Blues struggle past Drua to extend Super Rugby Pacific win streak to eight

At AAMI Park, Melbourne: Blues 35 (AJ Lam 2 tries 5min, 65min, Sam Darry try 2srcmin, Marcel Renata try 37min, Rieko Ioane try 51min; Beauden Barrett 5 con), Fijian Drua 18 (Mesulame Dolokoto try 8min, Onisi Ratave try 58min; Simione Kuruvoli 2 pen, con). HT: 21-1src. Yellow card: Karl Tu’inukuafe (Blues) 69min.

The Blues show rolls on, their Super Rugby Pacific win streak up to eight after a less than convincing bonus-point victory in their historic match against competition newcomers the Fijian Drua.

The Aucklanders, though, were a long way off the level they had exhibited over the previous fortnight in despatching the Fijians in the early Saturday clash in Melbourne, after sending out a starting XV featuring nine changes to that which set the table for last round’s drought-breaking 27-23 victory over the Crusaders in Christchurch.

Leon MacDonald’s men never really found the fluency and accuracy that marked their notable wins at the Chiefs and Crusaders previous, muddled through a messy first half (they led just 21-1src at the break) and were not much better over the second 4src as they banked a five tries to two victory that won’t live long in the memory.

READ MORE:
* Beauden Barrett impressed by ‘freakish’ Roger Tuivasa-Sheck ahead of first start together
* ‘Our most consistent performer’: Midfielder Alex Nankivell takes centre stage again for the Chiefs
* Picking All Blacks XVs as the second phase of Super Rugby Pacific kicks off

The success improves the Blues to a competition-best 8-1, and 36 points, while the Drua have now lo