Highlanders outlast fast finishing Blues

The Blues rolled out a new-look team but unfortunately it was the same old result as they were defeated 27-20 by the Highlanders at Eden Park tonight.

In the wake of a record loss to the Crusaders last week and an All Blacks training camp, Blues head coach Pat Lam made wholesale changes to his team, injecting some much needed enthusiasm and youthful energy into the side.

Benching three All Blacks in Ali Williams, Piri Weepu and Ma’a Nonu who boast more than 200 Test caps between them was a huge gamble, but for a while it looked to be paying off as livewire Francis Saili and Steven Luatua in particular had superb games.

But while there were bucket loads of enthusiasm, passion and enterprise from the ‘Baby Blues’ as they have dubbed, once again a lack of accuracy and execution at crucial times crippled their chances of winning.

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