Mealamu hit with bottle

Blues captain Keven Mealamu was hit "flush in the back of the head" by a bottle filled with water as a disgruntled Bulls spectator delivered his displeasure at the Loftus Versfeld arena. Team physiotherapist Mark Plummer, Bulls wing Bjorn Basson and a touch judge shielded Mealamu as the confrontation threatened to escalate after the final whistle. Team manager Bryce Anderson said last night from South Africa that while the bottling hurt, Mealamu wasn't injured, just shocked. The invasion came after Blues wing Rene Ranger clobbered Basson with a dubious tackle as the wing dived in at the corner for a try. As Basson recovered and went to join his teammates he remonstrated with the spectator who had confronted Mealamu. Mr Anderson said they did not know how the spectator got on to the field but confirmed he was the one who threw the bottle of water. The man has had charges laid against him. "We're putting it behind us and moving on," Mr Anderson said. Blues coach Pat Lam said of his skipper: "He's a bit annoyed but the most important thing is he is okay." It was an ugly end to the match but not as vicious as the shower of bottles thrown at the Blues at the same venue in the late 1990s. The drama and Ranger's actions, which ended in a citing, rounded out a messy match. However, the result was a relief for the Blues who had been staggered by opening-round losses to the Crusaders and the Chiefs. First five-eighths Gareth Anscombe scored all 29 of the Blues points in his first start for the team, after Michael Hobbs returned home to support his sick father. Referee Steve Walsh sinbinned Ranger for his tackle and also issued him with a white card. If Ranger is suspended, the Blues will have to call for another replacement because they had only 10 fit backs after Hobbs and Toeava returned home.