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          Super Rugby Pacific 2024
          BluesBluesBLU
          36
          08/06FT
          5
          Fijian DruaFijian DruaFIJ
          • Dalton Papali'i(9')
          • Finlay Christie(18')
          • Caleb Clarke(35', 78')
          • Kurt Eklund(64')
          • Harry Plummer(10', 20', 65')
          • Stephen Perofeta(79')
          • Harry Plummer(23')
          • Selestino Ravutaumada(43')
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          Blues trump Fiji's Drua as New Zealand dominates Super Rugby playoffs

          • AAP
          Multiple Authors
          Jun 8, 2024, 05:59 PM
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          Winger Caleb Clarke scored two tries as the Auckland Blues produced a third dominant win for New Zealand teams in the Super Rugby Pacific quarter-finals with a 36-5 victory over Fijian Drua at Eden Park on Saturday.

          In what was always going to be a physical contest, the Blues raced to a 22-0 lead after 35 minutes and held off a Drua fightback to join the Waikato Chiefs and Wellington Hurricanes in the semi-finals.

          The final quarter-final takes place between Australia's ACT Brumbies and Otago Highlanders in Canberra later on Saturday.

          Caleb Clarke celebrates a try for the Blues. Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images

          The Hurricanes earlier beat the Melbourne Rebels 47-20 in the New Zealand capital to drop the curtain on the 14-year existence of the Australian outfit.

          The Chiefs beat the Queensland Reds 43-21in Hamilton on Friday.

          The Blues had missed out on top spot in the final standings only on points difference while the Drua had not won on the road this year and the gulf in class was clear in the first half at Eden Park.

          Flanker Dalton Papali'i, scrumhalf Finlay Christie and Clarke crossed for tries as the Blues executed with precision and the Drua made a succession of errors.

          Fiji winger Selestino Ravutaumada triggered a Drua fightback with a brilliant, mazy run for a try three minutes into second half and for a while the visitors grabbed the momentum.

          The Blues never recovered their dominance but replacement hooker Kurt Eklund scored a try and Clarke scythed through the defence to grab his second to snuff out any hope of an upset.

          "I don't think the scoreboard reflects how a tough a game that was, they really brought it to us," said Papali'i, who took over as Blues captain when Patrick Tuipulotu went off with a knee injury.

          "It's finals footy now, it's the best teams now playing for the end goal, and that's to win the whole thing. Week-by-week we've got to turn up."

          In Wellington, five tries after the break helped the top seeded Hurricanes pull clear of a Rebels side playing in the playoffs for the first time in the team's final season after their demise was confirmed earlier this month.

          "We were under no illusion the challenge we were going to come under from the Rebels this week," said Hurricanes centre Jordie Barrett.

          "They're an emotional side, a lot to play for."

          Rebels winger Lachie Anderson capped his breakout season with a late brace of tries but it was too little, too late for the Australians.

          "We had high hopes of going further but when you give quality opposition like the Hurricanes opportunities like that it's hard to come back," said Rebels skipper Rob Leota.

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          Standings

          Super Rugby Pacific
          RTeamGPPDP
          1HUR14+26455
          2CHI14+19051
          3CRU14+10041
          4BLU14+4438
          5QUE14-2237
          6ACT14+2934
          7WES14-2530
          8NSW14-4928
          9HIG14-9724
          10FIJ14-14321
          11MOA14-2919
          Full Table