The Auckland Blues banked an important bonus point from a 36-12 win over South Africa's Lions in Super 14 rugby on Friday.
Anthony Tuitavake, Rudi Wulf and Joe Rokocoko, who all spent time on the wing for New Zealand last season, were among the Auckland try-scorers as the Blues moved from ninth to fifth place on the championship ladder at the start of the tournament's ninth round.
Wulf marked his first match of the current season - after spending eight weeks sidelined with a broken wrist - with two second-half tries while Tuitavake and Rokocoko also scored down in a comprehensive but flawed win.
Scrum half Chris Smylie scored the first of the Blues' tries and engineered the second, to Tuitavake, which boosted their lead to 14-0 at halftime. Replacement Peter Saili scored the last of Auckland's six tries seven minutes from fulltime.
The Johannesburg-based Lions made a small impression with two second-half tries.
"It was a big turnaround after our bye week," Blues captain and All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu said.
"It was great the way the boys stepped up this week and now we have to continue stepping up."
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Auckland Blues beat Lions 36-12 in Super 14 rugby play
Auckland Blues beat Lions 36-12 in Super 14 rugby play
