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Dominant Blues hand heavy defeat to Highlanders despite late fight-back from southerners
By Online Editors
Otere Black claimed 19 points as the Auckland Blues cruised to a 39-17 win over the Otago Highlanders at Eden Park to pick up a second straight win at the start of the new Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign.
Black scored a try, two penalties and four conversions as Leon MacDonald's team secured a bonus point from a dominant display against the outclassed Highlanders to move into second place in the early season standings.
The Blues will go into their meeting with the Canterbury Crusaders next week five points behind Scott Robertson's team, having played one game fewer.
Otago took an early lead through Josh Ioane's fourth-minute penalty, but before long the home side were imposing themselves on the game as they camped out in the Highlanders' half.
Black crossed the line in the 10th minute to score after Rieko Ioane burst through the Highlanders defensive line before offloading to his teammate for the try.
Caleb Clarke added a second for the Blues seven minutes later at the end of a flowing passage of play that saw Black move the ball out to Ioane, who released All Black Clarke to score.
Black added a penalty 12 minutes before the end of a half totally dominated by the Blues, who should have been further ahead by the time the hooter sounded.
The Highlanders' hopes were hit further with the loss through injury to Jona Nareki, who starred in Otago's win over Waikato Chiefs last week, while Josh Dickson entered the sin bin in the dying minutes of the half to heap more pressure on Otago.
The Blues took advantage with Emoni Narawa crossing the line three minutes after the restart, with the replacement scoring out wide.
While Ash Dixon's try gave the Highlanders a glimmer of hope, a penalty from Black and a converted try by Akira Ioane 16 minutes from time put the result beyond doubt.
Folau Fakatava reduced the deficit with nine minutes still on the clock, but it was little more than a consolation for Tony Brown's team.
Blues 39 (Otere Black, Caleb Clarke, Kurt Eklund, Akira Ioane, Emoni Narawa tries; Black 4 cons, 2 pens)
Highlanders 17 (Ash Dixon, Folau Fakatava tries; Josh Ioane 2 cons, pen)
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Latest Comments
Ben Smith. My Man! So glad this is only "opinion piece". I was Reading the headline and straight away assumed you meant a 2 horse race between Pieter and Cheslin. There was no way you you meant Caelan.
Cheslin is not only the most exciting winger of this generation, but also a multi disciplined performer, Defence, Lineouts, Conversions and scrumming. LOL. He can do it all. He can put players twice his size on there rear ends and side step at full pace around on coming traffic on a penny.
I will also note that there has been since 2009 till 2017 only NZ winners bar the great one Thierry Dusautoir for France in 2011. And this was because they were the best team in the world winning back to back world cups, also having the best players at that time nominated. Never before has there been more than 2 players from the same country nominated for the award, but this year there was 3 from SA. All Dbl World Cup winning Players.
No one has been so put out about who was nominated in earlier awards, but for some reason you are.
I am thankful that its not up to you to decide on the "token" choices. (Rather lets not use that language again). The world chose the players and lets leave it there.
I don't Blame Rugby Pass for allowing this to print, but there should have been some profound editing on this.
Thanks for your opinion, But maybe lets keep it that just yours not anyone else's.
Go to commentsIf OZ are to regain their lost credibility they now need to tip up the Irish or at least run them close. Can't see that happening even though miracles occasionally occur
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