2013 Blues season

Last updated

2013 Blues season
Team information
Coach Flag of New Zealand.svg Sir John Kirwan
Captain
Stadium Eden Park, North Harbour Stadium
Avg. attendance19,661
High attendance31,014
Low attendance10,811
Top scorers
Tries Frank Halai (5)
Points Chris Noakes (26)
  2012 List of seasons

The 2013 Blues season was the team's 18th season in the Super Rugby competition. The Blues' pre-season began on 2 February, and the regular season began on 23 February. The team played 16 regular season matches, with byes in rounds 5 and 10. They did not play in rounds 1 and 17, which was only contested by Australian teams as a result of the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia. The Blues played all teams within the New Zealand conference twice, and all other teams once, with the exception of the Western Force and Southern Kings. The 2013 team was captained by Ali Williams and coached by Sir John Kirwan.

Contents

Pre-season

The first of three pre-season fixtures was on 2 February against the Queensland Reds in Toowoomba. This was followed by a home match against the New South Wales Waratahs at Toll Stadium on 9 February and a final match on 15 February against the Highlanders at Queenstown Events Centre.

Fixtures

2 Feb. 2013 Queensland Reds 41 - 35 Blues Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba  
Attendance: 7,000 [1]
9 Feb. 2013 Blues 40 - 36 New South Wales Waratahs Toll Stadium, Whangārei  
Attendance: 6,000 [2]
15 Feb. 2013 Highlanders 29 - 31 Blues Queenstown Events Centre, Queenstown  
Attendance: 4,000 [3]

Regular season

The Blues regular season will begin on 23 February with an away fixture against the Hurricanes, and will finish on 13 July, with a home fixture against the Chiefs.

Fixtures

23 Feb. 2013 Hurricanes 20 - 34 Blues Westpac Stadium, Wellington  
Report Attendance: 10,662
Referee: Glen Jackson
1 March 2013 Blues 34 - 15 Crusaders Eden Park, Auckland  
Report Attendance: 31,014
Referee: Chris Pollock
10 March 2013 Blues 21 - 28 Bulls Eden Park, Auckland  
Report Attendance: 25,112
Referee: Garratt Williamson
24 March 2013 New South Wales Waratahs 30 - 27 Blues Allianz Stadium, Sydney  
Report Attendance: 16,429
Referee: Francisco Pastrana
30 March 2013 Chiefs 23 - 16 Blues Baypark Stadium, Mount Maunganui  
Report Attendance: 15,203
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
5 April 2013 Blues 29 - 18 Highlanders Eden Park, Auckland  
Report Attendance: 16,489
Referee: Steve Walsh
13 April 2013 Blues 28 - 6 Hurricanes Eden Park, Auckland  
Report Attendance: 23,387
Referee: Jaco Peyper
26 April 2013 Queensland Reds 12 - 11 Blues Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane  
Report Attendance: 31,050
Referee: Craig Joubert
3 May 2013 Blues 18 - 17 Stormers North Harbour Stadium, Auckland  
Report Attendance: 16,111
Referee: Glen Jackson
11 May 2013 Blues 36 - 32 Melbourne Rebels Eden Park, Auckland  
Report Attendance: 14,700
Referee: Garratt Williamson
18 May 2013 Crusaders 23 - 3 Blues Christchurch Stadium, Christchurch  
Report Attendance: 17,264
Referee: Glen Jackson
25 May 2013 Blues 13 - 20 Brumbies Eden Park, Auckland  
Report Attendance: 10,811
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe
1 June 2013 Highlanders 38 28 Blues Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin  
Report Attendance: 12,888
29 June 2013 Sharks 22 - 20 Blues Mr Price Kings Park, Durban  
Report Referee: Jaco Peyper
6 July 2013 Cheetahs 34 - 13 Blues Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein  
Report Referee: Jaco Peyper
13 July 2013 Blues 16 - 26 Chiefs Eden Park, Auckland  
Report Attendance: 25,118
Referee: Chris Pollock

Tour Matches

On 4 April it was announced that the Blues would play a one-off match against France as a midweek fixture during their tour of New Zealand in June. [4] The match was held on 11 June at North Harbour Stadium and was the first time a New Zealand-based Super Rugby team has played against an international side.

11 June 2013 Blues 15 - 38Flag of France.svg  France North Harbour Stadium, Auckland  
Blues Report
NZ Herald Report
Attendance: 10,071
Referee: Jaco Peyper

Player Summary

Player statistics through round five of the 2013 Super Rugby season are shown below: [5]

