The first of two Super Rugby semi-final qualifiers takes place this morning when the Blues take on the Waratahs at Eden Park, a ground where the Blues have a decent record against their Aussie counterparts.
The Blues have beaten the Waratahs in seven of the eight games they have played at Eden Park, and I have to honest, it does not look like the Waratahs will be improving on this record today. They are already without their in form scrumhalf Luke Burgess, but this will be countered by the motivation of their soon to be retiring captain Phil Waugh.
The Blues stumbled their way to a second place finish in their conference after leading for much of the season, seemingly peaking too early in the competition and picking up some cruel injuries. Recent results do indicate a return to form for the New Zealanders, who will be hoping to push through to the semi finals next weekend.
Teams
Blues: 15 Jared Payne, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Benson Stanley, 12 Luke McAlister, 11 Lachie Munro, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Luke Braid, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Anthony Boric, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (c), 1 Charlie Faumuina.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Tevita Mailau, 18 Chris Lowrey, 19 Daniel Braid, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Winston Stanley, 22 Sherwin Stowers.
Waratahs : 15. Lachie Turner , 14. Atieli Pakalani , 13. Ryan Cross , 12. Tom Carter , 11. Sosene Anesi , 10. Kurtley Beale , 9. Josh Holmes , 8. Dave Dennis , 7. Phil Waugh [c] , 6. Dean Mumm , 5. Sitaleki Timani , 4. Kane Douglas , 3. Paddy Ryan , 2. John Ulugia , 1. Benn Robinson ,
Reserves: 16. Elvis Taione , 17. Jeremy Tilse , 18. Pat O’Connor , 19. Chris Alcock , 20. Hugh Perrett , 21. Brendan McKibbin , 22. Bernard Foley
Match Officials
Referee: Chris Pollock
AR 1: Stuart Dickinson
AR 2: Glen Jackson
TMO: Vinny Munro
Ok guys I need help. My bro got a knock from rugby on his head. He is fine and the doc says it was however close. Now my mom wants him to stop playing. I need some facts, figures, arguments. The poor bugger lives for the sport.
@Mocho (Comment 1) : Not sure of the exact numbers but tell your mom that if you compare the number of players to the number of injuries it is a minuscule ammount of injuries
Also how long has your brother been playing and only now he gets a knock. Again the probability of injury is low.
Make him promise to wear headgear and tell her he’ll be fine.
@Mocho (Comment 1) : What do you mean “close”? That sounds serious? If it is, perhaps your mom is not overreacting.?
I’m not sure whether the Tahs can do this but I’m in two minds whether I’d want them to.
Tahs won’t beat the Stormers, Blues probably won’t either but the Blues will give them a tougher game.
Why is that of any concern? Well on the off chance that we do make the final, I’d prefer the Stormers to be tired.
Go Blues!!
@Mocho (Comment 1) : Thanks
yeah its his first injury like in 10years. He plays as a loose forward and hates wearing a scrum cap.
@ Ice: He has a bloodcloth on his head.
@Mocho (Comment 5) : lol ment to be at KSA not myself.
@Mocho (Comment 5) : He’d probably hate being brain damaged more.
The answer is simple really, no protection, no fun.
You can use that elsewhere in life as well
If the saders beat the sharks,then they will play the stormers.if…..
Blues by 9, and only one FL player, could not make a starting 15 this weekend
Is he at Westville. Their season is over anyway, take a miss from the club season and by the time next season come around, both he and your mom would have recovered enough for him to play.
@Mocho (Comment 1) : Concussion is extremely serious (my real job talking here) and you must get medical advice. Each concussion is different and people recover at different speeds. It effects people differently as well. So seek medical advice, the head is too important to guess.
@mocho:what does the doctor say?
@mocho:jip,sounds like something a neurologist must chech out.
Goal kickers Blues McAlister 69% (46 from 67); Munro 78% (14/18). Waratahs: Beale 73% (58/79)
Blues on average (super15 rank 1=most/highest) per game: 8.8 pens (13); 5.6 pens at ruck (8); 13.8 missed tackles (6)
Waratahs on average (super15 rank 1=most/highest) per game: 8.9 pens (12); 4.9 pens at ruck (12); 12.8 missed tackles (11)
Got Blues by 4. Go Blues!!
