Rieko Ioane scores a hat-trick as the Blues beat the Rebels
Last Updated: 23/02/17 4:18pm
Rieko Ioane scored a hat-trick as the Blues demolished the Rebels 56-18 to launch the new Super Rugby season in Melbourne on Thursday.
The Blues blasted the hapless Rebels by seven tries to two with fly-half Ihaia West kicking six conversions and two penalties to pass 300 career points for the Aucklanders.
The game marked the Blues' first victory in three trips to Melbourne and it was their biggest winning score in Australia.
It was an eye-catching performance from 19-year-old Ioane, who made his Test debut for the All Blacks against Italy in Rome last November and heralded the arrival of a new promising star in Super Rugby this season.
Ioane, who graduated to Super Rugby from New Zealand's sevens team, scored an intercept try, beat three tackles for his second and completed his hat-trick after backing up his brother Akira to take the final pass.
The Blues have often been their own worst enemy in the past with their inconsistency, but under the coaching of All Black great Tana Umaga, they were more clinical in their execution, outscoring the Rebels 31-3 in the second half.
"It's something we've been working very hard on during the pre-season to get those consistent performances and I thought we got that tonight," skipper Jimmy Tupou said.
Click on the video above to watch the highlights
