The Blues completed prime of the common season desk by successful extra video games (5) and scoring extra factors (214), and tries (33) than any facet. Southerners, Matatu gained 4 video games and scored 169 factors whereas conceding 141.
The defending champions beat Matatu resoundingly by 28-7 of their first assembly on March 15. A fortnight later, Matatu ended the Blues’ nine-match successful streak with a 37-29 win in Whangarei.
The Blues can play expansively and subtly however are unstoppable with actual bodily momentum; athletically, probably the most highly effective group in Aupiki, pushed by sturdy Black Ferns forwards Chryss Viliko, Atlanta Lolohea, Aldora Itunu, Maia Roos, Maama Vaipulu and Liana Mikaele Tu’u.
Matatu boasts seasoned internationals, Georgia Ponsonby, the Bremner sisters, and Kaipo Olsen-Baker, however have to be shrewd to overcome the Blues. What would possibly that contain? Play at tempo from stoppages with fast faucets and slick ball motion. Get to the sides and stop an arm-wrestle in the midst of the park. Artistic kicking may be employed often to show the Blues round, and don’t let the ball get to the Blues’ backs, which embody prolific try-scoring Black Ferns Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and Katelyn Vahaakolo.
The Blues are the favourites to win, however on March 29, Matatu snapped a three-game shedding streak towards the Blues. A 26-23 victory within the 2023 semi-final at North Harbour Stadium, Albany, was the Matatu’s final victory towards the defending champions earlier than then. Former Black Ferns winger Cheyelle Robins-Reti, who begins on the wing for the guests tonight, scored three tries in that recreation.
Matatu went on to beat Chiefs Manawa 33-31 within the closing, improbably rallying from a 19-0 deficit in as many minutes to prevail. Rugby World Cup-winning Black Ferns fullback Renee Holmes was a hero for Matatu, scoring 23 factors. Fellow Black Ferns fullback Tenika Willison wasn’t so fortunate, lacking a useful penalty on the siren to win the sport. Holmes, now with Chiefs Manawa, dramatically mirrored.
“I believed she’d get it. No manner she’d miss. We’d run the present for 60 minutes, so when the penalty occurred, I felt sick. I felt like throwing up on the sector.
“I couldn’t imagine it when Tenika missed. I went to the left facet, furthest from the place Tenika positioned it. After I noticed it coming in the direction of me, the reduction was monumental.
“My recommendation for Tenika is that we have to miss the successful kick to get the successful kick. Kickers are a uncommon breed. “We’re brave, however we’d like these dangerous moments to construct diamonds.”
The Blues had loads of dangerous moments within the 2024 closing towards Chiefs Manawa, down 5-18 in heavy rain earlier than successful 24-18.
Halfback Kahlia Awa got here on the sector with 20 minutes remaining and utterly modified the sport by scoring a try to aiding two others. Awa will reprise her function from the bench tonight.
The Blues have 5 present or former Black Ferns on their bench: Grace Gago, Awhina Tangen-Wainohu, Eloise Blackwell, Sylvia Brunt, and Patricia Maliepo. Matatu solely has prop Amy Rule however has outscored opponents 54-17 within the final quarter of matches this season.
Matatu Key Participant: In 2023, Amy Du’Plessis began all seven Assessments for the Black Ferns. In 2024, she was relegated to simply two begins in eight internationals. The South Africa-born Southlander has been a power of nature scoring two tries in a come-from-behind 31-25 defeat of Chiefs Manawa in Hamilton within the opening spherical and that includes within the prime ten of Aupiki for caries (75), defenders crushed (26), metres gained (410) and offloads (7).
Blues Key Participant: Statistically talking the Blues boast one of the best Aupiki scrum, however the worst lineout, regardless of Blues lock Maama Vaipulu claiming probably the most particular person lineout catches. Moreover Vaipulu is a busy and bustling presence whose affect will probably be measure of the Blues ahead fortunes.
