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Blues 46 Moana Pasifika 16
Blues - Evans, Heem, Lam, Eklund 3 & Clarke try; Perofeta penalty & 4 conversions
Moana Pasifika - Alosio try; Lealiifano 3 penalties & conversion
Fulltime
Pretty comprehensive performance by the Blues, who were again short-handed for 20 minutes of the second half, after Caleb Clarke's red card.
39th minute - TRY to Lam
Blues win a scrum penalty, but with everyone expecting another scrum, Nock takes the quick tap, Tele'a draws the last tackle and passes to Heem, who finds Lam with no-one around him.
Perofeta's sideline conversion drifts right, as the siren sounds, BLU 46-16
38th minute - Phase after phase in the shadow of the posts, before Doleman awards a penalty. He seems to have forgotten his warning, because no-one is dispatched, but Blues call for the scrum.
37th minute - Blues forwards rumble towards the 22 and release right, where Papalii carries into the 22. Perofeta offloads to Heem.
36th minute - Tucker wins another lineout and BLues roll forward again, towards the 22.
34th minute - Romano wins the lineout, the Blues forwards maul forward towards halfway, before Sullivan kicks to touch. Doleman was playing advantage and tells Moana next infringement will result in a yellow card.
33rd minute - Clarke's 20-minute absence is now over and he's replaced by Ratumaitavuki-Kneepens, as the Blues power Moana off a scrum and win a clearing penalty.
32nd minute - Nock delivers a terrible pass to Sullivan, who has to scramble back to secure it. Moana win the ball back and Tavatavanawai powers to the line, but loses the ball on the line, when Tuungafasi knocks it from his grasp.
31st minute - Motuga rumbles over halfway for Moana and they spread the ball right, but lose the breakdown to Segner.
30th minute - Blues win a scrum penalty inside their own half and Perofeta kicks to the corner, but it's kept in play and Moana break out of their 22.
28th minute - BLues secure a turnover in their own half, but Lam's kick ahead is into touch on the full. Moana win the lineout on halfway and launch another attack.
26th minute - TRY to Eklund
BLues wins the lineout and maul to the goal-line, with Eklund at the back, where he always is, for his third. Eklund is immediately subbed off, as Perofeta drifts his conversion across goal, BLU 41-16
24th minute - Blues win a long lineout throw, which looks marginal, and play develops down the right, where Sullivan and Nock combine.
As the BLues enter Moana 22, front-rowers Tu'inukuafe and Tuungafasi rumble forward, but Doleman brings them back for a penalty and Perofeta kicks to the corner.
23rd minute - Tucker wins a lineout, and Perofeta kicks flat and deep into Moana territory. Havili returns the ball to Blues half.
21st minute - Moana win the lineout and the maul peels in half, with Lindenmuth still in possession, as he is drive over the line.
Doleman reviews for potential obstruction and replays confirm that, so no try.
20th minute - Stowers secures the dropout and Moana roar into the 22, drawing penalty advantage. The move breaks down, but Tavatavanawai powers towards the line through about five tackles.
Eventually, Doleman calls them back for the penalty and Lealiifano kicks to the corner.
18th minute - Moana are eying the big blindside left vacant by Clarke's absence. Ah Wong is matched against Perofeta and Enari does go right, putting in a kick behind the line.
The ball evades everyone and Segner eventually knocks it dead, so goal-line dropout.
17th minute - Blues throw to the lineout catches everyone by surprise, Romano wins it without jumping, but it bobbles back over the goal-line and they concede a five-metre attacking scrum to Moana.
15th minute - Moana win the lineout inside the Blues 22 and Tavatavanawai runs a punishing line off the back. Blues eventually push their opponents over the touchline.
14th minute - Blues win their lineout on their 22, Nock kicks high and Lam claims the catch, but is penalised in the tackle.
13th minute - From the scrum, Enari finds Alosio streaking down the right touchline. Clarke leaps to challenge the kick and collides with Alosio's head in mid-air.
Both players are down, as the officials confer...
RED CARD to Clarke. Doleman explains his jump was reckless and made contact with the head, but that seems harsh. Alosio is not well and is led off, but the Blues now have 20 minutes playing a man short.
Clarke immediately goes to the Moana bench to check on Alosio's health.
Moana win their attacking lineout, but are driven back. They shift left and Funaki lungs for the line, but Doleman rules he's guilty of a double movement and Blues clear from the penalty.
12th minute - Enari tries a long pass to Havili on halfway and Clarke tries to pounce on it, but knocks on. All Blacks props Karl Tu'inukuafe and Ofa Tuungafasi come on for the Blues, possibly the best back-up front row in world rugby.
