The Waratahs recorded their first ever win over the Blues at Eden Park, when they beat the men from Auckland 27-22 in their Super 14 showdown on Friday.

The win moves the 'Tahs to the top of the table, for at least 24 hours, but more important it halted a two-match losing streak.

The win moves the 'Tahs to the top of the table, for at least 24 hours, but more important it halted a two-match losing streak.

History repeats itself but it is also made. The Waratahs made history when they beat the Blues 27-22 at Eden Park on a balmy Friday night in a match that became thrilling. It was the first time they had ever beaten the Blues at Eden Park. History, it seems, needs to be made.

The Waratahs deserved their win. They were better in the scrums, the line-outs and the tackle. The destruction of a Blues scrum gave them an important try but ironically one of the five line-outs they stole off the Blues gave the Blues a try. The Waratahs' most obvious superiority was at the tackle where they got behind the ball in greater numbers, on their feet and with greater vigour. This gave them important turnovers, often involving Phil Waugh. The Blues on the other hand had greater fluency amongst their backs and they had the magic feet of Anthony Tuitavake who scored a brilliant try.

After a brief period of Blues attack when the Waratahs made a mess of the kick-off, Waugh won a turnover and then the Waratahs went through patient phases, regularly getting over the advantage line. After 11 phases they had an attacking free kick and opted for the scrum. They battered. Wycliff Palu was close, Benn Robinson closer. Robinson's action was referred to the television match official whose advice was that the evidence was inconclusive. This gave the Waratahs a five-metre scrum. They battered until they went a little way to the right where flyhalf Daniel Halangahu ran past prop Tevita Mailau to score near the posts. Halangahu, who had a splendid match with his remarkable calm, converted. 7-0 after 6 minutes.

Kurtis Haiu was penalised at a tackle and Halangahu kicked the goal. 10-0 after 13 minutes.

Then came the Tuitavake magic and a sparkling jewel of a try. The Blues went right at threw a long, skip pass to Tuitavake on the right wing. The ball got to him not far from the touch line and just about on the half-way line. Hunching himself and working those clever feet he swerved past Sam Norton-Knight on the outside and then with a hand-off and clever feet he got past Rob Horne and accelerated for the goal-line and a wonderful try. It was worth many more than just five points. 10-5 after 19 minutes.

At this stage Ali Williams left the field to put ice on an unhappy Achilles. Anthony Boric took his place.

The Blues put the ball into a scrum some way from their line and the Waratahs destroyed them. Under pressure Jerome Kaino flicked the ball towards Taniela Moa but before the ball reached the chunky scrumhalf Luke Burgess intercepted it and ran the empty 28 metres to score. Halangahu converted. 17-5 after 28 minutes. The Waratahs had that winner's look.

Palu was sent to the sin bin for an infringement at a tackle which included a deliberate knock-on and Gopperth goaled the penalty. 17-8 after 32 minutes.

The Blues scored first in the second half. They threw in to a line-out but Ben Mowen got up at No.2 and slapped the ball back on the Waratahs side but it was a horrible ball which led to much scurrying and a turnover to the Blues. Moa fired a short pass to charging Onosai'i Auva'a who was knocked down but scored. Gopperth converted. 17-15 after 54 minutes.

The Blues attacked again immediately afterwards with strong work by Paul Williams who was wonderful at fullback. Isaia Toeava grubbered ahead but Halangahu saved at the feet of Joe Rokocoko who had a nothing of a game and was eventually substituted.

The Waratahs then went thorough their phases routine with lots of pick-'n-drive and a ricochet off Moa gave them a five-metre line-out. They won the line-out and then mauled. The ELVs make mauling unproductive but the Waratahs contrived to swivel it around and got a try which hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson. scored. Halangahu converted and then kicked a penalty goal when Chris Lowery went in at the side of a tackle. 27-15 after 62 minutes.

The Waratahs attacked after winning successive Blues line-outs but the Blues got out of trouble and did some sweeping attacking of their own. Waugh was penalised at a tackle near his line and Michael Hobbs was over for the try which Gopperth easily converted. 27-22 with 12 minutes to play.

Moa kicked, the Blues caught and then they attacked They attacked again and again but conceded free kicks at the tackle and the Blues ended winners.

Neither history nor Keven Mealamu's century of Super rugby matches saved the Blues this time. Their Super 14 hopes may just have been dashed.

Man of the Match: Paul Williams was brilliant and so were Phil Waugh and Tatafu Polota-Nau but we would choose new flyhalf Daniel Halangahu who was so effective.

The scorers:

For the Blues:
Tries: Tuitavake, Auva'a, Hobbs
Cons: Gopperth 2
Pen: Gopperth

For the Waratahs:
Tries: Halangahu, Burgess, Polota-Nau
Cons: Halangahu 3
Pens: Halangahu 2

Yellow card: Wycliff Palu (Waratahs, 33 - professional foul, deliberately knocking ball down)

Teams:

Blues: 15 Paul Williams, 14 Anthony Tuitavake, 13 Isaia Toeava, 12 Jamie Helleur, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Jimmy Gopperth, 9 Taniela Moa, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Onosai'i Auva'a, 6 Chris Lowrey, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (captain), 1 Tevita Mailau.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Charlie Faumunia, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Peter Saili, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Michael Hobbs, 22 Rene Ranger.

Waratahs: 15 Sam Norton-Knight, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Tom Carter, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Daniel Halangahu, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Phil Waugh (captain), 6 Ben Mowen, 5 Will Caldwell, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Dan Palmer, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Damien Fitzpatrick, 17 Sekope Kepu, 18 Chris Thomson, 19 Luke Doherty, 20 Brett Sheehan, 21 Kurtley Beale, 22 Timana Tahu.

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Touch judges: Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

365

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