Elvis Taione?? family of Epi??
@bergshark (Comment 13) : @RuckinGoodStats (Comment 11) : @KSA Shark © (Comment 10) :
He went to the doctor. They quite surprised he never get a concussion. The bloodcloth is on the side of the head, and not in affecting his brain so to speak. Now his going for an ultra-scan or something like that. I always tell him to wear a scrum cap. Luckily the season is over. Its scary for my mom, but I just think that none of this would have happened if he wore a scrum cap. Although I remember once that some gave a lecture when I was at school saying that scrum caps don’t protect you from concussions, infact it makes you play more ‘recklessly’. Don’t know how true that is.
Scrum cap only stop cuts and low grade bruises. It will not stop a concussion. there is no evidence that states a scrum cap can stop concussion.
Ref stats: Pollack forced to award, per game average 19.8 pens (12.3 at ruck) 4.4 scrum resets & 3.3 scrum infringes
Ref stats: Pollack 8 (1=most/highest) from 17 refs to award pens, 10th in scrum resets, 7th for ruck pens
If the Sharks and Blues win this weekend, then the Sharks and Blues win again next weekend, then we’ll play the Blues (who had to travel twice in 2 weeks) in the final.
@RuckinGoodStats (Comment 18) : A good example is Berick Barnes.
@Mocho (Comment 17) : buddy its no use asking for medical info here,best thing for now since the season is over is make sure ur bro is okay nd keep him away from contact rugby till next year,that should ease your moms worries,and than next year sit down with your mom,your doctor and brother and take it from there,moms never stop worrying scrum cap or not,but if your brother promises to be responsible your mom will give in as she knows she can’t really stop him from playing rugby
This game is boring
@Poisy (Comment 22) : Thanks bro
yeah that sounds like a good idea. Thanks for all the advice. Playing wing at school I never got injured, ever! So this a bit of a new experience for my parents.
@RuckinGoodStats (Comment 14) : Cool stats as usual.
Can I make a suggestion to reduce the text for you? Well I’m going to anyway.
Rather than saying (1=most/highest), why not just say (1>15)? It should be clear enough to understand.
@Mocho (Comment 24) : haha u played wing! Always pictured you a reserve scrummie
with a name like mocho 
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 20) : And so would we have had to travel twice. If the Tahs win and then beat the Stormers then and IF we make the final then we would only travel from NZ to Brisbane and then Sidney rather than, NZ, Brisbane, NZ.
go blues!
Score?
@Ossa (Comment 29) : tahs 5-0 blues
@KSA Shark © (Comment 27) : True
Blues 0 – 5 Waratahs
22min
Try was by Carter in the 17th minute.
@Poisy (Comment 30) : Before EVERYONE jumps on you.
You ALWAYS put the home team’s score 1st.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 33) : FL try!
I’ve got 8 FL players on the injured list, with 3 others not playing this round and the other 19 bashing it out tomorrow. I will not see the top 10 again and lucky to stay in the top 20
@KSA Shark © (Comment 34) : noted sir
@KSA Shark © (Comment 33) : Starting XV try!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 33) :
Thanks to whoever fixed that for me.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 34) :
@KSA Shark © (Comment 34) : I don’t always… why’s it such a big deal anyway? People can tell which team is which usually…
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 38) : Not for me. Not even in my squad.
BTW, I’m at work and doing updates from web commentary.
Where are the other SW regular commentators?
@robdylan (Comment 41) : Don’t worry we’ll teach you the right way eventually.
Tom Carter het ñ regte ‘moer my’ gesig.
Must be the hair.
Blues 7 – 5 Tahs.
29min
Munro try and conversion by McAllister in the 25th minute.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 42) : Almost switched Carter and SBW around.
No idea where the other’s are.
and with that I’m off.
Back in 45
Neither of these teams will win this year’s competition. This conference system needs a re-look, I reckon the best thing would be to award half log points for local derbies..be it a win, 4 tries or losing within 7 points. Teams can keep their points difference and number of games won. There must be no team that is guaranteed a spot in the play offs. It’s not fair that the Aussie teams get a free ride…would also love to play the Brumbies, Force and Rebels twice. Best thing would be to have an all SA and Aussie semi this year…this would ensure that the New Zealanders and us will be on the same side when this format is reviewed. No way these 2 teams should have qualified ahead of the Bulls. Ali Williams just messed up try..typical of him.
