The Stormers deflated the Blues’ South African trip on Friday with a 27-17 defeat of the Super Rugby tourists in Cape Town.
The Blues put in a error-ridden performance and the home side were good enough to capitalise on their chances to make it three from three in their 2012 campaign.
The visitors looked nothing like the side that upset the Bulls last weekend, lacking continuity in their set-piece and showing poor discipline to give the Stormers the early ascendancy.
Joe Pietersen made the most of their early possession and territory, kicking two penalties to take a 6-0 lead.
In the 15th minute Blues debutant Ben Lam, a late replacement for David Raikuna on the wing, made the mistake of willing a territorial kick into touch – instead the ball bounced on its point and into Byran Habana’s hands and he had the strength to burrow over to score.
The Blues edged back into the game in the second quarter but couldn’t make any headway on the scoreboard. Pieterson added two more penalties to Lachie Munro’s one to make it 17-3 at the break.
The visitors needed a good start and Pat Lam’s early changes began to make a difference.
The Stormers continued to press, however, and 10 minutes into the second spell their skipper Jean De Villiers, slipped Luke Braid’s tackle to score a vital try.
That seemed to shake the Blues out of their stupor and Benson Stanley countered with a try five minutes later, which Gareth Anscombe converted to make it 24-10.
Charlie Faumuina smashed his way over under the posts with 15 to go to get the Blues back in the match at 24-17.
The Blues’ Achilles heel was their set-piece. Their lineout and particularly their scrum let them down as they squandered possession, causing their late comeback to founder, with a late Stormers’ penalty costing them a bonus point.