Blues blow lead and lose Barrett to injury in Brumbies defeat

The Brumbies have beaten the Blues at Eden Park for the first time since 2013 – a come-from-behind 21-20 victory during which first-five Beauden Barrett left the field with a hand injury.

Barrett, who scored a first-half try, was badly missed by the Blues once he departed at halftime, the home side lacking X-factor and cool heads at times as they contrived to let another one slip.

It means the defending champions have only one victory – their nailbiter over the Hurricanes in Wellington last weekend – to go with three defeats this season.

“It doesn’t look particularly good,” Blues head coach Vern Cotter said of Barrett’s injury.

Barrett’s problem, which may also have repercussions as far as the All Blacks are concerned, will add injury to insult for the Blues, who led 20-10 at halftime and appeared to be in control but who failed to score a point in the second half.

It was eerily reminiscent of their round one defeat to the Chiefs at Eden Park during which they led 14-6 at halftime and failed to add to their score in a 25-14 loss.

There will no doubt again be regrets about their option taking. With 14 minutes remaining and the score 20-18, the Blues had a brilliant opportunity to push their advantage to five points with a kickable penalty but opted for an attacking lineout which they promptly lost.

The Brumbies, who harried the Blues’ breakdown throughout, winning seven turnovers to the hosts’ four, appeared to gain belief from their lifeline.

With their pick-and-go game a constant threat, they would have been confident of a result when, with the minutes ticking down, they were hot on attack via their direct strategy, but a Patrick Tuipulotu turnover penalty put a stop to that.

However, the resulting lineout was deemed not straight and so they maintained their momentum.

Perhaps unfortunate not to win a breakdown penalty shortly after, they instead won a scrum feed and the resulting set piece demolished the Blues, referee James Doleman having no option but to award a penalty from 30 metres out which Ryan Lonergan kicked with about 30 seconds remaining.

"It was pretty nerve-wracking to be honest,” Lonergan told Sky Sports of his kick. “We worked so hard throughout the game. The forwards knew they had to work hard against a quality Blues pack so it was the least I could do.”

The result would have been extra special for front rower James Slipper, who was playing his 186th Super Rugby match and who became the second most capped player when overtaking Aaron Smith. Only Crusaders prop Wyatt Crockett is ahead of him now.

Barrett, starting at No.10 for the first time this season, played with a rare freedom and gave the Blues, who were missing the suspended Hoskins Sotutu and injured Dalton Papali’i, an attacking edge.

His try was classic Barrett – he had too much pace for the cover defence once he brushed past a would-be defender and the Blues, who scored two more via prop Angus Ta’avao and Rieko Ioane, were playing with continuity and no little amount of verve.

Indeed, Ioane’s try was his first in Super Rugby since May, 2023, and with loose forwards Cam Christie and Cameron Suafoa excelling, it seemed only a matter of time before the Brumbies were subdued.

They just wouldn’t go away, though, despite being outscored three tries to one in the first half.

Declan Meredith’s try wide on the left was good reward for the Brumbies’ pack’s efforts, and while the Blues’ scrum was dominant early in the second half, it was soon stuck in reverse.

Just as in their defeats to the Chiefs and Highlanders, once things went wrong for the Blues in the second half, they seemed to have few ideas about how to put them right. It's an issue they may have to fix without Barrett for the short term at the very least.

Brumbies 21 (Allan Alaalatoa, Declan Meredith tries; Meredith 2 pens, con, Ryan Lonergan pen)

Blues 20 (Beauden Barrett, Angus Ta’avao, Rieko Ioane tries; Beauden Barrett pen, con)

Halftime: Blues 20-10