A quartet of tries in the first dozen minutes of the second half powered the Blues to a record 52-5 thumping of Hurricanes Poua at Bell Park.
For Poua, backing up the almost spiritual victory over Matatū last Saturday was going to be a herculean task. So, it proved, the defense eventually leaked like Wellington's intractable waterpipes.
It was only 5-0 at halftime but the visitors' resistance was creaking following a hefty 80 tackles in the first spell.
The Blues created plenty of chances from the outset but didn’t break the deadlock until the 39th minute. Combative hooker Grace Gago galloped clear after Black Ferns Sylvia Brunt and Patricia Maliepo combined to create room for the makeshift winger.
The Hurricanes kicked the second-half restart out on the full and were punished immediately following a slick attack and an assertive Tafito Lafaele charge. The 2022 Black Fern has scored a try in all three Blues matches.
In the 48th minute, one sensed it was all over when a Blues set move malfunctioned on halfway only for the ball to ricochet backwards and favourably for right winger Katelyn Vahaakolo in a gaping hole.
Two minutes later Maleipo exploited the flimsy Poua defense and kicked ahead for a bundle of chasers. Evergreen Niall Williams-Guthrie outpaced all-comers to secure a four-try bonus point.
Williams-Guthrie then turned provider for Vahaakolo, the openside sharing the ball egg-on-spoon style with Gago in a delightful display of finesse.
There was nothing subtle about the Jaymie Kolose and Maia Roos tries. Left winger Kolose fended off Hakiwai with disdain to cap a scintillating display. In a rugby context, Ross is about the most cheerful bully going. She disrupted the Poua lineout at will and was typically tigerish elsewhere.
Vahaakolo applied the exclamation mark on Aupiki’s biggest victory with dizzying footwork and an intercept.
What can Poua rummage from the wreckage? Lock Kahurangi Sturmey was hearty, No.8 Layla Sae spirited, and Shakira Baker prevented further carnage with some timely interventions.
Blues: 52 (Grace Gago, Tafito Lafaele, Katelyn Vahaakolo 3, Niall Williams-Guthrie, Jaymie Kolose, Maia Roos tries; Krysten Cottrell 6 con) Hurricanes Poua: 5 (Harmony Kautai try)
Matatū’s title hopes hang by a thread, clinically dispatched by mauling Manawa 38-22 at FMG Stadium.
Four tries from a plough truck lineout drive was a savage punishment for Matatū’s careless handling errors and lack of discipline.
Chiefs hooker Luka Connor extended her Super Rugby Aupiki record for tries to 15 with three pushovers. The maul isn’t an attractive spectacle but execute precisely and it's possibly the toughest weapon to defuse in the game. World Number 1, England has employed the tactic without aversion.
Call, throw, lift, catch, cradle, get low, apply strength, stay connected, and drive. It’s a habitual routine but nobody in New Zealand does it better than Connor and Manawa.
Ironically then it was prop, Tanya Kalounivale who scored the first and best of the rolling maul tries. It lasted so long it looked almost ceremonial like the Queen riding a chariot.
In the first half, Matatū’ enjoyed three minutes to one inside the Manawa 22. All their industry was banished when it was 26-3 at halftime with even the wingers weight proving hopeless in thwarting the Chiefs cruel calculation.
Matatū’ briefly threatened a resurgence when they reduced the deficit to 26-17. A charge down by Laura Bayfield rebounded sympathetically for the lock to secure and recycle promptly. Winger Charlotte Woodman swooped and scored.
In the 54th minute, skipper Alana Bremner collected a charitable bounce from an ill-judged Chelsea Semple pass to stride disbelievingly free. Would there be 2023 final flashbacks for Manawa?
The answer was an emphatic no with the maul stomping out any flicker.
It would be naive to characterise Manawa as a one-trick pony. Their breakdown work was vastly improved from the stern Blues examination. The bench provides genuine impact with prop Krystal Murray scoring a popular and decisive solo try. The shift by Grace Steinmetz to second-five appears to be a masterstroke and the wings cause alarm in space. Blindside Victoria Edmonds was arguably the player of the match; the veteran, fierce and energetic.
Some tightrope ballet near the touchline by Matatū’ fullback Cheyelle Robins-Reti sparked a move involving backs and forwards that produced a spectacular try for Winnie Palamo. The defending champions are still capable of the breathtaking but too often it's interspersed with error. Perhaps Matatū lacks the raw physicality to contain the unblemished leaders.
Chiefs Manawa:38 (Tanya Kalounivale, Victoria Edmonds, Luka Connor 3, Krystal Murray tries; Renee Holmes 4 con) Matatū:22 (Charlotte Woodman, Alana Bremner, Winnie Palamo tries; Rosie Kelly 2 con, Liv McGoverne) HT: 26-10