Rugby
1News

Super Rugby recap: Blues snap losing streak as they take down gutsy Sunwolves in Tokyo

April 14, 2018

Relive 1 NEWS NOW's live updates as the Blues beat the Sunwolves to snap a three game losing streak at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo.

Full time: BLUES 24 - 10 SUNWOLVES

Blues win! They snap a three game losing streak by beating the Sunwolves.

75min: BLUES 24 - 10 SUNWOLVES

TRY! That'll be the game, Hyland over in the corner again for the Blues as he grabs a double.

Perofeta misses the conversion.

74min: BLUES 19 - 10 SUNWOLVES

Blues have a try ruled out by the video ref but are hot on attack and looking to close this one out in style.

68min: BLUES 19 - 10 SUNWOLVES

Pauliasi Manu is a very lucky boy there... Deliberately checks a Sunwolves runner out of the play but no yellow card, just a penalty.

65min: BLUES 19 - 10 SUNWOLVES

Blues still hanging on to a nine point lead going into the last quarter of the match.

The Kiwi side get a penalty after a lineout infringement by the Sunwolves on halfway.

60min: BLUES 19 - 10 SUNWOLVES

Just like that the Sunwolves seem to have a second wind, nearly scoring down the right wing before earning a penalty deep in Blues territory.

57min: BLUES 19 - 10 SUNWOLVES

TRY! Weak Sunwolves defence sees Dalton Papali'i beat six tacklers to score for the Blues.

Conversion made and the Blues are starting to look comfortable now.

52min: BLUES 12 - 10 SUNWOLVES

TRY! Akira Ioane rampages down the left wing, palming off two players to score.

Conversion is made and the Blues lead for the first time.

48min: SUNWOLVES 10 - 5 BLUES

Sunwolves back on the attack now, this game is very open and anyones for the taking. Next try could be huge.

43min: Jordan Hyland makes another huge break down the right wing! Nearly scoring, but Perofeta loses the ball forward to halt that attack.

41min: Second half underway. This game could be a defining moment in the season of both the struggling teams.

40min: Halftime 10 - 5 to the Sunwolves, setup for a cracking second half here in Tokyo.

34min: Momentum has swung in the Blues favour now, Perofeta sparking most of the attacks.

28min: TRY! A rampaging Jordan Hyland scores in the corner for the Blues after bumping off two defenders.

Perofeta misses the conversion to see the score now at 10 - 5 to the Sunwolves.

27min: Huge bust from Perofeta seees the Blues hot on the attack.

25min: TRY! Sunwolves score in the corner after a brilliant offload cuts the Blues open.

The conversion is made and they lead 10 nil.

20min:  Blues starting to get back into it, Collins with a bomb which is defused and the Sunwolves clear the ball back into the Blues 22.

14min: Sunwolves attempt to scrum it over but are held up a few metres away from the try line.

Another scrum close to the Blues line, but they have the feed this time and are able to clear. Still 3 nil to the Sunwolves.

10min: Sunwolves looking up for it today but they lose their fly-half Yu Tamura to injury, a big blow.

7min: Down to 14 men the Blues are under pressure but weathering the storm so-far.

3min: YELLOW CARD! A shoulder charge by Patrick Tuipulotu sees him sent to the bin, horror start.

Sunwolves take a shot from the infringement and they nail it to lead 3 nil.

1min: The Blues no.10 Perofeta looking dynamic in the opening minutes as the Blues get on the attack.

3:05pm: Teams on the field now and we are ready to get underway!

PRE-MATCH:

The beleaguered Blues are now last on the New Zealand Conference table after losing five of their first six matches so far this season.

They will be looking to turn that around against the Sunwolves today, although they were soundly beaten in Tokyo last season by 48 - 21 so an upset is definitely a possibility.

TEAMS:

BLUES: Michael Collins, Jordan Hyland, Orbyn Leger, Rieko Ioane, Matt Duffie, Stephen Perofeta, Jonathan Ruru; Akira Ioane, Kara Pryor, Jimmy Tupou, Josh Goodhue, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, James Parsons (capt), Pauliasi Manu. Reserves: Matt Moulds, Ross Wright, Mike Tamoaieta, Ben Neenee , Dalton Papali'i, Sam Nock, Bryn Gatland, TJ Faiane.

SUNWOLVES:  Craig Millar, Shota Horie, Jiwon Koo, James Moore, Grant Hattingh, Yoshitaka Tokunaga, Lappies Labuschagne, Kazuki Himeno, Yutaka Nagare (c), Yu Tamura, Lomano Lemeki,  Michael Little,  Timothy Lafaele,  Semisi Masirewa, Kotaro Matsushima.

SHARE ME

More Stories