Chiefs 41 - 26 Blues
HIGHLIGHTS WILL BE AVAIBALE SHORTLY - Thanks for tuning in
FULLTIME: The Chiefs win the match, and they get a bonus point for their efforts. They could have won by more but missed a number of chances to score more points. The Blues fought back but they will walk away with nothing.
77mins: The Chiefs look to finish the match on a positive note with one last try. They have the ball just outside the 22.
73mins: TRY BLUES: The Blues have another and Rene Ranger scores in the corner.
70mins: The Blues have another lineout close to the line. Is try number three on the cards for the away side?
67mins: The crowd applauds Aaron Cruden has he leaves the field in his 100th match. He is replaced by Shaun Stevenson.
65mins: TRY BLUES: Charlie Faumuina scores the Blues second try of the match. Faumuina throws the dummy and the big prop sprints to the line.
60mins: TRY BLUES: The Blues score their first try of the game off a lineout. All Blacks lock Patrick Tuipulotu powers his way over the line. West pushes the kick wide.
59mins: Blues win a lineout close to the line. They need to score here.
56mins: TRY CHIEFS: Yes they can, ALB crosses the line after being put into a massive gap.
55mins: The Blues break the line, but the Chiefs go right back on the counter. Can they score?
53mins: George Moala goes over the line but his pushed into touch. Great defence by the Chiefs who have not conceeded a try in 2017.
51mins: The Blues are making four changes, bringing on plenty of experiened players off the bench. Is this the time the Blues start to claw their way back into the match?
48mins: TRY CHIEFS: James Lowe scores a brilliant try and a thrashing is on the cards. Cruden gets the ball and taps it back infield to Lowe to runs over the line. Tana Umaga does not look happy right now.
47mins: The Chiefs go close to scoring another try, but they are tackled into touch. Blues will have a clearance lineout and they nearly make a mess of it.
44mins: Boshier makes a try saving play for the Chiefs. If anybody is to win man of the match it is looking like the Chiefs flanker will be the man. The Blues are really struggling right now.
42mins: TRY CHIEFS: Lachlan Boshier scores a well deserved try for the Chiefs. The home side dominates the scrum and turn the ball over. Cruden lands the conversion from the sideline.
41mins: The Chiefs cross the line, but the last pass looked forward and the TMO will take a look.... It is no try and the Blues will have a scrum with only seven men in the pack.
40mins: The Second half is underway. Jerome Kaino and Charlie Faumuina
is on for the Blues
HALFTIME: The Chiefs lead 22-9 at halftime. Mistakes cost the Chiefs early on, but they have made the most of possession when they have had the ball. It will be a long second half for the Blues.
41mins: TRY CHIEFS: The Chiefs punnish the Blues and Hika Elliott scores his second try of the season. That red card has completly changed the match. Cruden adds the extra's.
40mins: Looks like it will be a no try, but Steven Lautua could be in trouble as he took a player out in backplay. The referee pulls out a red card and the Blues will play with 14 men for the rest of the match. What a stupid, unnecessary play by the former All Black.
40mins: Chiefs building some phases together and Kerr-Barlow breaks the line and bounces the ball over the line as the sires sounds. The play will be reviewed by the TMO.
37mins: Another penalty to the Blues and West will take a shot 49 metres out, and he pushes it away to the right.
34mins: Blues win a penalty but don't opt for the points, instead they kick for touch, but the Chiefs steal the ball in the lineout and clear the ball once again.
33mins: West pushes the kick wide and the Chiefs smash the ball downfield.
31mins: Both sides spill the ball and it is boucing around like crazy. Former Chiefs halfback Augustine Pulu is causing the Chiefs problems. The Blues win a penalty and will have another shot for three points.
27mins: PENALTY GOAL CHIEFS: Captain Cruden lands the penalty goal and the Chiefs lead by six points in this thrilling encounter.
26mins: Chiefs win a scrum penalty and Cruden wants a shot for three points.
24mins: Some more razzle-dazzle by the Chiefs as they attack the Blues line again, but an intercept saves their bacon. Blues have a lineout and will want to clear the ball qucikly as possible.
21mins: TRY CHIEFS: Damian McKenzie scores the try and what a beauty it was. Nanai-Williams breaks the line and finds Cruden who passes it to his fullback who dives over the line. Cruden adds the extras.
19mins: The Chiefs look threatening but fail to make anything of it as they make another mistale.
17mins: PENALTY GOAL BLUES: The balls hits the post but still goes over. Blues lead by four as we aproach the 20 minute mark.
16mins: Another penalty to the Blues and West is looking to extend the Blues lead once again.
14mins: The Chiefs are making little erros which are costing them. It is looking kinda similar to last week's match against the Highlanders as the Blues are dominating possession early on.
12mins: The Blues are looking dangerous early on as they attack the Chiefs 22 again.
10mins: PENALTY GOAL BLUES: Ihaia West puts the Blues back in front with a difficult shot at goal.
9mins: Exciting start to th ematch but penalties appear to be a problem. James Lowe is caught offside and West will kick for the lead again.
6mins: TRY CHIEFS: Liam Messam scores the first try of the match. The Chiefs push hard from the lineout and drive over the line. The conversion just misses.
