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Blues 30 Force 17
FULLTIME
The siren goes, and we'll have at least one more scrum. Fines-Leleiwasa feeds, and Anstee runs off the back.
Renata turns it over, and the Blues clear into touch to seal the win.
80 mins
Into the final minute. The Force win a free kick at the scrum against the feed and call for another scrum.
79 mins
The Blues need to score twice for a bonus point now. The Force are happy to just keep the ball, but Callan knocks on after carrying inside the Blues' half.
Blues' scrum.
78 mins - TRY FORCE
Horton throws, and Anstee wins it. The Force have the ball in Blues' territory again.
Spink carries upfield, before they go left through Fines-Leleiwasa.
A gap opens up on the right, and Kibirigie pops through and races in to score unopposed!
Stewart converts from in front.
BLU 30 FOR 17
76 mins
Fines-Leleiwasa feeds, and they look to run again.
The Force have advantage for obstruction. The ball's kicked through, but Perofeta gets back and wins the
ball before Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens clears.
Force lineout.
74 mins
Force scrum. Fines-Leleiwasa feeds, and runs off the back again as the Force go left through Stewart.
Plumtree turns it over, but Funaki spills it. Another Force scrum.
72 mins
Blues lineout. Riccitelli throws, Robinson wins it.
The Blues go through the hands, but Plummer knocks on in the tackle.
72 mins
Horton throws, and McCauley keeps it on the Force's side.
Plumtree gets over the ball, though, and wins a penalty for his troubles.
71 mins
Funaki feeds, and the ball goes back to Perofeta who clears into touch.
70 mins
Fines-Leleiwasa feeds, and finds Spink as first receiver.
He breaks and carries deep into the first half. Poolman runs down the left flank, but he loses the ball for a Blues scrum.
69 mins
Fines-Leleiwasa feeds the scrum, and then goes off the back himself.
He looks to offload, but Funaki intercepts to win it back for the Blues.
Sullivan carries inside the 22, before they go right to Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.
Telea fumbles trying to pick and go.
Force scrum again.
67 mins
Riccitelli throws and the Blues in it. Funaki knocks on trying to play the ball, though.
Force scrum.
67 mins
Blues scrum, but they win a penalty before Funaki can feed.
Perofeta finds touch for a lineout inside the 22.
66 mins
Force lineout, Horton throws and Anstee wins it. Pulu runs from first receiver, but Simpson throws a forward pass.
Blues' scrum.
65 mins
Force kickoff, Sullivan kicks it back, before Tiatia puts a bomb up.
Perofeta accepts, and the Blues attack as Telea goes down the left.
Callan does well to win a penalty, though, and end the Blues' attack.
63 mins - TRY BLUES
Perofeta finds the corner for a lineout. Riccitelli throws, Robinson wins it and they drive.
They go to the backs through Funaki and Plummer, and get inside the 22.
Perofeta puts Plummer into a gap on the right, and the Blues are inside the 5m.
Riccitelli picks and goes, and he scores for a bonus point try!
Plummer has stayed down hurt, but is back on his feet as Perofeta lines up the kick.
Perofeta makes no mistake.
BLU 30 FOR 10
60 mins
Perofeta kicks off again, and the Force clear into tocuh through Stewart.
Sullivan takes it quickly, and the Blues go again. Segner carries into the Force half.
The Blues have advantage, as Perofeta kicks over the top, but Tiatia reads it so we go back for the penalty.
59 mins - TRY FORCE
Force scrum, Simpson feeds and they win advantage.
Medrano carries over the 5m line, before the Force go all the way to the left, as Pulu dives over in the corner!
Kuenzle lines up the kick, but he misses to the left.
BLU 23 FOR 10
56 mins
Riccitelli throws, but Anstee gets up to disrupt and knocks it into touch.
Another lineout. Riccitelli throws again, and this time the Blues win it. They go all the way out to the left to Telea, before Funaki tries to step through the line.
He's held up though, and the Force turn it over. Kibirigie kicks deep, and chases Perofeta into the in goal.
Perofeta accepts the tackle, for a 5m scrum.
54 mins
Bench cleared for the Blues, Darry and Funaki on for Tucker and Nock.
Blues scrum, Funaki feeds. The Blues have advantage, and stop for the penalty.
Blues lineout.
53 mins
The Force kickoff, and Tucker wins it. Pulu pops up to try and steal it, and manages to win a turnover for his trouble.
Evans and Riccitelli come on for Heem and Eklund.