Blu 7 – 8 War
HALF TIME blues 13-8 tahs
@robdylan (Comment 41) : Big deal when your a perfectionist it seems.
What a crap first half *yawn fest*
@KSA Shark © (Comment 34) : When saying EVERYONE you must be talking about you, yourself and YOURSELF!?
No one else has a problem with it.
@Poisy (Comment 50) : doesn’t look like exhilarating game
at least Blues in front.
@rekinek (Comment 54) : in front for nOw,they looking out of sorts
Time for work the boss is in the building oh well,I’m off
I can Guarantee that not everybody is clued up enough to know what’s going on and thus the need for specifics exists
Blues 13 – 8 Waratahs
50mins
What happened to that dudes leg?
Blues lead 16 – 8
Blues 16 – 8 Waratahs
56mins
@Ben (Comment 53) : Me, Myself and I.
Where were you when this discussion was had?
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 59) : Not watching
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 59) : which dude?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 62) : What discussion? I’m only teasing.
23-8
Ali Williams try!
Blu 23 – 8 War
63mins
@Ben (Comment 65) :
There was a discussion on it last week, about how the kiwis change score around at half time to reflect from which side each team is playing, etc.
@Uli (Comment 66) : And because you put that the right way around I know EXACTLY what each teams score is.
We can give this one to the Blues. Waratahs never really had a chance with all the injured players they have.
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 67) : FL try scorer!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 68) : Hehe oh I see, I missed that one.
Sounds like something Super Sport would do.
@Uli (Comment 66) : @KSA Shark © (Comment 69) : Huh? Who is playing?
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 73) :
hehe
I may be getting the win but no MP for me. Seems 8 is NOT enough.
Turner try! Conversion missed.
Blue 23 – 13 War1
75mins
26 – 13
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 77) : FL, reserve
, try!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 76) : Because of Beale’s shitty kicking, I wont get a margin either.
Stormers to play Blues in the semi
Would love to play the Blues in this year’s final.
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 77) : Oooooooooo There is my Margin point.
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 80) : I will, had blues by 12
@robdylan (Comment 81) : or crusaders
Has it ended – what’s the final score ?
FULLTIME
BLUES 26 – 13 WARATAHS
80MINS
13 POINT MARGIN
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 80) : I made him my FL Captain.
bad call.
@Greg (Comment 85) : Except that we know it will be the Blues.
@robdylan (Comment 81) :
I like the way you think!
It would be epic if the Sharks can beat the Bulls, Saders, Reds and Stormers in consecutive weeks away from home to win the title!
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 87) : Blues by 10
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 87) : Right on the edge but I got the MP.
@Greg (Comment 85) : I would be vary weary to say somehting like that
@KSA Shark © (Comment 89) : Possibly, but probably not, ask Morne
Good luck, though. You may not have noticed, but sharks are not really my favourite team, but from an SA point of view, another all SA final, especially in a World Cup year would be nice!
Waratahs spent only 2% of the 2nd half inside the Blues 22…
Tahs had only 35% possession in the 2nd half as well.
Blues had missed 16 tackles by halftime to the Tahs 4. By the 72nd minutes Blues had missed only 1 more, then 3 more in the 73rd min for the Tahs 2nd try.
The Waratahs had made 9 lineout throws that were judged not straight all season and made 3 more in this game.
20 Handling errors in this game. The Blues made 7 and Waratahs 13 with 9 in the Blues half.
@Greg (Comment 85) : impossible!
@Greg (Comment 94) : why do you spend so much time here if the Sharks aren’t your favourite team? Trolling much?
@robdylan (Comment 98) : Just to keep you honest (and to give you a hard time)
@KSA Shark © (Comment 25) : Good suugestion however I’m worried people not familar with maths might miss that…
@RuckinGoodStats (Comment 100) : If they are not familiar with maths, do you really think the stats would be of any interest to them?
Quite a boring match.
And no-one there to watch either.