Jerome Kaino boomed out his All Blacks credentials as the Blues dealt the Hurricanes’ Super Rugby playoff hopes a blow with a 37-24 win in Auckland.
The 10th-placed Blues made it six from six at Eden Park, with Kaino scoring one of five tries in arguably their best performance of the season.
A Hurricanes side coming off a 45-8 humbling of the Chiefs climb one place to fifth courtesy of a bonus point for scoring four tries.
However, they could be passed by both the Brumbies and Bulls this weekend and, having played one more game than most of their rivals, may be hard-pressed to reach the playoffs when Super Rugby resumes after the international break.
Kaino is pushing hard for a Test starting spot against England at the same venue next week.
The 31-year-old produced another powerhouse performance at No.8 just two months after making his return from Japanese club rugby.
He led a physical defensive line and made consistent metres with defenders hanging onto his back, most notably when scoring soon after halftime.
Not far behind in the industry stakes was captain and flanker Luke Braid who helped give rookie five-eighth Ihaia West a memorable starting debut.
West kicked 12 points while the other Blues tryscorers were fullback Lolagi Visinia, winger George Moala and impressive lock Patrick Tuipulotu, who should be named in the All Blacks squad unveiled on Sunday for the three-Test England series.
Their first try was a penalty try, awarded when fullback Hurricanes Matt Proctor was deemed to have deliberately knocked down a pass in the 15th minute. Proctor was also shown a yellow card.
Hurricanes flanker Faifile Levave scored from an early rolling maul and bagged his second in the dying minutes as his team finished strongly.
Brothers Julian and Ardie Savea both scored sweeping tries after their team had trailed 27-7 midway through the second spell but the visitors never threatened a win to back up their 39-20 defeat of the Blues earlier in the season.
The All Blacks selectors will be concerned at apparent injuries which forced two All Blacks first-choice players from the ground in the second half – Blues prop Tony Woodcock and Hurricanes winger Julian Savea.