Force scrum. Simpson feeds, and they run off the back. Anstee nearly breaks on the right as the Force get closer to the 22.
They do get into the 22, through 15 phases, but Callan knocks it on.
The Blues counter under advantage as Perofeta kicks for Telea, but he can't win it in the air.
Blues scrum.
49 mins - TRY BLUES
Perofeta finds touch, and the Blues will have another lineout deep in the 22. Bit of push and shove between Tucker and Fainga'a off the ball.
Eklund throws, and Robinson wins it. The Blues go to the backs as Perofeta finds Heem with a crash ball.
Tuungafasi carries, and they go wide. The ball goes through the hands to Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens on the right, but he loses the ball in the tackle for a lineout.
The Force go quickly, but lose it in Sotutu's tackle and the Blues have it again!
Perofeta nearly breaks throuh to get to the 5m line.
Heem goes quickly, and finds Telea - who touches down in the left corner!
Perofeta lines up the kick, but he hits the post.
BLU 23 FOR 5
46 mins
Simpson feeds, and the Force have advantage from the scrum.
Simspon runs off the back, and kicks for Spink, but the Blues win it through Telea.
They've got it inside the Force half, and Tucker takes it past the 22.
Callan turns it over for the Force, but Nock wins it back. Sotutu goes on a strong run, as Plummer and Telea go left.
Fusitu'a goes, but Eklund spills the ball on the 5m line. Stewart kicks it downfield, but only as far as Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.
Segner is freed down the left, and wins advantage for a high tackle. Sullivan knocks on, so we go back for the penalty on Segner.
43 mins
Eklund throws, Robinson wins it, but he's called for not straight.
Another chance blown for the Blues. Force scrum.
43 mins
Eklund throws, and Anstee gives away another penalty as the Blues bring it down.
Perofeta finds touch again.
42 mins
The Force kick it back, and the Blues bring it under control through Sullivan and Perofeta.
Anstee gives away a penalty for not releasing, and Perofeta finds the corner.
41 mins
We're back and ready to go for the second half. Tom Robinson is on for the Blues in place of Choat.
The Force have lost Wells as well. Perofeta kicks off to start the second half.
HALFTIME
Eklund throws, and the Blues win it as the siren goes. They look to run one last time as Perofeta and Sullivan carry inside the 22.
Tuungafasi carries inside the 22. Anstee knocks on trying to gather it to give the Blues advantage, but they knock on right back.
That's halftime.
40 mins
Fainga'a throws, the Force win it and go all the way from right to left. Pulu breaks down the left, and throws back inside, but the Blues win a penalty through Telea.
Perofeta clears for a lineout.
39 mins
Fainga'a throws and they look to maul again, but Segner's pinched it!
Perofeta clears into touch.
38 mins
Force lineout. Fainga'a throws, and the Force win it and drive. They've got advantage and then a penalty as the maul collapses.
Simpson clears for a lineout in the corner.
37 mins
Simpson clears with a box kick after the restart, and Sullivan wins it. He finds Telea, but he doesn't release in the tackle to give away a penalty.
36 mins - TRY FORCE
Force kickoff again, but Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens can't hold on and spills it for a Force lineout in the corner.
Fainga'a throws, and the Force drive. The Blues' defence holds, so the Force look to use it.
Spink picks and goes, as does Kalapu. Spink has another go, but he's tackled. Kalapu goes again and gets to the 5m line.
Force have advantage, so Tiatia kicks through the line - and Wells is there to ground it for a try!
Try awarded, but it looks like Wells was in front of the kicker? The TMO is going to intervene here, but Wells was behind the planted foot, and therefore onside, so the try stands.
Kuenzle can't convert from the right wing.
BLU 18 FOR 5
33 mins - TRY BLUES
Blues lineout, Eklund throws and they win it and run.
Heem goes on the left wing, as does Telea - but the Force defence holds. Perofeta puts Segner into a gap, and he carries deep into the 22!
Choat carries past the 5m line, as Suafoa picks and goes! He offloads to Tuungafasi, and he goes over for another try!
Perofeta to convert from the left, and does.
BLU 18 FOR 0
31 mins
Force kickoff again, the Blues get it under control before Perofeta kicks it back.
The Force look to run as Wagner carries over halfway. They go wide through Pulu, but he's tackled on the left wing.
Stewart looks to offload, but knocks on to give the Blues advantage. Perofeta kicks deep with no one at the back.
