's dazzling runs in midfield which flummoxed the defence and created momentum, and the growing physical presence of No 8 Nick Williams.

Where the game plan has been limited or missing in recent weeks, the Blues opted for more adventure. Their best moment came from a clean lineout when the ball went wide and Viliame Waquaseduadua cut back to score his first Super 14 try.

The Bulls missed a bonus point and also lost flanker Angus Macdonald with what appeared to be a bad knee injury.

Blues 30 (J. Senio, N. Williams, V. Waqaseduadua, tries; I. Nacewa, 3 pen, 3 con).
Bulls 17 ( B. Botha, G. Botha, tries; D. Hougaard con, pen, M Steyn con).
HT: 20-10