Makeshift centre Rene Ranger set the Blues' Super 14 campaign alight with a powerful display of tackle-breaking running, bone-crunching tackling,relentless support play and the game-breaking try as the Brumbies were unable to stop a home team 39-34 win at Eden Park.
This was no game of froth and bubbles, it was a hard, physical contest of unyielding forward play where All Blacks blindside flanker Jerome Kaino was in his element along with openside flanker Serge Lilo and Viliame Ma'afu enjoying a magnificent contest for dominance in the loose with the Australian international trio of George Smith, Stephen Hoiles and Rocky Elsom.
The Brumbies made their contribution to a stunning match by scoring, through replacement back Patrick Phibbs six minutes from fulltime. First five-eighths Matt Giteau's conversion got the Brumbies back to 34-36.
It took a 78th minute dropped to first five-eighths Stephen Brett to secure the final advantage.
The Blues' captain and centenarian Keven Mealamu could not have wished for a finer victory to celebrate his 100 matches for the side.
But while the emotions were with the hooker, it was Ranger who stole the limelight. For a player who came into the position only after a string of injuries ruled out the side's specialists Ranger cast a mould for himself with a breath-taking display which saw him score one minute after half-time in a never-say-die burst at the line which punished the Brumbies' inability to hold him in the tackle.
Then from the re-start deep in Blues territory it was his powerful bunt on his opposite that opened up space into which he charged to set in motion a move which moved the length of the field to incorporate the skills of Brett, wing Rudi Wulf and second five-eighths Benson Stanley who touched down to give his side the lead for the first time in the game, five minutes into the second half.
It was hard, athletic rugby and Ranger thrived in one of the most powerful individual displays in recent Blues history.
And visions of glory days of Blues rugby were revived in the 14-minute assault at the start of the second spell which saw the side turn around the Brumbies' 16-10 half-time advantage to its own lead of 36-22.
The bonus point try, the second of the night to win Joe Rokocoko, nine minutes after half-time was the result of another Blues' counter-attack which featured a sniping run by halfback Alby Mathewson, a quick pass to supporting flanker Serge Lilo and a quickly-won ruck which allowed first five-eighths Stephen Brett to place a kick across to the corner where Rokocoko secured the catch to touch down.
The Brumbies landed a penalty goal, but they failed to hold the re-start kick and the Blues massed quickly to move the ball and from a ruck, Brett worked his magic by reverse-passing the ball to fullback Isaia Toeava and he charged through to score for Brett to add the conversion.
Continuing their plan to go for tries rather than penalty goals, the Brumbies got into the Blues 22m area and from a ruck it was replacement prop Huia Edmonds who went over to pull the score back to 36-27.
The Brumbies were well-served by their mid-field pair of second five-eighths Christian Lealifano and centre Tyrone Smith who several times made line-breaks which set up great ball for the fast-following loose forwards while fullback Adam Ashley-Cooper was constantly looking to probe the slightest openings.
Scorers:
Blues 39
Tries: Rokocoko 2, Ranger, Stanley, Toeava
Con: Brett 4
Pen: Brett
Dropped goal: Brett
Brumbies 34
Tries: Ma'afu, Edmonds, Phibbs
Con: Giteau 2
Pen: Giteau 5
HT: 16-10