5mins: Chiefs win a penalty and Kerr-Barlow takes a quick tap and the home side go close to the line, but the referee blows another penalty. Chiefs have a lineout five out from the line.
3mins: PENALTY GOAL BLUES: Ihaia West kicks it straight over the black dot. The Blues lead early.
2mins: Blues get an early penalty for an accedental offside and will have the first attacking oportunity of the match. The Blues kick the ball into touch an win another penalty. West will kick for the first points of the match.
KICKOFF: We are underway in Hamilton, the Blues get the match underway kicking the ball down to towering lock Dominic Bird.
7:33pm: The Blues are the first team to run onto the field. It is a beautiful night in Hamilton. Excellent conditions for rugby.
7:30pm: Hello and welcome to tonight's live updates of the Chiefs hostting the Blues. Aaron Cruden will be playing his 100th Super Rugby match tonight. He made his debut in 2010 against the Blues and his 100th match is also against the Blues.
Hello and welcome to live updates of the Chiefs hosting the Blues at FMG Stadium in Hamilton.
We bring you live streaming written commentary, video highlights (be sure to refresh your browser) and all the action. VIDEO will be available as soon as the final whistle goes.
Commentary will start from around 7:30pm (NZT). In the meantime check out the video above for an interview in injured Chiefs flanker Sam Cane.
Line ups:
Chiefs
1. Kane Hames, 2. Hika Elliot, 3. Nepo Laulala, 4. Dominic Bird, 5. Brodie Retallick, 6. Liam Messam,7. Lachlan Boshier, 8. Michael Leitch,9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 10. Aaron Cruden (C), 11. James Lowe, 12. Johnny Fa'auli, 13. Anton Lienert-Brown, 14. Tim Nanai-Williams, 15. Damian McKenzie
Reserves - 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17. Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, 18. Atu Moli, 19. Taleni Seu, 20. Tom Sanders, 21. Jonathan Taumateine, 22. Toni Pulu,23. Shaun Stevenson
Blues
1. Pauliasi Manu, 2. Matt Moulds, 3. Sione Mafileo, 4. Jimmy Tupou (c), 5. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 6. Steven Luatua, 7 Blake Gibson, 8. Akira Ioane, 9. Augustine Pulu, 10. Ihaia West, 11. Melani Nanai, 12. Piers Francis, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Matt Duffie, 15. Michael Collins
Reserves - 16. Hame Faiva, 17. Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 18. Charlie Faumuina, 19. Patrick Tuipulotu, 20. Jerome Kaino, 21. Billy Guyton, 22. George Moala, 23. Rene Ranger
Match facts and stats
Referee: Ben O’keeffe (NZL)
Assistants: Brendon Pickerill (NZL), Glen Jackson (NZL)
TMO: Ben Skeen (NZL)
The Chiefs have won each of their last 10 games against the Blues, though seven of those fixtures were decided by a margin of fewer than 10 points.
The Chiefs return for a home fixture in Super Rugby for the first time since Round 15, 2016; they've won five of their last six games on home turf.
The Blues haven't won an away game against fellow New Zealand opposition since Round 2, 2013 [v Hurricanes].
The Blues scored four of their seven tries against the Rebels after forcing a turnover; two of the three tries the Chiefs scored against the Highlanders came in the same fashion.
The Blues have now won their last three games, the last time they enjoyed a longer winning streak in Super Rugby was a four-game stretch across the 2012 and 2013 campaigns.
Past meetings
Head to head: Played 26, Chiefs 16, Blues 10, draws 0
Last time played: Chiefs 29 def Blues 23, April 8 2016
Head-to-head: Chiefs - $1.42 Blues - $2.85
Pre-match banter: Going north prepared me for Super Rugby - Michael Collins
Blues fullback Michael Collins says heading north to play for Welsh domestic side Scarlets helped prepare him for Super Rugby.
His second outing for the Blues is set to be a vastly different match for Collins than the Rebels demolition with the Auckland side heading down State Highway One to play the Chiefs.
And he's aware just how hard it'll be against one of the best tactical kickers in the game in Aaron Cruden.
"When you're a fullback, you look at the 10s and the kickers they've got," Collins told Newshub.
"They've got James [Lowe] with the left foot then obviously [Damian] McKenzie and what not so they've got plenty of options."
Starting his rugby career with Otago in the Mitre 10 Cup, Collins received a call-up from former Auckland coach Wayne Pivac in 2015 to go north to play for Scarlets in Europe's Pro 12 competition.
Scoring three tries in 16 appearances for the Llanelli-based side, Collins said it was a hugely beneficial year for his rugby development.
"I shot over to Wales last year, that was probably the best thing for me, getting outside my comfort zone and having a crack.
"We played a bit in the Heineken cup, Champions Cup in Wales a wee bit, in front of 60,000-odd people.
"Then Tana [Umaga] rang up for me to come have a dabble up here and I've tried to come up open minded and put my best foot forward."
Despite the Blues possessing a lot of star power in 2017, Collins will start at fullback for the second consecutive time and said the trust that had been placed in him by Umaga has helped him feel at home in the side.
"It's good to get that consistency and build on it.
"It makes your job pretty easy when you're just running support lines and look for an offload, you can't keep up with them most of the time.
Newshub.
