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38-0! Blues hang on for gutsy win over Waratahs to keep NZ's unbeaten run over Australia alive

May 5, 2018

Relive all of the action from the Blues' 24-21 win over the Waratahs at Brookvale Oval, Sydney.

FULLTIME: Blues 24 Waratahs 21

Moulds throws from the lineout, and Cowley-Tuioti claims it, the Waratahs are penalised for entering from the side and the Blues just look to run the clock down! The siren goes in the background. They take another lineout and the Waratahs have it! They go to the blindside through Holloway! Paddy Ryan has a crack but he's lost the ball.

That'll be the game! The Blues hold out to keep New Zealand's run alive!

79 mins: Blues 24 Waratahs 21

Perofeta clears from the scrum and straight away the Waratahs are back on attack. They look to move the ball wide, but Leger brings down Wells out on the right wing. They spread the ball to the other wing now, as Clark has a crack. The Waratahs with a huge overlap on the left. Foley tries the line but is bought down. Huge defence from the Blues, 19 phases deep.

They kick out to the right now through Beale, looking for Folau, but it's too big! The Waratahs have blown a golden opportunity to take the win and the Blues get out of jail temporarily!

75 mins: Blues 24 Waratahs 21

The Waratahs hot on attack now after that try. Ruru gives away a penalty after a late tackle on Phipps, and the Waratahs opt for the lineout. They win their own throw and look to attack through the forwards. Folau has a crack but is tackled, Paddy Ryan has a go, but Akira Ioane does brilliantly, firstly in creating a maul before winning the penalty. 

A possibly match winning bit of play there from Akira. Blues scrum.

71 mins: Blues 24 Waratahs 21

TRY!! The Waratahs aren't done yet! Phipps finds Beale from the base of the ruck, before Beale goes back inside to Hooper. The Waratahs skipper cuts right through the Blues and scores under the posts.

Foley nails the conversion and the Blues lead is just three going into the last 10 minutes.

68 mins: Blues 24 Waratahs 14

Penalty!  The Blues have yet another lineout and this time they look to run the ball. The Waratahs are penalised for an accidental offside from Foley. Scrum for the Blues just in front of the 5m line. Ruru feeds, but the Waratahs collapse. Ruru feeds again. The ball goes back to Perofeta, who finds Leger, who hits the line. Tuipulotu attacks now and the Waratahs do well to bring him down.

The Blues looking to move the ball now, as they get another advantage for offside, and Perofeta will have another shot at goal. He doesn't miss them from there as the Blues add another three points.

62 mins: Blues 21 Waratahs 14

Penalty!  Blues scrum and Akira Ioane charges at the line off the back. The referee has the arm out for offside, Perofeta throws out wide, but Ruru can't hold on. We'll go back for the penalty though and Perofeta will have a shot at goal.

He lines up the kick, and has no trouble with this one either.

58 mins: Blues 18 Waratahs 14

Waratahs scrum just behind the 10m line. Gordon feeds and finds Foley. Foley tries to bring in the Beale-Folau combination, but the Blues' defence are all over them. Beale kicks through for Clark, but the ball goes into touch before the chasers can get there. Lineout for the Blues.

52 mins: Blues 18 Waratahs 14

Handling errors really hurting the Waratahs, Naiyaravoro makes a break down the left wing, before dropping the ball short of the tryline. The Blues have a lineout.

47 mins: Blues 18 Waratahs 14

The Waratahs camped on the Blues' line at the moment, but the visitors manage to win the turnover. The ball goes back to Leger, who belts it into touch to clear the danger.

44 mins: Blues 18 Waratahs 14

The Waratahs give away a penalty for not rolling away, the Blues find touch and will have a lineout. The Blues knock the ball on though and the Waratahs will have a scrum.

41 mins: Blues 18 Waratahs 14

The Blues kick off through Perofeta and the second half is underway!

HALFTIME: Blues 18 Waratahs 14

Pulu boots the ball into touch to bring the first half to a close. A fairly even contest so far, but the Blues will need to make their advantage count in the second half.

38 mins: Blues 18 Waratahs 14

Penalty!  The Blues go close as Perofeta and Pulu exchange passes! The Waratahs give away a penalty right on their own goal line for offside, Pulu points to the posts and Perofeta will take a shot.

It's over and the Blues lead is four points.

34 mins: Blues 15 Waratahs 14

TRY!! Again the Waratahs hit back! Folau makes a brilliant break after a pass from Beale. He finds Beale again who's tackled just short of the line. The Waratahs pick and go through Kepu, who goes over in the corner to score!

Foley with the kick, and he's belted it! The Blues lead now just one point.

30 mins: Blues 15 Waratahs 7

TRY!!  Lineout for the Blues and Parsons overthrows it. Rieko Ioane snaps it up and the Blues ltry to work the ball upfield, but they've given away a penalty for incorrectly joining the ruck! Foley kicks but it's not out and the Blues can counter! 

