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Blues 41 Waratahs 12
Blues - Christie, Laulala, Riccitelli, Sullivan & Telea tries; Barrett penalty & 4 conversions, Plummer conversion & penalty
Waratahs - Hanigan & Pietsch tries; Edmed conversion
Second half
40th minute - Blues recover the loose ball and Ioane sends Robinson upfield. Blues have a penalty inside the 22 and Plummer will kick for goal to end the match.
PENALTY to Plummer
The Blues are the first team into the semi-finals.
39th minute - Lam claims the goal-line dropout and the Blues go righ, where Tela fends off a tackler. Sotutu carries strongly, Sullivan tries to kick, but it's charged down and the Waratahs race upfield.
38th minute - Ioane switches play to the left and then gets the ball back in midfield. Lam runs into the 22 and the forwards surge to the line.
Eklund is over the line, but held up.
37th minute - From the scrum, Waratahs try to run from their goal-line and Donaldson eventually kicks from behind that line.
36th minute - Robinson wins the attacking lineout, but it's not straight.
35th minute - Big scrum from the BLues and they have a penalty. Sotutu lunges from the back, but held up.
34th minute - Scrum disintegrates, so Blues will get a reset.
33rd minute - Blues win a lineout and shift left, where Telea sends Sullivan on a run. Lam looks like he's lost the ball short of the corner, but everyone's acting like it's a try.
Sure enough, replays show Nawaqanitawase has kicked the ball out of his grasp accidentally, but Blues have a five-metre scrum.
32nd minute - Edmed claims the kickoff and Wilson clears the 22.
30th minute - TRY to Pietsch
Perofeta tidies up a kick into the 22 and the BLues try to break out. When they revert to a kick, Donaldson chips ahead for his winger, who has got behind Telea to score a try he was denied in the first half.
Edmed leaves his conversion right and shot, BLU 38-12
27th minute - TRY to Telea
Waratahs have ball in hand, but it's dropped by Swinton and Telea snaps it up to run away for a simple season record-equalling try for the Blues. Plummer converts, BLU 38-7
26th minute - Barrett is replaced by Perofeta.
25th minute - Waratahs win a defensive scrum and try to run out of their 22, but Ioane turns the ball over and Plummer knocks on.
24th minute - Donaldson's dropout is claimed by Telea and the BLues go left. Renata surges into the 22, but Lam knocks on, trying to offload.
Plummer replaces Heem.
23rd minute - Lambert almost intercepts a pass from Heem to Barrett, but the BLues retain possession. Sufoa surges into the 22 and finds Segner, who is driven over the line, but held up.
22nd minute - Suafoa wins a lineout with his first touch of the ball and the Blues shift left, where Ioane is dangerous.
21st minute - Nock kicks into Waratahs half, where Pietsch bobbles the ball, but claims it. Waratahs try to run out of their half, but Hooper puts a kick ahead that finds touch inside the BLues half.
20th minute - Barrett finds touch near the BLues 10. Nock replaces Christie and Laulala wins the lineout at the back.
19th minute - Eklund replaces Riccitelli. Waratahs win the lineout and they're only five metres out from the tryline. They shift left, where Donaldson almost breaks through, but Segner wins a breakdown penalty.
18th minute - Waratahs have ball in hand outside the Blues 22, but there's no way in. They gain penalty advantage and Donaldson kicks to the corner.
17th minute - Waratahs lose another attacking lineout and Barrett clears beyond the 22. Segner repalces Akira Ioane.
16th minute - Blues contest the attacking lineout and come away with the ball. Christie clears only as far as his 22.
15th minute - From the kickoff, Waratahs chase and win a penalty. Donaldson kicks to the corner.
13th minute - TRY to Sullivan
Forwards take turns lunging at the line, before the ball is shifted left, where Sullivan uses his momentum to slide over in the corner. Barrett converts from the sideline, BLU 31-7
12th minute - Blues looking for a way into the Waratahs 22. Riccitelli slips a pass to Tucker, who surges towards the tryline.