Overall Summary

Cap #PlayerPosition(s)Apps.TriesCons.Pens.Drps.Pts.W.C.Y.C.R.C.
74 Flag of New Zealand.svg Keven Mealamu Hooker 000000---
93 Flag of New Zealand.svg Ali Williams (c) Lock 500000---
137 Flag of New Zealand.svg Anthony Boric Lock 200000---
149 Flag of New Zealand.svg Tom McCartney Hooker 500000---
154 Flag of New Zealand.svg Rene Ranger Wing, Centre 5200010---
159 Flag of New Zealand.svg Peter Saili Flanker, No. 8 400000---
165 Flag of New Zealand.svg Charlie Faumuina Prop 400000---
180 Flag of New Zealand.svg Luke Braid Flanker 510005---
186 Flag of New Zealand.svg Piri Weepu Half-back, First five-eighth 5035021---
188 Flag of New Zealand.svg Angus Ta'avao Prop 500000---
192 Flag of New Zealand.svg Francis Saili Wing, Centre 500000---
193 Flag of New Zealand.svg Liaki Moli Lock 200000---
195 Flag of Tonga.svg George Moala Wing 4200010---
196 Flag of New Zealand.svg James Parsons Hooker 510005---
197 Flag of New Zealand.svg Steve Luatua Lock, Flanker 510005---
199 Flag of New Zealand.svg Charles Piutau Wing, Fullback 5300015---
200 Flag of New Zealand.svg Albert Nikoro Wing, Fullback 100000---
201 Flag of New Zealand.svg Frank Halai Wing 5400020-1-
202 Flag of New Zealand.svg Chris Noakes First five-eighth 4135026---
203 Flag of New Zealand.svg Culum Retallick Lock 200000---
204 Flag of New Zealand.svg Brendon O'Connor Flanker 500000---
205 Flag of New Zealand.svg Bryn Hall Halfback 101002---
206 Flag of New Zealand.svg Quentin MacDonald Hooker 300000---
207 Flag of New Zealand.svg Baden Kerr First five-eighth 3113013---
208 Flag of New Zealand.svg Jackson Willison Second five-eighth, Centre 300000---
209 Flag of New Zealand.svg Kane Barrett Lock, Flanker 100000---
210 Flag of New Zealand.svg Waisake Naholo Wing 100000---
211 Flag of New Zealand.svg Tim Perry Prop 100000---
212 Flag of New Zealand.svg Ronald Raaymakers Lock, Flanker 100000---
213 Flag of New Zealand.svg Jamison Gibson-Park Halfback 300000---
214 Flag of New Zealand.svg Marty McKenzie Utility Back 100000---
N/A Flag of New Zealand.svg Malakai Fekitoa Second five-eighth, Centre 000000---
N/A Flag of New Zealand.svg Ofa Tu'ungafasi Prop 000000---

Legend:Apps. = Appearances, Cons. = Conversions, Pens. = Penalties, Drps. = Drop Goals, Pts. = Total points, W.C. = White cards, Y.C. = Yellow cards, R.C. = Red cards

Top Point Scorers

RankPlayerPoints
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Chris Noakes 26
2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Piri Weepu 21
3 Flag of New Zealand.svg Frank Halai 20
4 Flag of New Zealand.svg Charles Piutau 15
5 Flag of New Zealand.svg Baden Kerr 13

Top Try Scorers

RankPlayerTries
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Frank Halai 4
2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Charles Piutau 3
3= Flag of New Zealand.svg Rene Ranger 2
3= Flag of Tonga.svg George Moala 2
5=Five players1

Standings

The standings through the final round of the 2013 season are shown below:

New Zealand Conference
PosTeamRndWDLByePFPAPDTFTATBLBPts
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Chiefs 1812042458364+9450388266
2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 1811052446307+13944315360
3 Flag of New Zealand.svg Blues 1860102347364−1740366644
4 Flag of New Zealand.svg Hurricanes 1860102386457−7141494541
5 Flag of New Zealand.svg Highlanders 1830132374496−12240554529
Overall Standings
PosTeamRndWDLByePFPAPDTFTATBLBPts
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Chiefs 1812042458364+9450388266
2 Flag of South Africa.svg Bulls 1812042448330+11841345263
3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brumbies 1810242430295+13543315360
4 Flag of New Zealand.svg Crusaders 1811052446307+13944315360
5 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Reds 1810242321296+2531234258
6 Flag of South Africa.svg Cheetahs 1810062382358+2438322454
7 Flag of South Africa.svg Stormers 189072346292+5430181550
8 Flag of South Africa.svg Sharks 188082384305+7940313548
9 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Waratahs 188082411371+4045341445
10 Flag of New Zealand.svg Blues 1860102347364−1740366644
11 Flag of New Zealand.svg Hurricanes 1860102386457−7141494541
12 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Rebels 1850112382515−13344654537
13 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Force 1841112267366−9926340531
14 Flag of New Zealand.svg Highlanders 1830132374496−12240554529
15 Flag of South Africa.svg Southern Kings 1831122298564−26627692024
Conference leaders, qualify to finals.
Wildcard teams, qualify to finals.

Source: sanzarrugby.com Legend:Pos = Position, Rnd = Round, W = Win, D = Draw, L = Loss, PF = Points For, PA = Points Against, PD = Points Difference, TB = Four-try bonus points, LB = Close loss bonus points, Pts = Competition Points

Round by Round Result Summary

Round1234567891011121314151617181920
Ground-AHH-AAHH-AHHAHA-AAH
ResultN/AWWLBLLWWBLWWLLLN/ALLL
Pos (Conf)N/A1222343212223333333
Pos (Overall)N/A24646975255567788910

Legend:H = Home, A = Away, W = Win, D = Draw, L = Loss, B = Bye, Pos = Position, Conf = Conference

See also

2013 Super Rugby season

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References

  1. Super rugby draws crowd The Chronicle[ dead link ]
  2. "Rugby: Blues snatch last gasp victory".
  3. "Lethargic Highlanders struggle to get going". 15 February 2013.
  4. "Blues to play france". New Zealand Herald. 4 April 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  5. "Super Rugby Auckland Blues Team". FOX SPORTS. Retrieved 6 August 2023.