Caleb Clarke scored a hat-trick as the Blues beat the Chiefs on Saturday to win their first full Super Rugby title since 2003.
A ruthless Auckland side flexed too much muscle in the wet conditions at Eden Park, scoring five tries to win 41-10 in a Super Rugby Pacific showpiece.
The Blues won the 2021 Super Rugby Trans-Tasman with less competition due to the pandemic.
Down 20-3 at half-time, Chiefs were effectively out as the Blues negated the impact of game-breaking flyhalf Damian McKenzie.
Wet conditions suited the Blues pack, as new coach Vern Cotter’s effective style has seen them struggle to achieve 15 wins from 17 games this season.
Blues flyhalf Harry Plummer had all seven of his shots on goal for 16 points as the Blues secured their 16th successive win at Eden Park.
Home captain Patrick Tuipulotu was an inspiration, playing just two weeks after suffering a knee ligament injury in the quarter-finals.
🏆 1996
🏆 1997
🏆 2003
🏆 2024The 21 year wait for the blues is over 😀 pic.twitter.com/KhXqqRvaJu
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) June 22, 2024
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your 2024 #Super Rugby Pacific Champion 🏆#BLUvCHI pic.twitter.com/IrGCQrnFgf
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) June 22, 2024
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Tuipulotu and several of his teammates are in solid contention to be included in the All Blacks squad to be named on Monday for two home Tests against England next month.
Among them was Clarke, who netted three crosses after an early try for flanker Akira Ioane to mark his final game for the Blues before signing for the Japanese club.
Clarke’s first try came through some brilliant skill from brother Ioane, who miraculously kept the ball alive when Rieko and Akira appeared to be tackled.
Just how?!? 🤯
The Blues Brothers synced up to prepare this piece for Caleb Clarke! #Super Rugby Pacific #BLUvCHI pic.twitter.com/14hECodHQk
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) June 22, 2024
Chiefs’ hopes were dashed shortly after the break when George Dyer was shown a yellow card for his team’s subsequent offence. Clarke soon scored his third after latching on to a long pass from scrum-half Finlay Christie.
Center AJ Lam scored the final try after substitute forward Simon Parker scored a consolation five-pointer for Chiefs.
It was the final loss of the second straight loss for the Chiefs, who lost to the Crusaders in Hamilton last year. Their only two titles came in back-to-back years in 2012 and 2013 under Dave Rennie.
The Blues’ victory ended the Crusaders’ title reign, having won the previous seven in a row but failing to even reach the knockout stages this year.
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Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images