11th minute - Moana put in a massive shove and disintegrate the Blues scrum on their goal-line. Christie scrambles a risky pass behind his own line and Sullivan eventually clears to halfway.
10th minute - Moana win the attacking lineout, but knock on, as they maul to the line. Blues defensive scrum.
Eighth minute - From the kickoff, Kata makes a powerful burst up centrefield and Blues are penalised at the breakdown. Moana kick to the corner.
Sixth minute - TRY to Eklund
Tucker wins at the back again and Blues maul to the line, Eklund eventually detaches and lunges over for his second. Perofeta converts, BLU 36-16
Fifth minute - Blues are forced to shift the ball right and Hodgman goes close next to the posts. Doleman is playing another avantage and warns Kepu about Moana's discipline, as Perofeta kicks to the corner again.
Fourth minute - Tucker claims the lineout throw at the back and BLues maul to the line. Doleman is playing advantage, as the Blues are driven back.
Second minute - Moana quickly clear the scum, but Kata spills a pass in midfield. Eklund makes a break and Segner roars into the 22.
Doleman penalises Moana for not clearing the tackle and Perofeta kicks to the corner. Eklund receives some medical attention, but he's back in position.
First minute - Moana kick off and Tucker claims it for the Blues, but Moana forward burst away with the ball. Doleman calls them back for the Blues knock-on.
Halftime
39th minute - TRY to Heem
Darry wins the lineout and Stowers is penalised at the breakdown. Perofeta turns down the shot at goal and kicks to the corner.
Segner wins the lineout at the back and Blues forwards try to maul, but Funaki collapses. When the ball is repleased, Heem hurdles a fallen opponent and reaches out to score next to the right upright.
38th minute - Moana secure the kickoff and Havili clears from near his own goal-line to just outside the 22.
37th minute - Perofeta spills the kickoff and Heems grabs it from an offside position. Lealiifano slots another penalty, BLU 22-16
34th minute - TRY to Eklund
Blues win their attacking line and maul to the goal-line, where Eklund is hanging on for the ride. Perofeta's conversion rebounds off the post and out this time, BLU 22-13
33rd minute - From the kickoff, Blues win a penalty and kick to the corner. The maul is driven back, but Doleman has Funaki entering from the side, so another penalty.
30th minute - TRY to Alosio
Poloniati picks up from a ruck and finds Alosio in support to score. Some question over the final pass, but Lealiifano slots the conversion, BLU 17-13
29th minute - Havili finds touch inside Bluess 22 and throw long to the lineout. They build phases in front of the posts...
28th minute - Moana putting in a shove at the scrum, Blues clear the ball, but are penalised in the tackle.
26th minute - Blues pack mauls a few metres, before releasing to the backs, but out left, Clarke knocks on.
25th minute - Blues pack puts in another big scrum and win the penalty, which Perofeta kicks to touch in Moana territory.
23rd minute - Blues control the kickoff and Christie puts up a high kick, secured by Havili in the air, but he loses the ball on landing. Moana scrum.
21st minute - TRY to Clarke
Blues forwards control the ball inside the Moana 22, Perofeta has a dab and finds Clarke lurking - there's no stopping him that close to the line. Perofeta bounces his conversion off the right upright and through, BLU 17-6
20th minute - Clarke reaches the 22 and Lam takes it a few metres further.
19th minute - From the kickoff, Moana have won the ball back, but loose the ball on the Blues 22. Moana win it back, but Heems pounces on a loose pass and the Blues roar into Moana territory.
16th minute - TRY to Evans
Moana also put a big shove at scrumtime, but the Blues clear and shift left, where Hodgman finds a gap and Darry carries into the 22. When the ball comes across to the right, Evans scores his first try for the Blues.
Perofeta converts from right of the posts, BLU 10-6
14th minute - Moana have the heavier scrum, but the Blues pack put in a big push and win the turnover.
13th minute - After a kicking duel, Sullivan finally finds touch inside the Moana half, but the BLues knock on, trying to steal the lineout throw-in.
10th minute - Enari puts up a kick that goes straight up. Clarke catches and the Blues have a penalty when Segner is smashed in a tackle by Ah Wong.
Perofeta lines up a shot at goal from the left of the posts and slots it, MOA 6-3
Ninth minute - Moana overthrow their lineout and the Blues snaffle the ball, with Perofeta kicking a long touchfinder.
Eighth minute - Time-Stowers controls the Blues kickoff and the Blues are AGAIN penalised at the breakdown. Penalties are killing them early.
Seventh minute - Darry steals the ball from a Moana lineout, but Blues are penalised again at the breakdown, when Papalii is tackled without support. Lealiifano eyes another shot at goal and slots it, MOA 6-0
Fifth minute - From the kick off, Blues contest the breakdown in Moana half, but are penalised for not rolling away in the tackle. Moana clear.
