1
Watch: Mark Telea's acrobatics cap off try-of-the-season contender
By Sam Smith
After conceding 14 points in the opening five minutes, it appeared that the Blues were set for a long night against the Rebels at Eden Park.
The home team - sitting on nine straight victories - had other ideas, however, and quickly found their form, scoring two tries of their own via Akira Ioane to level up the scores at the end of the first quarter.
From that point on, the Blues were relentless.
Finlay Christie, James Tucker, Hoskins Sotutu and Rieko Ioane all touched down over the next 20 minutes, handing the Blues a 42-14 lead with time almost up in the first half, before Mark Telea capped things off with one of the great individual finishes of the season.
It was rampaging prop Ofa Tuungafasi who got his side on the front foot at the 10-metre line inside Blues territory. Tuungafasi carried the ball in one hand as he fended off the advances of opposite Pone Fa'amausili then offloaded to his front-row partner Kurt Eklund.
Eklund was then able to deliver the ball to lock James Tucker as he was brought to ground and Tucker found All Blacks halfback Finlay Christie.
Keeping the play going, Christie slung the ball out to the right to Rieko Ioane, who ghosted on the outside of some Rebels defenders before firing the ball out to Telea on the 22-metre line.
The winger barreled down the sideline and with Rebels halfback Joe Powell looming, Telea dived like a gymnast, almost doing a forward roll while planting the ball down in goal just centimetres away from the paint.
It was an excellent team try - as were many of the Blues' other efforts throughout the first half - but it was the incredible finish from Telea that will have many including the score in the best of the season.
Unsurprisingly, social media was awash with fans praising Telea's touchdown.
While Stephen Perofeta couldn't quite nail the sideline kick (his first miss of the night), the 47 points scored in the first half marked a new Blues record.
Further, the collective 61 points sat not far behind a few previous records, including when the Crusaders scored 63 on their own in the first half against the Waratahs in 2001, and when the Bulls and Cats combined for 66 points in 2004.
The record of most points scored in a game likely won't be beaten, despite the Blues' hot form, with the Chiefs grabbing a comical 72-65 victory over the Lions in Johannesburg in 2010.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner
3
Let's be real about these All Blacks
4
Why World Cup winner doesn’t blame All Black for leaving New Zealand
5
Latest Comments
I think the best 15 we have is DMac. Jordan at 14.
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
Go to comments