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February 24, 2017

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Blues open Super season with big win over Rebels

RIEKO Ioane crossed for three tries as the Auckland Blues kicked off the 2017 Super Rugby season with a 56-18 win over the Rebels last night, securing their first win in Melbourne.

In a low-key opener in front of 10,265 people at AAMI Park, the Rebels pushed Auckland in the first half and trailed by 10 points at the break. But the gulf in class and fitness between the franchises from New Zealand and Australia was overwhelming in the second half as the Blues piled on the points. Auckland finished with seven tries to two against the error-prone Rebels, who turned over too much possession. Melbourne had a setback early when skipper Nic Stirzaker left the field following a head knock not long after scoring the home team’s first try in the 7th minute, joining an extensive injury list that includes Wallabies Sean McMaon and James Hanson. The Hamilton-based Chiefs and the Dunedin-based Highlanders will meet in an all-New Zealand opener and the Queensland Reds will host the Durban-based Sharks in today’s matches. The defending champions Hurricanes will travel to Tokyo, Japan, to open against the Sunwolves.

 




 

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