This Super Rugby Semi-final qualification match is a rematch of the Mid-April ninth round match which the Blues won 31-17 Auckland.
The Blues have played the Waratahs 16 times and won 10 times which translates to a 62.5 % win percentage.
On average when the Blues play the Waratahs they score 28 points and the Waratahs score 26 points. In Auckland and Albany however the Blues on average score 33 points and the Waratahs score 22 points.
The Blues have played the Waratahs 8 times in New Zealand and 7 of those clashes have been played at Eden Park.
In 2002 The Blues took their match against the Waratahs to Albany and won 22-20. All but one of the other 6 clashes between the Blues and the Waratahs have been won by the Blues.
That translates to a 87.5% winning percentage for the Blues in New Zealand.
The Waratahs only victory over the Blues in New Zealand came two years ago in 2009 when the Waratahs won 22-27.
That result was in the middle of a three match losing streak for the Blues who ended the losing streak in the most recent match.
In the last five matches the Waratahs have won three and lost two. In the last ten matches both teams have each won five.
The Waratahs have however been hit hard with injuries for this week's clash as they have lost four players from the starting line up last week. That means that almost a third of their first choice players in the last match cannot play.
Crucially the half back pair of Luke Burgess and Daniel Halangahu have been ruled which means a move from full back to first five for Kurtley Beale.
The Waratahs had one of their best matches all season last week when they brushed a resurgent Brumbies team aside 41-7.
The Waratahs attack was in full swing and the same applied for their defence as they held out the Brumbies for 80 minutes and only allowed the visitors to Sydney to cross the line when the match was won.