Kibirigie clears into touch for the Force.
29 mins - TRY BLUES
Blues lineout, in the 22 again, just shy of the 5m line. Eklund throws, and it's untidy before Tucker gets it onto the Blues side.
Tuungafasi picks and goes at the line, before Nock goes wide to Telea. Suafoa gets them past the 5m line again but the Force defend well.
Perofeta goes to the air - and Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens does brilliantly out on the right to score under the challenge of Tiatia! We'll check upstairs for the grounding, but the Blues are celebrating.
The TMO confirms the try!
Perofeta to convert from the right wing, but he kicks low and misses to the left of the posts.
BLU 11 FOR 0
28 mins
Kuenzle kicks off to restart, and the Blues have it under control after a maul.
Perofeta goes to the air, where Kuenzle gets there before Telea. Wells has a run, but Choat turns the ball over in the tackle.
Perofeta finds touch.
26 mins - PENALTY BLUES
The Blues want the points again. Perofeta lines up the shot from right in front, and has no issue to double his side's lead.
BLU 6 FOR 0
25 mins
Force lineout. Fainga'a throws and they bring it under control. They go back to Stewart, who kicks downfield to Sullivan.
Sullivan looks to run, and offloads to Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens with the Blues in the Force half.
Tuungafasi and Segner carries to the 22, but Nock knocks on! The Blues had advantage though, so we go back for the penalty.
23 mins
Blues scrum, deep in the Force 22.
Nock feeds, but the Force win a penalty! Wagner comes up trumps against Tuungafasi to end the Blues' threat.
22 mins
Simpson feeds, and the Force look to run. Tiatia drops it backwards, so Pulu kicks it downfield.
Telea breaks and takes the ball inside the Force half. Kalapo steals it though!
They go to the backs, but Spink can't hold on. Neither side can string anything together here.
21 mins
Force lineout, Fainga'a throws and they look to drive. Simpson clears with a box kick and Perofeta wins it.
Sullivan kicks over the top and Heem wins it on the left wing. Nock picks and goes, and looks for Sullivan back inside him, but he can't hold on.
Force scrum.
19 mins
Blues lineout, and Eklund throws over the top for Segner. The Blues well inside the Force 22 here.
Tucker goes forwards, but Medrano turns it over again, and the Force have a penalty.
Wasted chance for the Blues.
18 mins
Another Blues scrum. Sullivan is getting treatment off the ball. The Blues win a free kick as the Force go early before the feed.
Blues scrum. Nock feeds, and the Force go early again, so the Blues win a penalty.
Perofeta finds touch for a lineout.
16 mins
Blues scrum in their own 22. Nock feeds, and Sotutu runs off the back.
Heem finds Telea on the left, and he makes metres before going down. Nock clears with a box kick, straight to Tiatia, who finds Pulu.
Tiatia goes on another run down the left, before they go back the other way as Kalapu nearly breaks.
Stewart goes to the air, but Sullivan does brilliantly to take it. The Force get over the top of it though, and win the penalty as Sotutu doesn't release in the takcle.
This time they go for the lineout, but Simpson kicks it dead.
14 mins
Fainga'a throws, the Force win it and go to the air, as Pulu beats Perofeta in the air.
The Force have the ball inside the Blues' half. Tiatia puts Wagner into a gap, and he carries into the 22, but Simpson knocks on trying to go quickly.
Unconvincing from the Blues first up.
12 mins
Simpson clears, and the Force have a lineout. Fainga'a throws, straight over the top to Madrano.
Simpson goes blind down the right, but has no support and throws the ball back to the Blues.
Sullivan kicks it straight back to the Force, before Pulu returns the favour.
Sullivan finds touch.
11 mins
Eklund throws, and Segner wins it inside the Force 22.
The forwards get on the front foot, as Suafoa carries, as does Fusitu'a. Perofeta goes wide to Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens on the right, before the Blues go back infield.
Madrano gets over the ball though, and he wins a penalty to stop the Blues' attack.
9 mins
Fainga'a throws, and the Force win it, before Suafoa turns it over and wins a penalty for the Blues.
Perofeta clears for a lineout.
9 mins
Simpson shapes to clear the ball for a lineout, before they call for the shot at goal.
Kuenzle will take the shot, but he misses. Sullivan then clears into touch.
8 mins
Force kickoff, Tucker wins it, but Pulu somehow steals it in the takcle.
