2013 Blues season

The 2013 Blues season was the team's 18th season in the Super Rugby competition. The Blues' pre-season began on 2 February, and the regular season began on 23 February. The team played 16 regular season matches, with byes in rounds 5 and 10. They did not play in rounds 1 and 17, which was only contested by Australian teams as a result of the 2013 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia. The Blues played all teams within the New Zealand conference twice, and all other teams once, with the exception of the Western Force and Southern Kings. The 2013 team was captained by Ali Williams and coached by Sir John Kirwan.

Pre-season

The first of three pre-season fixtures was on 2 February against the Queensland Reds in Toowoomba. This was followed by a home match against the New South Wales Waratahs at Toll Stadium on 9 February and a final match on 15 February against the Highlanders at Queenstown Events Centre.

Fixtures

Regular season

The Blues regular season will begin on 23 February with an away fixture against the Hurricanes, and will finish on 13 July, with a home fixture against the Chiefs.

Fixtures

Tour Matches On 4 April it was announced that the Blues would play a one-off match against France as a midweek fixture during their tour of New Zealand in June. The match was held on 11 June at North Harbour Stadium and was the first time a New Zealand-based Super Rugby team has played against an international side.

Player Summary Player statistics through round five of the 2013 Super Rugby season are shown below:

Overall Summary Cap # Player Position(s) Apps. Tries Cons. Pens. Drps. Pts. W.C. Y.C. R.C. 74 Keven Mealamu Hooker 000000--- 93 Ali Williams (c) Lock 500000--- 137 Anthony Boric Lock 200000--- 149 Tom McCartney Hooker 500000--- 154 Rene Ranger Wing, Centre 5200010--- 159 Peter Saili Flanker, No. 8 400000--- 165 Charlie Faumuina Prop 400000--- 180 Luke Braid Flanker 510005--- 186 Piri Weepu Half-back, First five-eighth 5035021--- 188 Angus Ta'avao Prop 500000--- 192 Francis Saili Wing, Centre 500000--- 193 Liaki Moli Lock 200000--- 195 George Moala Wing 4200010--- 196 James Parsons Hooker 510005--- 197 Steve Luatua Lock, Flanker 510005--- 199 Charles Piutau Wing, Fullback 5300015--- 200 Albert Nikoro Wing, Fullback 100000--- 201 Frank Halai Wing 5400020-1- 202 Chris Noakes First five-eighth 4135026--- 203 Culum Retallick Lock 200000--- 204 Brendon O'Connor Flanker 500000--- 205 Bryn Hall Halfback 101002--- 206 Quentin MacDonald Hooker 300000--- 207 Baden Kerr First five-eighth 3113013--- 208 Jackson Willison Second five-eighth, Centre 300000--- 209 Kane Barrett Lock, Flanker 100000--- 210 Waisake Naholo Wing 100000--- 211 Tim Perry Prop 100000--- 212 Ronald Raaymakers Lock, Flanker 100000--- 213 Jamison Gibson-Park Halfback 300000--- 214 Marty McKenzie Utility Back 100000--- N/A Malakai Fekitoa Second five-eighth, Centre000000--- N/A Ofa Tu'ungafasi Prop 000000--- 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 Points1 Chris Noakes 262 Piri Weepu 213 Frank Halai 204 Charles Piutau 155 Baden Kerr 13

Top Try Scorers Rank Player Tries1 Frank Halai 42 Charles Piutau 33= Rene Ranger 23= George Moala 25= Five players 1

Standings

The standings through the final round of the 2013 season are shown below:

New Zealand ConferencePosTeamRndWDLByePFPAPDTFTATBLBPts 1 18 12 0 4 2 458 364 +94 50 38 8 2 66 2 18 11 0 5 2 446 307 +139 44 31 5 3 60 3 18 6 0 10 2 347 364 −17 40 36 6 6 44 4 18 6 0 10 2 386 457 −71 41 49 4 5 41 5 18 3 0 13 2 374 496 −122 40 55 4 5 29

Overall StandingsPosTeamRndWDLByePFPAPDTFTATBLBPts 1 18 12 0 4 2 458 364 +94 50 38 8 2 66 2 18 12 0 4 2 448 330 +118 41 34 5 2 63 3 18 10 2 4 2 430 295 +135 43 31 5 3 60 4 18 11 0 5 2 446 307 +139 44 31 5 3 60 5 18 10 2 4 2 321 296 +25 31 23 4 2 58 6 18 10 0 6 2 382 358 +24 38 32 2 4 54 7 18 9 0 7 2 346 292 +54 30 18 1 5 50 8 18 8 0 8 2 384 305 +79 40 31 3 5 48 9 18 8 0 8 2 411 371 +40 45 34 1 4 45 10 18 6 0 10 2 347 364 −17 40 36 6 6 44 11 18 6 0 10 2 386 457 −71 41 49 4 5 41 12 18 5 0 11 2 382 515 −133 44 65 4 5 37 13 18 4 1 11 2 267 366 −99 26 34 0 5 31 14 18 3 0 13 2 374 496 −122 40 55 4 5 29 15 18 3 1 12 2 298 564 −266 27 69 2 0 24

Conference leaders, qualify to finals. Wildcard teams, qualify to finals.

Source: sanzarrugby.com 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 19 20 Ground - A H H - A A H H - A H H A H A - A A H ResultN/AWWL B L L W W BLW W L L L N/AL L L Pos (Conf) N/A 1 2 2 2 3 4 3 2 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Pos (Overall) N/A 2 4 6 4 6 9 7 5 2 5 5 5 6 7 7 8 8 9 10 Legend: H = Home, A = Away, W = Win, D = Draw, L = Loss, B = Bye, Pos = Position, Conf = Conference

2013 Blues season

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