The Blues have dominated the Waratahs to book entry into the Super Rugby Pacific final four, running away to a 41-12 quarter-final victory at Auckland's Eden Park.
Rocked early, when the visitors scored first, the home side showed their guests little hospitality from that point, scoring 38 straight points, before conceding a consolation try late in the contest.
Winger Mark Telea equalled Doug Howlett's record for tries scored in a Super Rugby season with 12, while All Blacks first-five Beauden Barrett returned from injury to control play with ball in hand or off the boot.
The Blues must now await the results of the other three playoff matches on Saturday, before learning their opponents and venue for next week's semi.
The Australians shocked pre-match expectations, when they scored first, with Barrett's high kick bouncing wildly, snapped up by centre Izaia Perese, who sent lock Ned Hanigan to the tryline in the third minute.
Barrett responded with a penalty and any anxiety from the home fans was eased, when halfback Finlay Christie capped a breakout from the Blues 22 to snatch the lead.
Waratahs were unlucky not to score next, when winger Dylan Pietsch dived over in the corner, but had the ball dislodged by Christie, before he could force it.
With halftime closing fast, prop Nepo Laulala scored a rate try, after the Blues pack bombarded the Waratahs line from close range.
After the break, hooker Ricky Riccitelli scored from a lineout drive and Zarn Sullivan crossed in the corner, after sustained forward dominance. Barrett left the game in the 66th minute with a 100 percent record from the kicking tee.
Telea had his record-equaller, when Waratahs forward Lachlan Swinton lost the ball in his own half and the Blues winger pounced for a simple try, before Pietsch finally grabbed the five-pointer he was denied in the first half.
"Pretty happy with that performance, but still a lot to work on," claimed captain Dalton Papali'i. "We just had to go back to our basics - at the beginning, we were a bit too frantic and it was costing us.
"We knew it was going to be a grudge match and all week, we didn't want to leave a stone unturned. The boys prepped well, and we knew we were up against a good side and had to bring it."
If other matches go as expected, the Blues would end up in a semi-final showdown with archrivals Crusaders - a rematch of last year's finalists.
"All I'm going to say is I'm looking forward to it," said Papali'i.
Blues 41 (Christie, Laulala, Riccitelli, Sullivan & Telea tries; Barrett penalty & 4 conversions, Plummer conversion & penalty) Waratahs 12 (Hanigan & Pietsch tries; Edmed conversion)
Join Newshub at 4:30pm Saturday for live updates of the Chiefs v Reds Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final
