Super Rugby LIVE: Waratahs take on Blues for last shot at finals

Blues get second try through Barrett magic

Rieko Ioane makes it two tries for the Blues, with it all coming from Beauden Barrett’s break which split upon the Waratahs defence.

Mark Telea went close but was chased down with a desperate tackle from halfback Teddy Wilson and Ioane had a simple job to dot the ball down.

Barrett just gets better with age, he left the NSW tacklers for dust, although off the tee he hasn’t been quite so impressive missing his second conversion of the day.

Blues 10 Waratahs 3

Caleb Clarke of the Blues charges forwardCredit: Getty Images

NSW hit back with a penalty to close gap

Although the Blues are up by five, this is more than a decent start from the Waratahs.

Angus Bell typifies the work rate with a brilliant turnover at the breakdown from an isolated Hoskins Sotutu.

Just in front of the 10-metre line, Jack Bowen elects to take a shot to close the gap by two points with a wind swirling.

He nails it perfectly.

The only concern is that the Waratahs have had a habit of undoing much of their great work from around the 25-minute mark this season, let’s see.

atrick Tuipulotu of the Blues is tackled by Henry O’Donnell of the WaratahsCredit: Getty Images

Blues take the lead

There was a sense of inevitability there as All Blacks wing Mark Telea scores in the right hand corner.

Waratahs winger Andrew Kellaway had done brilliantly to chase down a flying Rieko Ioane, but ultimately with a huge overlap on the right-hand side, Telea wasn’t going to be denied.

This could be a long afternoon in Auckland.

In positive news, Triston Reilly is reading the Blues attack like a child with a Harry Potter book, he is devouring intercepts. Taniela Tupou is also revved up and is trying to jackal everything at the breakdown.

Blues 5 Waratahs 0

Beauden Barrett of the Blues warms upCredit: Getty Images

Triston Reilly almost gets another intercept

After two crucial intercepts that turned the game against the Force, Triston Reilly is very nearly through for a guaranteed seven pointer for his side.

The winger is reading the opposition attack so fluently in a great season for him so far.

Taniela Tupou is already a lot more dynamic than last week, but that was a low bar.

A huge shot on AJ Lam on Waratahs centre Henry O’Donnell early will set up a crucial contest.

Blues 0 Waratahs 0

Waratahs coach Dan McKellar at Eden ParkCredit: Getty Images

Nearly time for kick off

It has been a season of rocks and diamonds for the Waratahs.

After six wins and seven defeats, it has been a mixed bag under coach Dan McKellar.

NSW have managed just one win on the road and they had to get it in Super Point against the Force last week to keep their season alive.

Eden Park is quite a different proposition to HBF Park in Perth, but the Waratahs can play with freedom, the pressure is all on the Blues.

It’s a huge opportunity for Jack Bowen and Teddy Wilson to show their team that they are the future.

Here we go.

Jack Bowen (right) celebrating a Waratahs win.Credit: Getty Images

About last night with the Brums

The Brumbies lost narrowly 31-33 on a freezing Canberra Friday night against the Crusaders to miss out on a golden chance of going second and getting two shots of playing finals footy at hom, but the topic of conversation wasn’t just reserved the second half performance spurred by Rob Valentini, it was a missed knock on from Crusaders winger Sevu Reece.

Auckland Blues XV

There’s a nice touch from the Blues today who will give a nod to the grassroots of the game by wearing their club socks.

If I had known I would have proudly wore my Church of Ireland Young Men’s Society Rugby Football Club 3rd grade socks, but didn’t get the memo.

The Blues can and do blow hot and cold, there is still quality across this side. Watch out for the battle between the No.8s with Hoskins Sotutu motived to make the Waratahs Langi Gleeson work all day long in Auckland.

Another brilliant club recognition, Anton Segner, the German breakaway representing his schoolboy club Frankurt. The global game at its best.

How the Waratahs are lining up

Some big decisions here from coach Dan McKellar today in Auckland.

Taniela Tupou gets a second successive start despite his slide tackle last week against the Force that led to a yellow card. The tighthead prop needs a big performance today, not only for NSW, but also for Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt.

English breakaway Jamie Adamson gets a start, no doubt helped by his late line break against the Force that turned the game.

The biggest headline is the young halves pairing of Jack Bowen and Teddy Wilson, with rumours swirling that Tane Edmed could be down the Hume Highway to Canberra, this could be the future of the Waratahs.

Finally, Hugh Sinclair captains the side in what could be his final game for the Waratahs.

Who have you got?

Good afternoon Tahs fans

Good afternoon, it’s Jonathan Drennan and it’s my pleasure to bring you the final round of the regular season of Super Rugby today, with the Waratahs taking on the Blues at fortress Eden Park.

The bookmakers are not on side with NSW, with the odds as high as nine dollars against the men in sky blue and it’s not difficult to see why.

The Blues have won the last ten matches against the Waratahs, with NSW only winning once in their whole history at Eden Park, which was back in 2009 with current Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh captaining the side.

Last Saturday, the Waratahs got their first win on the road this season against the Force in extra-time, with Darby Lancaster finishing spectacularly in the corner.

Today is a day for the true believers. If the Waratahs win at Eden Park today they also need the Hurricanes to beat Moana Pasifika in Wellington to steal that elusive 6th place.

The Waratahs have absolutely nothing to lose here and stranger things have happened than a NSW win against the odds this season.