Fourth minute - Eventually, Doleman comes back for the penalty and Lealiifano lines up the goal from in front of the posts. He slots it for the early lead, MOA 3-0
Second minute - Moana shift the ball right and Alosio makes good ground - 10 phases so far. McRobbie takes a half gap and bursts into the 22, Lealiifano is taken in a suspect tackle and Moana have penalty advantage.
First minute - James Doleman to referee this contest, but both teams missing some key figures - including Moana Pasifika's coaching staff - to COVID-19.
From the kickoff, Moana control first and go onto attack...
7:04pm - Spine-tingling moment here, as the Blues welcome Moana Pasifika onto Eden Park for the first time with their own haka, led by halfback Sam Nock.
*****
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Super Rugby Pacific clash between the Blues and Moana Pasifika at Auckland's Eden Park.
These two teams met for the first time just four days ago, when the competition newcomers came pretty close to grabbing their second Super Rugby win, albeit between two second-string line-ups.
With three games in 11 days, more coaches elected to rest their frontline performers for this encounter, but the encounter was still entertaining, with the Blues eventually pulling clear 32-19, despite losing prop Nepo Laulala to a red card midway through the second half.
This should be a completely different contest with closer to full-strength teams.
TAB Odds: Blues $1.07, Moana Pasifika $6.50
Blues: 1-Alex Hodgman, 2-Kurt Eklund, 3-Marcel Renata, 4-James Tucker, 5-Tom Robinson, 6-Cameron Suafoa, 7-Dalton Papalii, 8-Anton Segner, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Stephen Perofeta, 11-Caleb Clarke, 12-Corey Evans, 13-Bryce Heem, 14-AJ Lam, 15- Zarn Sullivan
Reserves: 16-Soane Vikena, 17-Karl Tu'inukuafe/Jordan Lay, 18-Ofa Tuungafasi, 19-Luke Romano, 20-Adrian Choat, 21-Sam Nock, 22-Tanielu Tele’a, 23-Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepens
Moana Pasifika: 1-Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 2-Samiuela Moli, 3-Sekope Kepu, 4-Veikoso Poloniati, 5-Michael Curry, 6-Sione Tu'ipulotu, 7-Solomone Funaki, 8-Henry Time-Stowers, 9-Ereatara Enari, 10-Christian Leali'ifano, 11-Anzelo Tuitavuki, 12-Solomone Kata, 13-Fine Inisi, 14-Timoci Tavatavanawai, 15-William Havili
Reserves: 16-Luteru Tolai, 17-Abraham Pole, 18-Chris Apoua, 19-Alex McRobbie, 20-Alamanda Motuga, 21-Dwayne Polataivao, 22-Lincoln McClutchie, 23-Tomasi Alosio
Blues' Akira Ioane, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck both on course for injury returns
The Blues can look forward to the return of star pair Akira Ioane and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who are both on track for an imminent comeback to Super Rugby Pacific.
Both players have spent the past few weeks sidelined with injuries and were unavailable for selection for the Blues' round seven clash against Moana Pasifika at Eden Park on Saturday.
Ioane, 26, is yet to feature for the Blues this campaign, after suffering an injury before the season had begun, when he rolled his ankle in training.
But while the initial prognosis suggested Ioane would miss a couple of weeks, the All Blacks loose forward has been given time to slowly build back to full fitness, before being thrown into Super Rugby Pacific.
Blues forwards coach Tom Coventry said his side's clash against Fijian Drua at Melbourne on April 23 loomed as a potential return date to see Ioane back on the field.
"We're looking to try and get Aki [Ioane] back for the [Fijian] Drua match when we're away.
"That's going to plan, he's out on the field today with us, but there's still a bit of work to go with getting some load through his foot.
"Our physios and medical staff are working really hard with him, and Aki's doing everything right.
"Hopefully, that goes to plan."
Meanwhile, Blues recruit Tuivasa-Sheck is another eyeing a return, after he was ruled out with a shoulder injury suffered during his side's win over the Chiefs.
"Rog is very similar," Coventry said. "He's probably a little bit ahead of Aki as far as his return to play goes.
"I saw someone clobbering him with a hit shield across his shoulder today, so he's not too far away from taking contact.
"As usual with Roger, he's pretty conscientious and does everything he needs to do to get himself back on the field."
The Blues are also without Beauden Barrett, due to concussion protocols, while All Blacks prop Nepo Laulala has been suspended for foul play.
Fellow internationals Rieko Ioane and Hoskins Sotutu will also sit out Saturday's match, due to All Blacks rest orders.
