THREE KEY FACTS From a commanding opening victory to a triumphant final showdown: tracing the Blues’ path to glory. Delve into the delicate balance between forward power and backline finesse that defined the Blues’ winning formula. Relive the pivotal moments that defined the Blues’ remarkable journey to Super Rugby triumph.
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits. OPINION The Blues found beauty in simplicity. Under Vern Cotter’s charge , they’ve embraced a direct, physical, possession-based attack built around a strong, mobile pack.
The focus on a game plan that brought the best out of their forwards was clear from the first game of the season – a 34-10 win over the Fijian Drua in Whangārei. It’s a structure that has allowed the likes of Hoskins Sotutu, Patrick Tuipulotu and Ofa Tu’ungafasi to flourish, without taking away from the razzle of their potent backline. It’s not always pretty, but it gets results.
On the table, they finished second with a 12-2 record; scoring the most points (488) and conceding the fewest (233) through the regular season. “You don’t get any prizes for artistic display, do you?” Cotter asked ahead of their final against the Chiefs. On Saturday night in the falling rain at Eden Park, their bash ‘em through the middle approach ended a 21-year wait for another fully-fledged Super Rugby title in emphatic fashion.
Two years a.