Blues cruise past Force 40-19 to stay in playoff hunt
Beauden Barrett was part of the winning Blues side
©PA
The Blues reignited their Super Rugby Pacific campaign with a confident 40–19 victory over the Western Force at Eden Park.
Playing in front of their home fans and needing a bonus-point win to stay in playoff contention, the Auckland-based side delivered a composed and clinical performance, with six tries scored and fly-half Beauden Barrett at the heart of their attacking engine.
The hosts opened their account after 15 minutes, using a solid scrum platform to build momentum. Prop Marcel Renata took full advantage, barging over from close range for the first try.
Just seven minutes later, the backline showed its sharpness, with a flowing move ending in winger Cole Forbes sprinting over in the corner to extend the lead.
The Force, though outplayed in territory, showed their resilience just before the break. Flanker Carlo Tizzano, one of the standout performers in this year’s competition, powered through the defence to score a vital try, narrowing the halftime margin to 12–7 and keeping the visitors within striking distance.
The second half, however, belonged largely to the Blues. Within three minutes of the restart, AJ Lam made an instant impact off the bench, finishing a brilliant counter-attack with a try that reignited the Eden Park crowd.
That momentum was briefly interrupted when the Force responded in the 47th minute, as Kurtley Beale marked his return with a well-worked try, trimming the lead to 19–12.
The Blues pushed ahead again at the 55-minute mark when second-rower Laghlan McWhannell crashed over following a sustained spell of forward pressure.
Just five minutes later, Forbes claimed his second try of the night, showcasing smart support play to finish off another multi-phase attack that stretched the Force defence thin.
Still refusing to roll over, the Force clawed back another score through hooker Nic Dolly, who burrowed over from a driving maul in the 68th minute. But the final blow was landed by the Blues.
In the 75th minute, Josh Beehre burst through a fatigued Force line to score the sixth and final try, securing the all-important bonus point and sealing the 40–19 win.
