The carries and metres gained count provides a vivid illustration of the Blues' superiority. The hosts carried 187 times for a gain of 1139 metres. The Waratahs only gained 363 metres with 77 carries.
Early turnovers by Blues centre Portia Woodman-Wickliffe and breakout openside Taufa Bason issued an ominous warning to the visitors.
Physically, the Waratahs were overwhelmed by a Blues starting tight five, all of whom are Black Ferns. Tighthead prop Aldora Itunu left the field injured in the first half. Her replacement, Harono Te Iringa, spared no respite to the pumblled visitors.
Despite the inclement weather and brutal battering the Blues forwards administered, there were still moments of guile, ambition, and beauty from the backs.
Precocious rookie Braxton Sorensen-McGee scored two long-range tries in 40 minutes. Her first in the 11th minute involved four passes and a decoy to create space for the fullback, who, with a Beyonce swerve, reduced three Waratahs defenders to their backsides. Her second was created when Bason and Sylvia Brunt refused to surrender in traffic. Woodman-Wickliffe was suddenly clear, unselfishly distributing to Sorensen-McGee, who did the rest with poise and panache.
In the second half, Woodman-Wickliffe stepped wickedly off the left foot and dragged three tacklers with her over the paint. Replacement first-five Krysten Cottrell collected a popular try, scooping up a pass that skidded across the greasy surface from Kerri Johnson while she was being pushed towards the 24th row of the grandstand. Cottrell kicked 20 goals from 25 attempts this season.
But this was about the Blues forwards. Bason was immense. No.8 Elizabeth Moimoi celebrated her first Blues try, and prop Chryss Viliko and lock Maama Vaipulu marked their milestone 20th matches with style. What about the try from rampaging lawyer Cheyenne Tuli-Fale? Those who didn’t swipe their AT Hop cards missed the bus.
The Waratahs solitary try was scored by winger Desiree Miller, scorer of three in their 43-20 win over the Reds in the Super Rugby W final. Miller chased down a deft kick by Wallaroos ten Arabella McKenzie.
Waratahs centre Georgia Friedrichs snatched two turnovers and defended staunchly. Friedrichs, who has a dozen tries in 13 games, was second in breakdown steals in Super Rugby W. Openside and captain Emily Chancellor was similarly resolute with tighthead prop Falika Pohiva applying some jolting shots.
Referee Maggie Cogger-Orr completed a unique double by officiating both the Sky Super Rugby Aupiki and Super Rugby Champions final.
Blues: 36 (Braxton Sorensen-McGee 2, Elizabeth Moimoi, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, Cheyenne Tuli-Fale, Krysten Cottrell tries; Ruahei Demant 2 cons, Cottrell con) Waratahs: 5 (Desiree Miller try) HT: 19-0