The Blues' comeback - all is forgiven

Blues captain Xavier Rush looks to offload as Bolla Conradie looks to pull him down. Picture / Fotopress

Blues 37 Stormers 24

The Blues face another backline overhaul after injuries blighted their extraordinary revival against the Stormers. Memories of last season's massive loss to the Stormers must have returned for the Blues as they trailed 0-24 after a lack of any intensity in the first quarter.

But they rescued themselves from that wreckage with 37 unanswered points, controlling play in the wet and choking the locals' meagre resistance.

There were further medical mishaps though for the Blues, with first five-eighths Tasesa Lavea injuring his knee and centre Ben Atiga retiring with a shoulder problem.

It was remarkable that Lavea started the game in Cape Town after damaging rib cartilages last week. He was a potent part of the Blues' renaissance, directing play soundly and also scoring two tries.

He hurt his knee early in the second half but stayed on until victory was assured late in the game. Atiga left early and both backs are doubtful for Saturday's game against the Bulls.

Some lazy Blues defence conceded three tries early and it could have been a fourth had Joe Rokocoko not nudged his opposite Tonderai Chavhanga across the touchline.

After that inglorious start the Blues started to get some useful ball and made strong use of it in the deteriorating conditions at Newlands. Lavea bombed the Stormers back three or went wide where the defence was flimsy.

Two tries came but it was the third after the halftime hooter that delivered the Blues their most triumphant statement. Instead of kicking a penalty out, the Blues attacked from their own line, Rokocoko carved upfield before Luke McAlister chipped the line and captain Xavier Rush claimed the kick to score.

"We had put the pressure on them and they cracked," manager Ant Strachan said. "We were 22-24 behind at the break but we were buzzing, we knew we could put the pressure on them and they would crack."

Three more Blues tries followed as the determined pack ground through their work and cut down their mistake rate while the locals shrivelled under the inspection.

Rush, Daniel Braid and Jerome Kaino were far more accurate with the ball than their opponents while the tight five repaired their early setpiece uncertainty.

Angus Macdonald's return from a long layoff helped Bradley Mika in the second row while Tony Woodcock continued his impressive contributions at loosehead prop.

This was the fourth straight win for the Blues as they eased into the top four with matches against the Bulls, Hurricanes and Waratahs to go.

The Blues were applauded as they completed a lap of honour of Newlands while the ground announcer was forced to plead with the crowd not to boo the Stormers as they left the field.

Last week the Stormers conceded 33 unanswered points against the Crusaders, yesterday's surrender was worse.

The controlling axis of Rush, Steve Devine, Lavea and McAlister is starting to look smooth, the back three are regaining harmony and the pack has got the diligence message.

The Blues have repaired some of the fragility which wounded them against the Reds, Chiefs and Crusaders, and they have shown more of their venom, which will worry the rest of their Super 12 competitors.

However, the latest injuries and the simmering danger of the Bulls will equally concern the Blues.