Blues hold off Fijian Drua in Auckland but lose All Blacks star to injury

The Blues proved too strong for the Fijian Drua in Auckland on Saturday as they cruised to a 36-5 victory but the win proved costly as they lost the services of their captain Patrick Tuipulotu to injury.

Tuipulotu was forced off the field midway through the opening half with a knee injury after his second-row partner Josh Beehre clattered into him in general play.

He left the field immediately and will have to go for scans which will reveal the full extent of his injury.

The Blues will be hoping that Tuipulotu will recover in time for the Super Rugby Pacific semi-finals while his injury will also be a concern for All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson ahead of the upcoming Tests against England and Fiji in July.

New Zealand are thin in the lock department after long-time second-row duo Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick retired from international rugby after last year’s Rugby World Cup in France and Tuipulotu is viewed as a player who could slot into the All Blacks’ engine room as a replacement.

In the end, the Blues outscored the Drua by five tries to one at Eden Park with Caleb Clarke leading the way for the home side with a brace while Dalton Papali’i, Finlay Christie and Kurt Eklund also crossed the whitewash.

Their other points came via three conversions and penalty from Harry Plummer while Stephen Perofeta also added a two-pointer off the kicking tee and the Drua’s only points came courtesy of a spectacular try from Selestino Ravutaumada.

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