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16/02/2008 11:01
Auckland - The Blues fully exploited Super 14 rugby's new rules to score two late tries, clinching a 32-14 win over the Chiefs on Saturday.
All Blacks wing Joe Rokocoko and replacement centre Ben Atiga both scored from scrums in the last quarter of the match, taking advantage of rules which require both attacking and defensive backlines to be back five metres from set pieces.
Rokocoko burst onto a short pass in the 61st minute when the Blues took a scrum from a free-kick and sawed through a deep and flat-footed Chiefs defence to give his team a 22-14 lead after it had trailed 11-8 at half-time.
Former All Black Atiga scored in the 73rd minute when fullback Isa Nacewa made full use of the space offered around the scrum, changing the direction of an attack, wrong-footing the defence and handing off to Atiga who scored under the posts.
Rokocoko also had a hand in the 52nd-minute try by lock and captain Troy Flavell which retrieved the lead for the Blues in the second half - the fourth lead change in what had been a closely fought match.
Adapted to new rules
The Blues had taken the lead after four minutes with a try by halfback Danny Lee in his 50th Super match but flyhalf Stephen Donald kicked penalties in the seventh and 14th minutes to put the Chiefs ahead 6-5.
The Blues' newest signing, All Blacks flyhalf Nick Evans, kicked his first goal from three attempts in the 24th minute to put the Blues ahead 8-6. The Chiefs hit back with a try to All Blacks fullback Mils Muliaina a minute from halftime to take a three-point lead into the break.
The Blues gained the ascendancy in the second half, adapting better than the Chiefs to the new rules and the demands of a fast-paced game. Their scrum was dominant and their forwards constantly made ground with raids around the fringes of rucks and mauls.
When possession tipped in the Blues favour in the second half, its talented backline was able to take full advantage, eventually grabbing a bonus-point try.
"We've got talent to burn and we showed that tonight which was great," Flavell said.
The Chiefs only points of the second half came from a penalty to Donald, his third goal from six attempts.
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