Blues thump Force at Eden Park

Auckland Blues won the battle of the Super Rugby basement dwellers with a 41-24 victory over Western Force on Saturday but it came at the cost of potentially serious injuries to All Blacks Jerome Kaino and Charles Piutau.


No 8 Kaino, a key member of Steve Hansen's New Zealand squad, came off the pitch after 18 minutes with a damaged finger, while outside back Piutau suffered what the Blues suspect was ligament damage to his knee.


Blues winger Melani Nanai scored his first two Super Rugby tries, Kaino's back row replacement Steven Luatuaalso crossed and teenager Akira Ioane secured the …