Moments before the Blues clash with the Lions first five-eighths Stephen Brett was called from the bench to replace Daniel Kirkpatrick who injured himself during kicking practice in the warm-ups.
Brett, who had been unable to train all week and was regarded as something of a risk from the bench, stepped up and played his game of the season to score 26 points, from a try, six conversions and three penalty goals in the Blues 56-14 win.
Coach Pat Lam told Sportal the decision about whether he could play was Kirkpatrick's.
"I take my hat off to him. He could still run but he struggled to kick and with the South Africans getting right up on us we needed that kicking option.
"It was his call and because he was struggling to kick he made it. We were in a bit of trouble as we had no more replacements. Anthony Tuitavake tweaked his groin again and will need surgery when we get back and George Pisi played."
Lam said Brett's contribution to the seven-try win was outstanding.
"He has been very much part of our strategy group and he was good, playing for territory, running it when we needed to, supporting well and he came through a whole lot better. So hopefully he can be back for next week's game with the Chiefs," he said.
Lam believes that both Brett and his halfback inside Alby Mathewson should be in the hunt for All Blacks honours in the next few weeks.
"I rate Alby very highly. He has some serious gas and has done a lot of work on his passing with Ant [Strachan-Blues manager] and the week-by-week game time has helped him. Both would have to be good prospects for the All Blacks," he said.
Lam was also pleased with the effectiveness of the Blues' set pieces. There were again frustrations at the tackle area but the lineout had been good. He was also concerned at the side letting in two soft tries before halftime and said he had to give the players a bit of a 'rev-up'.
However, a 32-0 scoreline in the second half was a vast improvement.
The disappointment of the loss to the Cheetahs the week before meant the side was determined going into the game and in the second half especially it played more like it should do, he said.
Wing Joe Rokocoko continued his run of form and ran in two more tries and was playing with a lot of confidence, Lam said while hooker Tom McCartney had been close to the player of the day, although he left the field with an ankle strain. But he had stepped into Keven Mealamu's shoes superbly, he said.
His injury also allowed John Afoa some time in the hooking role where he was the designated substitute and that had allowed him to show his verstatility having playing in all three front row positions this season.
The Blues team returns to Auckland on Monday evening.