Perofeta steps through, before finding Duffy, who fires a wide pass out to Manu on the wing. Manu cuts back inside before holding off two defenders to score!

Perofeta with his third kick, but this time he pushes it wide away to the right.

26 mins: Blues 10 Waratahs 7

TRY! The Waratahs make the most of their advantage! They take the lineout and go for the driving maul. They get close before Fitzpatrick peels off and scores! 

Foley with another kick, and he's got it this time! The Blues' lead is cut back to just three.

24 mins: Blues 10 Waratahs 0

Yellow card!  The Waratahs attack from a lineout. The forwards looking to barge their way over but the Blues' defence holding firm. Folau gets the ball out wide and makes a run, he gets the ball to Foketi, who looks for Clark, but Papalii comes out of nowhere, and gets him high.

This could be a yellow and a penalty try! The TMO says that it won't be a penalty try, but Papalii is sent to the bin.

18 mins: Blues 10 Waratahs 0

Penalty!  The Waratahs give away a penalty now, Pulu taken out early. The skipper points at the posts, Perofeta makes it look easy as the Blues lead by 10.

14 mins: Blues 7 Waratahs 0

The Waratahs attack now! Beale has a crack at the line, but Tumua Manu lifts him in the tackle to give away a penalty. The Waratahs opt for the lineout. They look to drive through Hanigan but the Blues defence holds. Pulu intercepts and passes to Rieko Ioane!

Ioane's in for a second here, Cam Clark chasing and gets him, but Rieko gets to his feet to score! Oh hang on, he's been penalised for not releasing?! The Waratahs get out of jail through a strange call. There didn't look like there was too much wrong there from Rieko.

8 mins: Blues 7 Waratahs 0

TRY!!  The Blues have a scrum before Pulu kicks for the corner. The ball doesn't go into touch as Folau looks to get out of danger. He finds Foley, who throws a shocking pass to Beale, but Rieko Ioane gets there first and goes over! Great start for the Blues!

Perofeta lines up the kick, and has no trouble! First blood to the Blues at Brookvale!

5 mins: Blues 0 Waratahs 0

The Blues force the error from the Waratahs and have a scrum on their own 22, Pulu feeds and Akira Ioane goes for the blidnside. The Blues knock the ball on and Beale kicks across field for Cameron Clark. Caleb Clarke gives away a penalty for joining the ruck incorrectly.

Hooper points for the posts and Foley will have a shot at goal, but he misses. Still scoreless at Brookvale.

KICK OFF: Blues 0 Waratahs 0

Bernard Foley gets the game underway at Brookvale Oval!

9:43pm

The Blues are the first side out on the field in Sydney, followed closely by the Waratahs. Kick off not far away.

PRE MATCH

After last night's Crusaders thumping of the Rebels, New Zealand teams have now gone 37 straight matches without suffering defeat at the hands of Australian opposition.

However, that record could be undone tonight, as the out of form Blues face the Waratahs on enemy territory.

The Blues made unwanted history last week, becoming the first Kiwi side to taste defeat at the hands of the Jaguares, needing a bounce back victory for pride's sake.

The likes of Jerome Kaino and Patrick Tuipulotu make a timely return for the Blues, while youngster Caleb Clarke gets a start on the wing after stellar performances at this year's Brisbane Tens.

For the Waratahs meanwhile, Israel Folau makes his return to the field, starting at fullback for the first time since his social media storm last month.

TEAMS:

Blues:  15. Matt Duffie, 14. Tumua Manu, 13. Orbyn Leger, 12. Rieko Ioane, 11. Caleb Clarke, 10. Stephen Perofeta, 9. Augustine Pulu (c), 8. Akira Ioane, 7. Dalton Papalii, 6. Jerome Kaino, 5. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 3. Sione Mafileo, 2. James Parsons, 1. Ross Wright.

Reserves: 16. Matt Moulds, 17. Pauliasi Manu, 18. Mike Tamoaieta, 19. Ben Nee-Nee/Lyndon Dunshea, 20. Murphy Taramai, 21. Jonathan Ruru, 22. Dan Kirkpatrick, 23. Terrence Hepetema

Waratahs:  15. Israel Folau, 14. Cam Clark, 13. Lalakai Foketi, 12. Kurtley Beale, 11. Taqele Naiyaravoro, 10. Bernard Foley, 9. Jake Gordon, 8. Michael Wells, 7. Michael Hooper (c), 6. Will Miller, 5. Rob Simmons, 4. Ned Hanigan, 3. Sekope Kepu, 2. Damien Fitzpatrick, 1. Tom Robertson.

Reserves:  16. Hugh Roach, 17. Harry Johnson-Holmes, 18. Paddy Ryan, 19. Tom Staniforth, 20. Jed Holloway, 21. Nick Phipps, 22. Curtis Rona, 23. Bryce Hegarty.

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