11th minute - Barrett finds touch near the Blues 10, Tucker wins the lineout and Rieko Ioane busts up midfield.
10th minute - Robinson wins a defensive lineout and Blues maul forward a few metres. Riccitelli detaches and the Blues have a clearing penalty, after they're taken off the ball.
Ninth minute - Blues win the lineout, but lose the ball in midfield. Donaldson kicks into the 22 and Barrett watches it bounce into touch.
Eighth minute - Blues win a penalty outside their 22 and Barrett finds touch near halfway.
Seventh minute - Telea claims the kickoff and Barrett kicks towards the far wing, but claimed by the Waratahs just outside the Blues 22.
Sixth minute - TRY to Riccitelli
Sotutu wins an attacking lineout and the hooker is at the back of a maul that rumbles over the tryline. Barrett slots the conversion, BLU 24-7
Fifth minute - Waratahs regroup and Godard clears from behind his goal-line. A couple of Waratahs injuries, including Hooper, who leaves the field and then comes back on.
There's some confusion over whether he was sent off for a head check... he wasn't.
Fourth minute - Sotutu wins a lineout and the ball shifts left, where Telea threatens. When the Blues go right, Papali'i and Sotutu make big metres into the 22.
Third minute - Sullivan steals the ball in a tackle and Barrett kicks beyond halfway, but infield. Godard kicks into touch on the full.
Second minute - Sullivan is called for a high tackle, but the Waratahs shift left, where Pietsch dashes down the touchline into the 22.
First minute - Sullivan kicks off for the second half, but overcooks his kick into touch on the full for a Waratahs scrum on halfway.
Halftime
40th minute - Waratahs kick off and Pietsch chases hard. Blues control the ball and Barrett finds touch, as the halftime siren sounds.
38th minute - TRY to Laulala
BLues surge into the 22, with Ioane and Laulala powering forward. Sotutu carries towards the tryline and then takes a second carry, before Laulala pops up again to score.
Barrett converts, BLU 17-7
37th minute - Blues win the lineout and Heem is stopped short of the posts. Lam is over the line and O'Keeffe checks for a grounding, but can't find one.
Donaldson drops out and Akira Ioane claims it outside the 22.
36th minute - Christie feeds a scrum just outside Waratahs 22 and the Blues push forward, winning a penalty. Barrett kicks to the corner...
35th minute - Waratahs contest the lineout and Hooper comes away with the ball, but knocked on by Holloway.
34th minute - Blues have a scrum penalty, after the front row collapses. Barrett finds touch near the Waratahs 22.
32nd minute - Tucker wins a lineout near the Blues 10 and they maul forward. Waratahs have the ball, but knock on in midfield.
31st minute - Swinton wins the lineout, but their maul is held up. Porecki charges towards the tryline, but the Waratahs are called for obstruction and Blues can clear their line.
30th minute - Waratahs have a penalty in the 22 and Donaldson kicks to the corner again.
29th minute - Waratahs win the lineout and Godard kicks high. Waratahs have the ball back and shift left, where Pietsch charges into the 22.
28th minute - Blues win a scrum free-kick and Sullivan finds touch inside Waratahs half.
27th minute - Waratahs win a lineout, but Hooper is held up in the tackle and BLues win a turnover.
26th minute - Robinson steals the attacking lineout and Barrett beyond the 22.
25th minute - Waratahs have an advantage in midfield and throw a forward pass. Donaldson kicks to the corner...
24th minute - Blues win a turnover, but a wayward pass sends them back to their goal-line. Heem brings the ball out and Sullivan eventually clears beyond the 22.
23rd minute - Sullivan drops out, almost to halfway, and the Waratahs bring the ball back towards the 22.
22nd minute - Blues knock on and Waratahs have an advantage, but they shift left, where Hanigan lobs a pass to winger Pietsch, who crosses in the corner. Replays show Christie has managed to knock the ball loose before it's forced.
