Winger Caleb Clarke scored two tries as the Blues produced a third dominant win for New Zealand teams in the Super Rugby Pacific quarterfinals 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 Chiefs and Hurricanes in the semifinals.
The final quarterfinal takes place between Australia's Brumbies and Highlanders in Canberra later on Saturday.
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 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.
BIG BLUES!#SuperRugbyPacific #BLUvDRU pic.twitter.com/0j3EVNnEwh
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) June 8, 2024
"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.
