Several frontline All Blacks have made a successful return to rugby, as the Super Rugby Pacific pre-season ended at Auckland.
The Blues held out the Chiefs 38-24 at Onewa Domain, with eight All Blacks getting their first tast of rugby since last year's World Cup in France.
They certainly won't thank the Auckland heat or humidity. There was certainly some blowing out there, but they haven't played rugby in several months, and it was a good return for some, despite just getting a half under their belts.
Chiefs midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown found himself on the scoreboard early, while Blues winger Caleb Clarke continued his good form, but this was about getting minutes under the belt, not playing the house down.
"Obviously, first game since World Cup," Chiefs hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho told Newshub. "It's good to get out there and get the lungs tested.
"Looking forward to kicking off the season, so happy with that."
Said Blues captain Dalton Papali'i: "I was trying to gas myself in the 40 minutes, but I think I gassed myself too much and had to walk a bit.
"That's good, that's the jolt to the system I needed."
Chiefs first-five Damian McKenzie admits he also needed the gametime.
"It's nice to blow a few cobwebs out and there were a far few of them for myself," he told Newshub. "It's exciting to be back out playing and it's come real quick."
McKenzie and his teammates face the champion Crusaders in a rematch of last year's finalists next Friday, while the Blues host Fijian Drua at Whangarei.
Join Newshub at 7pm Friday for live updates of the Chiefs v Crusaders Super Rugby Pacific clash
