2013 Blues season

2013 Blues season
Team information
CoachNew Zealand Sir John Kirwan
Captain
StadiumEden Park, North Harbour Stadium
Avg. attendance19,661
High attendance31,014
Low attendance10,811
Top scorers
TriesFrank Halai (5)
PointsChris 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.

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 - 38  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 # Player Position(s) Apps. Tries Cons. Pens. Drps. Pts. W.C. Y.C. R.C.
74 New Zealand Keven Mealamu Hooker 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - -
93 New Zealand Ali Williams (c) Lock 5 0 0 0 0 0 - - -
137 New Zealand Anthony Boric Lock 2 0 0 0 0 0 - - -
149 New Zealand Tom McCartney Hooker 5 0 0 0 0 0 - - -
154 New Zealand Rene Ranger Wing, Centre 5 2 0 0 0 10 - - -
159 New Zealand Peter Saili Flanker, No. 8 4 0 0 0 0 0 - - -
165 New Zealand Charlie Faumuina Prop 4 0 0 0 0 0 - - -
180 New Zealand Luke Braid Flanker 5 1 0 0 0 5 - - -
186 New Zealand Piri Weepu Half-back, First five-eighth 5 0 3 5 0 21 - - -
188 New Zealand Angus Ta'avao Prop 5 0 0 0 0 0 - - -
192 New Zealand Francis Saili Wing, Centre 5 0 0 0 0 0 - - -
193 New Zealand Liaki Moli Lock 2 0 0 0 0 0 - - -
195 Tonga George Moala Wing 4 2 0 0 0 10 - - -
196 New Zealand James Parsons Hooker 5 1 0 0 0 5 - - -
197 New Zealand Steve Luatua Lock, Flanker 5 1 0 0 0 5 - - -
199 New Zealand Charles Piutau Wing, Fullback 5 3 0 0 0 15 - - -
200 New Zealand Albert Nikoro Wing, Fullback 1 0 0 0 0 0 - - -
201 New Zealand Frank Halai Wing 5 4 0 0 0 20 - 1 -
202 New Zealand Chris Noakes First five-eighth 4 1 3 5 0 26 - - -
203 New Zealand Culum Retallick Lock 2 0 0 0 0 0 - - -
204 New Zealand Brendon O'Connor Flanker 5 0 0 0 0 0 - - -
205 New Zealand Bryn Hall Halfback 1 0 1 0 0 2 - - -
206 New Zealand Quentin MacDonald Hooker 3 0 0 0 0 0 - - -
207 New Zealand Baden Kerr First five-eighth 3 1 1 3 0 13 - - -
208 New Zealand Jackson Willison Second five-eighth, Centre 3 0 0 0 0 0 - - -
209 New Zealand Kane Barrett Lock, Flanker 1 0 0 0 0 0 - - -
210 New Zealand Waisake Naholo Wing 1 0 0 0 0 0 - - -
211 New Zealand Tim Perry Prop 1 0 0 0 0 0 - - -
212 New Zealand Ronald Raaymakers Lock, Flanker 1 0 0 0 0 0 - - -
213 New Zealand Jamison Gibson-Park Halfback 3 0 0 0 0 0 - - -
214 New Zealand Marty McKenzie Utility Back 1 0 0 0 0 0 - - -
N/A New Zealand Malakai Fekitoa Second five-eighth, Centre 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - -
N/A New Zealand Ofa Tu'ungafasi Prop 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - -

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

Rank Player Points
1 New Zealand Chris Noakes 26
2 New Zealand Piri Weepu 21
3 New Zealand Frank Halai 20
4 New Zealand Charles Piutau 15
5 New Zealand Baden Kerr 13

Top Try Scorers

Rank Player Tries
1 New Zealand Frank Halai 4
2 New Zealand Charles Piutau 3
3= New Zealand Rene Ranger 2
3= Tonga George Moala 2
5= Five players 1

Standings

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

New Zealand Conference
Pos Team Rnd W D L Bye PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1 New Zealand Chiefs 18 12 0 4 2 458 364 +94 50 38 8 2 66
2 New Zealand Crusaders 18 11 0 5 2 446 307 +139 44 31 5 3 60
3 New Zealand Blues 18 6 0 10 2 347 364 −17 40 36 6 6 44
4 New Zealand Hurricanes 18 6 0 10 2 386 457 −71 41 49 4 5 41
5 New Zealand Highlanders 18 3 0 13 2 374 496 −122 40 55 4 5 29
Overall Standings
Pos Team Rnd W D L Bye PF PA PD TF TA TB LB Pts
1 New Zealand Chiefs 18 12 0 4 2 458 364 +94 50 38 8 2 66
2 South Africa Bulls 18 12 0 4 2 448 330 +118 41 34 5 2 63
3 Australia Brumbies 18 10 2 4 2 430 295 +135 43 31 5 3 60
4 New Zealand Crusaders 18 11 0 5 2 446 307 +139 44 31 5 3 60
5 Australia Reds 18 10 2 4 2 321 296 +25 31 23 4 2 58
6 South Africa Cheetahs 18 10 0 6 2 382 358 +24 38 32 2 4 54
7 South Africa Stormers 18 9 0 7 2 346 292 +54 30 18 1 5 50
8 South Africa Sharks 18 8 0 8 2 384 305 +79 40 31 3 5 48
9 Australia Waratahs 18 8 0 8 2 411 371 +40 45 34 1 4 45
10 New Zealand Blues 18 6 0 10 2 347 364 −17 40 36 6 6 44
11 New Zealand Hurricanes 18 6 0 10 2 386 457 −71 41 49 4 5 41
12 Australia Rebels 18 5 0 11 2 382 515 −133 44 65 4 5 37
13 Australia Force 18 4 1 11 2 267 366 −99 26 34 0 5 31
14 New Zealand Highlanders 18 3 0 13 2 374 496 −122 40 55 4 5 29
15 South Africa Southern Kings 18 3 1 12 2 298 564 −266 27 69 2 0 24
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

Round 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Ground - A H H - A A H H - A H H A H A - A A H
Result N/A W W L B L L W W B L W W L L L N/A L L L
Pos (Conf) N/A 1 2 2 2 3 4 3 2 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
Pos (Overall) N/A 2 4 6 4 6 9 7 5 2 5 5 5 6 7 7 8 8 9 10

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

See also

2013 Super Rugby season

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.