Blues embrace high stakes against Hurricanes side set to bring the physicality

Not quite knockout footy, but maybe the next best thing. That was Blues coach Leon MacDonald’s appraisal of his team’s penultimate Super Rugby Pacific round-robin match against the Hurricanes at Eden Park on Saturday night.

The fourth-placed Blues have a lot to play for against the only top-five side in this competition they have beaten this year. Win, against a side just a point behind them on the standings, and it should seal them a home quarterfinal with . . .