Good chance for the Force inside the Blues' half. Tiatia swings a wide pass to Kibirgie on the right wing, before the Force go back infield. Nasty challenge between Perofeta and Anstee gives the Force advantage, and we'll stop for the penalty.
6 mins - PENALTY BLUES
The Blues want the points. Perofeta lines up his first shot of the day.
About 45 metres out, but right in front, and he belts it down the middle to give the Blues the lead.
BLU 3 FOR 0
5 mins
First lineout of the day. Eklund throws, but it's straight over the top and Medrano gets it.
Stewart kicks downfield, straight to Telea. The Blues carry back inside the Force half as Sotutu runs down the left.
Perofeta buts a kick up, but Tiatia claims it in the air over Heem.
Simpson clears with a box kick, but Sullivan gets it. Nock goes to the air, and Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens claims it as the Blues win advantage.
We'll go back for the penalty as the whistle goes.
2 mins
Tucker wins the kickoff, and the Blues look to use it before Perofeta goes to the air.
The Force get it under control, before Sotutu and Eklund win a turnover on Kibirgie.
KICKOFF
Here we go then, all ready to go at Eden Park. The Force kick off to get us going.
3:34pm
And Harry Plummer leads the Blues out of the sheds. Great to see him playing again after a tough run of injuries.
3:33pm
The Force, wearing a Taranaki-inspired yellow and black strip, make their way out onto Eden Park first.
3:26pm
The Blues make their way from the field, back into the sheds for their final preparation.
Decent crowd in for some Sunday afternoon - considering this game clashes with NZ Warriors' first game of the season.
3:18pm
Good afternoon! Late team news for the Force.
Bryce Hegarty has been scratched with injury, seeing Hamish Stewart come into the side in his place.
Other than that, both sides appear to be as named earlier in the week.
About 15 minutes to kick-off, so stay with us!
************
Kia ora, good afternoon and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of this Super Rugby Pacific round five clash between the Blues and Western Force from Auckland's Eden Park.
A week on from a hard-fought defeat to the Crusaders, the Blues go again on their home turf - which has been promptly transformed back to a rugby ground after hosting Saturday's Blackcaps win over Sri Lanka.
As All Blacks rest orders take hold, the Blues have been forced into several changes, with Harry Plummer leading a new-look side.
Regular skipper Dalton Papali'i, as well as Beauden Barrett, Finlay Christie, Caleb Clarke, Rieko Ioane and Nepo Laulala are all rested, while Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is sidelined with a broken hand.
The matchday 23 does see Stephen Perofeta move into the No.10 jersey, while All Blacks hopeful Mark Telea moves across to the left wing to show his wares wearing No.11.
A bonus point win would be enough for the Blues to leapfrog the Crusaders and move back into the competition's top four.
Meanwhile, the Force have named a couple of familiar faces in their 23.
Former Hurricanes and Chiefs fullback Chase Tiatia lines up at the back for the visitors, joined by ex-Chiefs and Counties Manukau winger Toni Pulu.
The Force are currently 10th on the ladder, despite having won two and lost two this season - the same as the Blues.
TAB odds: Blues $1.07, Force $7.05, draw $31
Teams:
Blues: 1-Joshua Fusitu'a, 2-Kurt Eklund, 3-Ofa Tuungafasi, 4-James Tucker, 5-Cameron Suafoa, 6-Anton Segner, 7-Adrian Choat, 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Sam Nock, 10-Stephen Perofeta, 11-Mark Telea, 12-Harry Plummer (c), 13-Bryce Heem, 14-Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 15-Zarn Sullivan
Reserves: 16-Ricky Riccitelli, 17-Jordan Lay, 18-Marcel Renata, 19-Tom Robinson, 20-Sam Darry, 21-Taine Plumtree, 22-Taufua Funaki, 23-AJ Lam
Western Force: 1-Angus Wagner, 2-Folau Fainga'a, 3-Santiago Medrano, 4-Felix Kalapu, 5-Jeremy Williams, 6-Michael Wells (c), 7-Tim Anstee, 8-Rahboni Vosayaco, 9-Gareth Simpson, 10-Bryce Hegarty, 11-Toni Pulu, 12-Hamish Stewart, 13-Sam Spink, 14-Zach Kibirgie, 15-Chase Tiatia
Reserves: 16-Tom Horton, 17-Marley Pearce, 18-Siosifa Amone, 19-Ryan McCauley, 20-Ollie Callan, 21-Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22-Bayley Kuenzle, 23-George Poolman