21st minute - O'Keeffe pings the Blues for a side entry to the breakdown and Donaldson kicks to the corner. Hanigan wins the lineout.
20th minute - Barrett finds touch inside Waratahs half, but Holloway steals the throw for the Waratahs.
19th minute - Waratahs kick off and Telea claims the ball in the air. Blues have a clearing penalty.
17th minute - TRY to Christie
Big Blues push, but Waratahs release and Donaldson kicks into the Blues 22. Strong run from Telea and Lam puts Heem away upfield.
Ioane handles, before Christie slips the final tackle to score. Barrett slots the conversion, BLU 10-7
16th minute - Waratahs win a free-kick at the scrum for an early push and they want another scrum, trying to draw a penalty next time.
14th minute - BLues win the lineout and maul forward, but Hanigan has come through the maul to tie the ball up and win a turnover.
13th minute - Barrett claims the kickofff and finds Telea. Blues have another penalty in their own half and Barrett finds touch near halfway.
12th minute - PENALTY to Barrett
11th minute - Blues enter Waratahs 22 and have a penalty advantage at the breakdown. Barrett loses the ball in a tackle, so back for the penalty.
10th minute - Barrett kicks towards the 22 for an attacking lineout, which Robinson wins.
Ninth minute - Blues steal a lineout, but Hooper is on Christie. Barrett kicks for Telea, Donaldson claims the bounce, but loses the ball and Sullivan crosses halfway.
Blues have a penalty.
Eighth minute - Godard kicks high and Telea goes for a run. Blues look disorganised in midfield and Sullivan eventually clears from near his goal-line to the 10.
Seventh minute - Robinson wins a lineout and Blues maul over halfway. Christie kicks high and Waratahs control.
Sixth minute - Blues look confused in midfield, but Barrett straightens the attack. Barrett kicks deep, looking for position, but Donaldson returns to the Blues half.
Fifth minute - Blues kick off, Godard kicks high and Sullivan leaps to claim it near halfway.
Third minute - TRY to Hanigan
Barrett kicks hight again and it bounces near halfway, but Perese snaps up the loose ball and finds Hanigan on his shoulder, with no defence at home. Edmed slots the conversion, WAR 7-0
Second minute - Goddard chips into the BLuess 22 and finds touch, but Blues take a quick lineout and clear.
First minute - Ben O'Keeffe will referee the game and Waratahs will kick off. They have some late injury changes, so we'll try to catch up with those...
Tucker secures the kickoff and the Blues run from their 22. Barrett kicks high towards halfway.
7:34pm - Michael Hooper leads the Waratahs out for his last appearance at Eden Park. Weather conditions are fine and still in Auckland.
*****
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final between the Blues and Waratahs at Auckland's Eden Park.
Sudden-death footy is here, so throw out any preconceptions of how this match-up may go. Once you make the playoffs, anything can happen.
Based on past history - and TAB odds - the Blues are red-hot favourites against an Aussie side that limped into the post-season with a loss to the previous winless Moana Pasifika on their own patch. Afterwards, coach Darren Coleman seemed absolutely downcast and bereft of ideas.
That said, the Blues weren't exactly convincing against the desperate Highlanders last week - the best they could salvage from that performance was their proven ability to win ugly.
They'll have first-five Beauden Barrett back from a sliced heel that needed stitches three weeks ago, while captain Dalton Papli'i will move back to his openside flanker spot, with Hoskins Sotutu returning at No.8, but they will miss injured lock Patrick Tuipulotu and winger Caleb Clarke.
Tuipulotu's absence with a broken arm exposes an area that ultimately led to the Blues' downfall in last year's final, so that may come back to haunt them in coming weeks.
Join us at 7:30pm for kickoff.
