The Blues beat the Hurricanes 40-12 in their pre-season match in Eketahuna on Saturday.
The sides were locked at 7-7 at the break before the Blues ran away with the match scoring five tries in the second half.
The Blues opened the scoring through hooker James Parsons, with flyhalf Ihaia West adding the extras as their defence kept the Hurricanes at bay for much of the first half.
However, the Canes managed to level matters just before the break as flyhalf Beauden Barrett converted hooker Leni Apisai’s try.
The Blues came out firing in the second half and were soon back in the lead as Steven Luatua scored his side’s second try with Matt McGahan adding the extras.
There was no stopping the men from Auckland after that as they ran in four more tries to close out the game, with Nick Mayhew, Charlie Faumuina, Melani Nanai and Lolagi Visinia all adding their names to the scoresheet.
Blues – Tries: James Parsons, Steven Luatua, Nick Mayhew, Charlie Faumuina, Melani Nanai, Lolagi Visinia. Conversions: Ihaia West, Matt McGahan (4).
Hurricanes – Tries: Leni Apisai, Julian Savea. Conversion: Beauden Barrett.
Blues – 15 Matt Duffie, 14 Melani Nanai, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 George Moala, 11 Matt Vaega, 10 Matt McGahan, 9 Billy Guyton, 8 Steven Luatua, 7 Jack Ram, 6 Jerome Kaino (c), 5 Hoani Matenga, 4 Scott Scrafton, 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 Quentin MacDonald, 1 Namatahi Waa.
Subs: 16 James Parsons, 17 Nic Mayhew, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Matt Matich, 21 Bryn Hall, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Male Sa’u, 24 Charlie Faumuina, 25 Josh Bekhuis, 26 Blake Gibson, 27 Joe Edwards, 28 Tevita Li, 29 Michael Little, 30 Lolagi Visinia.
Hurricanes – 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara (c), 8 Victor Vito, 7 Callum Gibbins, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Mark Abbott, 4 Blade Thomson, 3 Jeff Toomaga-Allen, 2 Motu Matu’u, 1 Reggie Goodes.
Subs: 16 Leni Apisai, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Ben May, 19 Hisa Sasagi, 20 Loni Uhila, 21 James Blackwell, 22 Vaea Fifita, 23 Tony Lamborn, 24 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 25 Otere Black, 26 James Marshall, 27 Pita Ahki, 28 Willis Halaholo, 29 Jason Woodward, 30 Wes Goosen, 31 Malo Tuitama.
Photo: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images
