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'They're a proud team' – Blues expecting bounce-back from winless Chiefs

July 24, 2020

Warren Gatland's men have the respect of their next opponents, despite their losing run.

Despite sitting bottom of Super Rugby Aotearoa with no wins from five matches, the Blues aren't taking the Chiefs lightly heading into this weekend's "battle of the Bombays" at Eden Park.

After throwing away a 24-0 lead against the Highlanders, the Chiefs have now lost all five of their Super Rugby Aotearoa matches played.

What's more, taking into account the 27-24 loss to the Hurricanes back in March before the Covid-19 sporting shutdown, the Chiefs have lost their last six matches played, equalling the club record for most consecutive losses.

A loss to their local rivals, the Blues, this weekend will condemn Warren Gatland's side to a history making run of defeats.

However, despite that poor run of form, the Blues are well aware of the threat a wounded Chiefs side pose.

Speaking to media in Auckland today, Blues assistant coach Daniel Halangahu and lock Josh Goodhue made it clear that they won't be taking it easy against the Chiefs.

"We know they're a threat," Halangahu said.

"They're hurting. They're a proud union down there, [a] proud team. They're used to having success.

"They'll be coming up here, we're the ones that they usually aim up at.

"For us, we're going to get out there and throw everything at it early on. We want to get it on their heels early on, and show that this group won't let them get away on us. We'll keep the hammer on for that 80 minutes.

Of the Chiefs' five Super Rugby Aotearoa losses, only one has been by a margin of more than eight points.

Goodhue was eager to point out that the scoreline and hard-fought nature of Super Rugby Aotearoa could just as easily fall in the Chiefs' favour on Sunday.

And if there's one team that the Chiefs will be motivated to beat more than anyone else, it'll be their Auckland neighbours.

"It's not like they're a bad team," Goodhue says.

"Every game's just so tough, and they've just come out second best in all of them. It's not taking anything away from them, it's just the games are so close, it could be any team that's lost them all.

"It seems like everyone wants to get up against us as well, especially.

"They're going to come in hot."

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