Home playoffs run crucial - Evans

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Assistant coach Bryn Evans said it would be a big challenge, especially up front, but the history of Super Rugby showed that to be in contention at the end of the season, the team had to finish near the top of the table by the end of the regular season.

"It's week by week for us, and we need to keep stacking our performances together, and we can get ourselves into a position where we're playing at home come the end of the season.

Evans said that after they underperformed in their loss to the Brumbies, they wanted to see a reaction from the players against the Waratahs.

That was achieved in their 41-12 win, especially with how the side came out of the blocks and how they lifted their pace to the collision area.

Also, achieving power and a tighthead in a scrum that produced the opening try was a bonus.

That was especially pleasing because of having two inexperienced hookers involved after earlier injuries to starting players.

"That's the sort of mindset we have to have. If someone goes down, it's the next guy up and Kianu Kereru-Symes did a great job. And Ray [Raymond Tuputupu] is another young hooker making great strides in a tough environment."

James O'Reilly will likely be available for the Blues games after completing his HIA process.