2012 Blues season

2012 Blues season
Team information
Coach	Pat Lam
Captain	Keven Mealamu
Stadium	Eden Park, North Harbour Stadium
Avg. attendance	17,495
High attendance	32,000 (vs. Crusaders, Round 1)
Low attendance	10,111 (vs. Lions, Round 12)
Top scorers
Tries	Luke Braid, Lachie Munro, Benson Stanley (3)
Points	Gareth Anscombe (102)
← 2011 List of seasons 2013 →

The 2012 Blues season is the team's 17th season in the Super Rugby competition. The Blues' pre-season began on 4 February, and the regular season began on 24 February. The team will play 16 regular season matches, with byes in rounds 6 and 16. The Blues will play all teams within the New Zealand conference twice, and all other teams once, with the exception of the New South Wales Waratahs and Cheetahs. The team were captained by Keven Mealamu and coached by Pat Lam.

Pre-season

The first of three pre-season fixtures was held on 4 February at Toll Stadium against the Hurricanes. This was followed by an away match against the Melbourne Rebels on 11 February and a "home" match on 18 February against the Highlanders at UNITEC, in Mt Albert.

Fixtures

	4 Feb. 2012	Blues	36 - 22	Hurricanes	Toll Stadium, Whangārei
					Attendance: 6,000

	11 Feb. 2012	Melbourne Rebels	21 - 31	Blues	AAMI Stadium, Melbourne
					Attendance: 6,000

	17 Feb. 2012	Blues	29 - 22	Highlanders	UNITEC, Auckland
					Attendance: N/A

Regular season

The Blues regular season began on 24 February with a home fixture against the Crusaders, and finished on 14 July, away to the Brumbies.

Fixtures

	24 Feb. 2012	Blues	18 - 19	Crusaders	Eden Park, Auckland
			Report		Attendance: 32,000 Referee: Chris Pollock

	2 March 2012	Chiefs	29 - 14	Blues	Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
			Report		Attendance: 12,113 Referee: Keith Brown

	10 March 2012	Bulls	23 - 29	Blues	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
			Report		Attendance: 31,582 Referee: Steve Walsh

	16 March 2012	Stormers	27 - 17	Blues	Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
			Report		Attendance: 38,041 Referee: Glen Jackson

	23 March 2012	Blues	25 - 26	Hurricanes	Eden Park, Auckland
			Report		Attendance: 23,213 Referee: Steve Walsh

	5 April 2012	Melbourne Rebels	32 - 23	Blues	AAMI Park, Melbourne
			Report		Attendance: 15,246 Referee: Bryce Lawrence

	13 April 2012	Blues	23 - 29	Sharks	Eden Park, Auckland
			Report		Attendance: 18,000 Referee: Steve Walsh

	20 April 2012	Highlanders	30 - 27	Blues	Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
			Report		Attendance: 18,417 Referee: Bryce Lawrence

	27 April 2012	Blues	11 - 23	Queensland Reds	Eden Park, Auckland
			Report		Attendance: 12,111 Referee: Craig Joubert

	4 May 2012	Hurricanes	35 - 19	Blues	Westpac Stadium, Wellington
			Report		Attendance: 11,624 Referee: Jaco Peyper

	11 May 2012	Blues	25 - 3	Lions	Eden Park, Auckland
			Report		Attendance: 10,127 Referee: Angus Gardner

	19 May 2012	Crusaders	12 - 59	Blues	Rugby League Park, Christchurch
			Report		Attendance: 17,000 Referee: Bryce Lawrence

	26 May 2012	Blues	20 - 27	Highlanders	Eden Park, Auckland
			Report		Attendance: 14,111 Referee: Glen Jackson

	2 June 2012	Blues	34 - 41	Chiefs	North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
			Report		Attendance: 20,200 Referee: Chris Pollock

	7 July 2012	Blues	32 - 9	Western Force	Eden Park, Auckland
			Report		Attendance: 10,200 Referee: Andrew Lees

	14 July 2012	Brumbies	16 - 30	Blues	Canberra Stadium, Canberra
			Report		Attendance: 14,111 Referee: Jonathon White

Player Summary

Player statistics for the 2012 season are shown below:

