# 2012 Blues season

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
## 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
## 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