Blues top Super Rugby table after thrashing Force 50-3

The Blues will head into their bye at the top of the Super Rugby Pacific table, after an eight-try romp against the Western Force at Eden Park last night.

Four came in the first half – the pick of them halfback Taufa Funaki’s – and another four followed in the second as the home team won 50-3 in Auckland.

The Blues have drawn level on points with the Hurricanes, who had their bye in round seven this weekend, so have played one game fewer, and now fall to second on points difference.

Funaki’s try just before halftime came after some desperate work from Blues winger AJ Lam to keep the ball in play, with Corey Evans then breaking free and popping the ball up to his halfback.

Winger Caleb Clarke had been alert to set up their third, which came immediately after the Force had got on the board through a Ben Donaldson penalty in the 29th minute.

The kickoff wasn’t claimed cleanly, but as it appeared to be falling towards Force second-five Hamish Stewart, Clarke stuck out an arm and won the ball for the Blues.

Stand-in skipper Dalton Papali’i then made the definitive burst, setting Laghlan McWhannell on his left shoulder up to score.

The Force came out looking to enter into a kicking duel and made some early territorial gains, but the game swiftly turned in the Blues’ favour once they generated set-piece opportunities in dangerous areas.

The home team went close a couple of times before Ofa Tu’ungafasi dove over on the right to begin the scoring action in the 13th minute, while Ricky Riccitelli was the beneficiary of a lineout drive seven minutes later.

Bruising loose forward Hoskins Sotutu inflicted further pain on the Force when he crashed over three minutes into the second half, while Funaki scored his second and Evans raced away with an intercept before the hour mark.

The game lost direction somewhat as both teams turned to their benches, but the Blues had to be happy, given the number of changes they made to their side, as they extended their unbeaten run against the Force to 12 matches across 16 years.

The Blues have put pressure on the Hurricanes not to fluff their lines when they host the Chiefs in their game in hand at Sky Stadium next week, as the Super Rugby Pacific table heads into a messy period during the three rounds where the 12 teams have their byes.

With six wins from seven matches in the bag, the Blues now have their bye week, before resuming at their Eden Park home against the Brumbies in round nine on Saturday, April 20.

Source: Stuff.co