Overall Summary

Player	Position(s)	Apps.	Tries	Cons.	Pens.	Drps.	Pts.	W.C.	Y.C.	R.C.
Orene Ai'i	First five-eighth, Fullback	2	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-
Keven Mealamu (c)	Hooker	8	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-
Tony Woodcock	Prop	10	2	0	0	0	10	-	-	-
Ali Williams	Lock	14	0	0	0	0	0	-	1	-
Daniel Braid	Flanker	15	1	0	0	0	5	-	-	-
Brad Mika	Lock, No. 8	6	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-
Jerome Kaino	Flanker, No. 8	2	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-
Rudi Wulf	Wing, Fullback	7	2	0	0	0	10	-	-	-
Anthony Boric	Lock	3	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-
Isaia Toeava	Utility back	2	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-
Benson Stanley	Second five-eighth	12	3	0	0	0	15	-	-	-
Tom McCartney	Hooker	16	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-
Chris Lowrey	Flanker, No. 8	12	2	0	0	0	10	-	-	-
Rene Ranger	Wing, Centre	10	2	0	0	0	10	1	1	-
Peter Saili	Flanker, No. 8	10	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-
Tevita Mailau	Prop	15	1	0	0	0	5	-	-	-
Michael Hobbs	First five-eighth, Second five-eighth	14	1	1	6	0	25	-	-	-
Charlie Faumuina	Prop	11	1	0	0	0	5	-	-	-
Lachie Munro	Utility back	10	3	10	11	0	68	-	-	-
Andrew van der Heijden	Lock	2	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-
Alby Mathewson	Half-back	16	1	0	0	0	5	-	-	-
Filo Paulo	Lock	11	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-
Sherwin Stowers	Wing	8	1	0	0	0	5	-	-	-
Luke Braid	Flanker	14	3	0	0	0	15	-	-	-
Liaki Moli	Lock	12	1	0	0	0	5	-	-	-
Pauliasi Manu	Prop	3	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-
Sean Polwart	Flanker	1	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-
Piri Weepu	Half-back, First five-eighth	15	0	3	6	0	24	-	-	-
Gareth Anscombe	First five-eighth	10	2	13	21	1	102	-	-	-
Ma'a Nonu	Second five-eighth	14	2	0	0	0	10	-	-	-
David Raikuna	Wing	10	1	0	0	0	5	-	-	-
George Moala	Wing	4	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-
Angus Ta'avao	Prop	6	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-
Hadleigh Parkes	Utility back	13	2	0	0	0	10	-	-	-
Ben Lam	Wing	1	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-
Daniel Pryor	Flanker	1	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-
James Parsons	Hooker	7	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-
Steve Luatua	Lock, Flanker	6	1	0	0	0	5	-	1	-
Cameron Goodhue	No. 8	1	0	0	0	0	0	-	-	-
Francis Saili	Wing, Centre	5	1	0	0	0	5	-	-	-
Charles Piutau	Wing, Fullback	2	1	0	0	0	5	-	-	-
Albert Nikoro	Wing, Fullback	1	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	Gareth Anscombe	102
2	Lachie Munro	68
3	Michael Hobbs	25
4	Piri Weepu	24
5=	Luke Braid	15
5=	Benson Stanley	15

Top Try Scorers

Rank	Player	Tries
1=	Luke Braid	3
1=	Lachie Munro	3
1=	Benson Stanley	3
2=	Seven Players	2

Standings

The final standings for the 2012 season are shown below:

New Zealand Conference
Pos	Team	Rnd	W	D	L	Bye	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
1	Chiefs	18	12	0	4	2	444	358	+86	47	30	5	3	64
2	Crusaders	18	11	0	5	2	485	343	+142	47	34	5	4	61
3	Hurricanes	18	10	0	6	2	489	429	+60	58	39	8	1	57
4	Highlanders	18	9	0	7	2	359	385	−26	36	31	2	4	50
5	Blues	18	4	0	12	2	359	430	−71	34	50	2	6	32

Overall Standings
Pos	Team	Rnd	W	D	L	Bye	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
1	Stormers	18	14	0	2	2	350	254	+96	28	21	0	2	66
2	Chiefs	18	12	0	4	2	444	358	+86	47	30	5	3	64
3	Reds	18	11	0	5	2	359	347	+12	38	36	4	2	58
4	Crusaders	18	11	0	5	2	485	343	+142	47	34	5	4	61
5	Bulls	18	10	0	6	2	472	369	+103	50	38	6	5	59
6	Sharks	18	10	0	6	2	436	348	+88	47	31	7	4	59
7	Brumbies	18	10	0	6	2	404	331	+73	41	31	5	5	58
8	Hurricanes	18	10	0	6	2	489	429	+60	58	39	8	1	57
9	Highlanders	18	9	0	7	2	359	385	−26	36	31	2	4	50
10	Cheetahs	18	5	0	11	2	391	458	−67	35	47	3	7	38
11	Waratahs	18	4	0	12	2	346	407	−61	33	43	3	8	35
12	Blues	18	4	0	12	2	359	430	−71	34	50	2	6	32
13	Rebels	18	4	0	12	2	362	520	−158	37	59	3	5	32
14	Force	18	3	0	13	2	306	440	−134	30	49	2	5	27
15	Lions	18	3	0	13	2	317	460	−143	30	52	2	3	25

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
Ground	H	A	A	A	H	-	A	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	-	H	A
Result	L	L	W	L	L	B	L	L	L	L	L	W	L	L	L	B	W	W
Pos. (Conf.)	3	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5
Pos. (Overall)	9	13	11	14	15	13	14	14	15	15	15	14	14	14	15	14	13	12

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

See also

2012 Super Rugby season

External links

• Blues website
• Official SANZAR Super Rugby website
• Official New Zealand Super Rugby website