Looking nothing like the combination that looked a potential Super Rugby finalist, the Blues suffered their third loss in succession when going down 11-16 to the Chiefs at Eden Park on Saturday night.
With the Chiefs out of contention and playing with a devil-may-care attitude of mischievousness, the Blues lacked composure and ended the game in panic mode, casting around desperately for some super quick fix that they had never really looked like finding for long enough throughout the game.
The Chiefs, dominated the first half and were unflustered as the lead changed several times relying on their rock-solid defence to secure a satisfying, if ultimately, too late victory that gave them bragging rights for summer if nothing else.
Keven Mealamu was ushered onto the field for the Blues just after half-time to rectify a troubled scrum which was immediately more effective and it was from a scrum free-kick on the Chiefs 22m line that the way was opened for the Blues' first try.
A tap kick by halfback Alby Mathewson was moved left through wing Rene Ranger whose pass outside found centre Jared Payne and raced through to score. That returned the lead to the Blues 11-10 after Donald's penalty goal which opened the second half, and then he regained the lead with a 53rd minute effort.
The Blues proved much more inventive in the second half, mounting several continuous phases with the ball in hand as they benefited from quality set-phase ball, especially as lock Ali Williams secured better lineout ball.
Replacement first five-eighths Stephen Brett made it through a gap to create a chance in the 71st minute but of all people it was Mealamu who knocked the ball on at a vital phase 15m out from the Chiefs line.
Donald had a rare chance for goal with six minutes remaining but he was unable to lengthen the Chiefs' lead. But replacement prop Charlie Faumuina's mistake in not releasing the ball in the tackle gave Donald another chance two minutes later and this time he made no mistake.
The Chiefs, revelling in the knowledge they were so far off the pace they could take a relaxed attitude into the game, opted to move the ball from the outset. They dominated possession in the first quarter but proved unable to turn that into points.
Two penalty goals from straight in front of the posts were missed by first five-eighths Stephen Donald, while Blues opposite Luke McAlister made no mistake in the fifth and seventh minutes, the second from 55m courtesy of a trailing breeze.
But handling mistakes, and poor passing options negated the openings created, largely through the hi-jinks developed at the back from fullback Mils Muliaina and wing Sitiveni Sivivatu, who continued to look back to his best throughout the game.
Then, finally, in the 26th minute after Sivivatu got the ball in midfield and sent a long pass to second five-eighths Tana Umaga who made the outside break around opposite Stanley and as he attempted to pass to Muliaina the ball was intercepted by Blues wing Joe Rokocoko, who had made a storming run from deep in his own 22m moments earlier.
Muliaina then drifted across the front of the dissembled Blues defence and almost went all the way.
However, the play moved back to the left and Umaga got the ball and ploughed his way toward the line