Blues turn it on in second half, edge Brumbies

JASON OXENHAM/Auckland Suburbans

WALL OF DEFENCE: Blues No 8 Viliami Ma'afu holds up his Brumbies opposite Stephen Hoiles short of the try line in the first half of their Super 14 clash at Eden Park.

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It may have been Keven Mealamu's night, but rising young backline star Rene Ranger was the star of the show at Eden Park as a resurgent Blues side finally found top Super 14 form to hold out the ACT Brumbies.

The Blues erupted early in the second half to score four tries in an exhilarating 14-minute spell to prevail 39-34 and mark Mealamu's 100th Super rugby game in spectacular fashion. It also ended a three-game winning streak by the Brumbies.

Inspired by a fabulous display of running rugby from their young centre Ranger, the Blues shook of a six-point halftime deficit (10-16) to score four early second-half tries en route to their third win of the season. With the bonus point, the result propelled the Auckland-based side up the table, taking them to 14 points.

Fresh off the bye following a less than convincing first four matches, Pat Lam's Blues side came out with much more purpose, endeavour and accuracy in their first Eden Park appearance of the year, and rewarded a big crowd with a crucial win.

And they were rewarded with easily their best performance of the season.. That home backline, brimful of attacking talent, finally unleashed the sort of magic they're capable of, and the Blues forwards played their part splendidly too, especially at the breakdown where they won the sort of crisp ball that had their speedsters salivating.

The Brumbies more than played their part in an entertaining clash and even gave themselves a sniff at the end as they closed a 14-point deficit a quarter of an hour into the second spell to just two points late in the piece.

But the Blues' nerve held at the end, with the home side winning all the ball over the last few minutes and Stephen Brett adding an insurance dropped goal to send the Brumbies back across the Tasman with just the solitary bonus point.

It had all been much more restrained in the opening 40 minutes, with just a try apiece as the Brumbies held that six-point buffer at the break.

Big prop Salesi Ma'afu had rumbled over early to give the visitors a 7-0 lead, and after the kickers exchanged penalties, wing Joe Rokocoko got the Blues back on terms just after the first quarter mark.

That try, like so many on the night, had featured Ranger's touch, with the big centre breaking the Brumbies' defensive line and offloading perfectly for his wing to apply the finish. But two more Giteau penalties eased the Australians out to a halftime lead they would have been content with.

But it didn't take long in the second spell for this match to turn on its head.

Ranger was over after just two minutes when he showed good strength close to the line to find his way over off Rudi Wulf's popped pass, and two minutes later Benson Stanley had the Blues in front, 22-16, when Ranger's big run up the middle established the go-forward and good hands put the young midfielder over out wide.

Giteau briefly halted the momentum with another penalty, but Rokocoko had his second score on the 50-minute mark when Brett put in a pinpoint cross-kick to his unmarked wing, and when fullback Isaia Toeava made it four tries in less than quarter of an hour five minutes later the Blues looked safe at 36-22.

Not so though. Replacement hooker Huia Edmonds found clear territory on the blindside of a ruck to get the Brumbies back within nine as the match entered its final quarter and five minutes from the end halfback Patrick Phibbs wriggled over in Wulf's tackle to have the Aussies just two points off a remarkable comeback win.

But this was Mealamu's night, and his men obliged with a cool and clinical finish to start the celebrations around Eden Park.

It had been "very special", remarked Mealamu afterwards, praising his players for their outstanding second-half performance that he said showed "real character".

Ranger was brilliant for the home side and remains the form centre in the New Zealand game. Rokocoko, Wulf, Toeava and busy halfback Alby Mathewson also had strong games in the Blues backline, while up front Jerome Kaino and Serge Lilo led the charge in a fairly spirited showing.

Mealamu, too, never stopped burrowing forward with the trademark determination, and in the end he left the field with a massive smile on his place as the crowd paid tribute to his fine career.

But much of the applause must also have been directed at Ranger. He's not perfect, and still mixes the odd error into his performances, but there can be no doubting he has the sort of X-factor that could yet get this Blues side heading in the right direction.

The Brumbies also paid the price for missing 22 tackles, while 33 errors didn't help their cause either.

Blues 39 (Joe Rococoko 2, Rene Ranger, Benson Stanley, Isaia Toeava tries; Stephen Brett 4 con, pen, dropped goal) ACT Brumbies 34 (Salesi Ma'afu, Huia Edmonds, Patrick Phibbs tries; Matt Giteau 2 con, 5 pen). Halftime: 10-16.

- © Fairfax NZ News