TAB Odds: Blues $1.08, Waratahs $7, Draw $31
Blues: 1-Ofa Tuungafasi, 2-Ricky Riccitelli, 3-Nepo Laulala, 4-Tom Robinson, 5-James Tucker, 6-Akira Ioane, 7-Dalton Papali'i (c), 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-AJ Lam, 12-Bryce Heem, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Mark Telea, 15-Zarn Sullivan
Reserves: 16-Kurt Eklund, 17-Jordan Lay, 18-Marcel Renata, 19-Cameron Suafoa, 20-Anton Segner, 21-Sam Nock, 22-Harry Plummer, 23-Stephen Perofeta
Waratahs: 1-Tetera Faulkner, 2-Dave Porecki, 3-Archer Holz, 4-Jed Holloway, 5-Ned Hanigan, 6-Lachlan Swinton, 7-Michael Hooper, 8-Langi Gleeson, 9-Harrison Goddard, 10-Ben Donaldson, 11-Dylan Pietsch, 12-Lalakai Foketi, 13-Joey Walton, 14-Izaia Perese, 15-Mark Nawaqanitawase
Reserves: 16-Mahe Vailanu, 17-Tom Lambert, 18-Nephi Leatigaga, 19-Taleni Seu, 20-Charlie Gamble, 21-Teddy Wilson, 22-Tane Edmed, 23-Harry Wilson
Blues skipper Papali'i relishes pivotal duel with Wallabies veteran in Waratahs clash
Blues captain Dalton Papali'i eagerly anticipates one final showdown - at least, on the Super Rugby stage - with Waratahs opposite Michael Hooper in Friday's quarter-final clash at Auckland's Eden Park.
Off contract at the end of this season, the veteran Wallabies flanker may play his 141st and final game for his beloved franchise this weekend.
Hooper, 31, is reportedly weighing up options in France or Japan, as well as a potential Olympic bid as part of Australia's sevens squad for France next year.
In September, he withdrew from the Australian camp to take a mental health break, but has since indicated he'd be available for selection in coach Eddie Jones' squad for a bumper upcoming test season that includes the World Cup.
Last weekend, Hooper's hometown farewell at Sydney was spoiled by a shock defeat to the previously winless Moana Pasifika and Papali'i knows he will be desperate to make amends.
Papali'i admits he's been an admirer of Hooper's, since his days at Auckland's St Kentigerns College.
"He's been one of the most consistent flankers that there has ever been," he said. "That's a credit to him, and the way he prepares himself and the way he trains.
"I don't really know him on a personal level, but I know he'd probably be a good bastard."
The 124-test international's duel with his potential All Blacks opposite could be one of the decisive factors in the do-or-die encounter, which the Waratahs will enter as heavy underdogs.
The last time the teams met in early April, the Sydneysiders were sent home licking their wounds from a 55-21 decimation, inflicted on the Blues' home patch.
Papali'i realises limiting Hooper's influence will go a long way towards replicating that, come Friday.
"He's their leader," he noted. "They look to him, when their backs are against the wall.
"We're not going out there to get him or anything, but at the end of the day, he's a massive part of their gameplan and their play.
"You just have to take your hat off to a player like that, who's performed week in, week out. It's going to be a good match-up against him."
The Blues enter the encounter on the back of an unconvincing victory over the Highlanders, well aware they'll need to raise the bar considerably, given the high-intensity, high-stakes climate of the knockout rounds.
One factor they'll lean on - albeit for likely the final time this season - is their home ground advantage.
The Blues have only lost one game at 'The Garden' this season, dating back to their defeat to the defending champion Crusaders in March.
Papali'i hopes those home comforts and the desperation that comes with the playoffs will provide a recipe for success against the Waratahs, who have traditionally endured a torrid time at Auckland.
Since 1998, the Waratahs have won just once at Eden Park. They're also riding an eight-game losing streak to the Blues, which dates to 2015.
"We've always tried to cherish this place and say it's a fortress, that when anyone comes here, it's going to be a tough match," said Papali'i. "I think, this year, it has been.
"That's something we want to carry on… we never want to lose that.
"This year has been up and down…. the one thing we can always bank on is that we've always stuck in and won games when we've needed to. There have been a few losses, but that just comes with it.
"We can take confidence out of that going into this game… we've just got to find a way to win."
