All Black lock returns after concussion for Blues against Brumbies

Blues head coach Vern Cotter has welcomed back All Black lock Sam Darry into the starting lineup for their round three fixture against the Brumbies in Canberra.

Darry missed last weekend’s victory against the Western Force through concussion and will come straight back into the No.5 position for this weekend’s clash.

Experienced All Blacks prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi shifts from the bench to the starting role, while Kurt Eklund and Bradley Slater have their roles reversed.

Impressive loosehead prop Joshua Fusitu’a misses the Saturday night matchup with an elbow injury, giving uncapped Blues player Sam Matenga an opportunity off the bench.

In the loose-forward trio, Dalton Papali’i will make his 100th appearance for the Auckland-based Super Rugby Pacific franchise, after first coming onto the scene in 2017.

Papali’i will be alongside Anton Segner and Hoskins Sotutu once again, keeping young loose-forward and last weekend’s try scorer, Torian Barnes, on the bench.

Cotter has once again named an unchanged backline for the third , opting for consistency against the high-flying Brumbies.

The 64-year-old departing Blues head coach is confident that his team will continue to improve from their opening two games this season.

“The Brumbies are well organised and have started their season well. They will be tough competitors, particularly at home, but we are up for the challenge,” the Blues head coach said.

“Winning collisions and staying in the game for 80 minutes is key for us. We’ve shown improvements across the first two weeks and I think we can go a lot further.”

Blues Team – Round 3 vs Brumbies
9.35pm (NZT), Saturday 28 February

1. Ofa Tu’ungafasi (155)
2. Kurt Eklund (74)
3. Marcel Renata (68)
4. Laghlan McWhannell (25)
5. Sam Darry (35)
6. Anton Segner (39)
7. Dalton Papali’i (c) (99)
8. Hoskins Sotutu (81)
9. Finlay Christie (71)
10. Stephen Perofeta (74)
11. Caleb Clarke (77)
12. Pita Ahki (15)
13. AJ Lam (60)
14. Cole Forbes (32)
15. Zarn Sullivan (44)

Reserves: 16. Bradley Slater (2), 17. Mason Tupaea (10), 18. Sam Matenga (0), 19. Josh Beehre (29), 20. Torian Barnes (2), 21. Taufa Funaki (33), 22. Xavi Taele (7), 23. Codemeru Vai (2)

Players not considered due to injury: Cameron Christie (knee, season), Corey Evans (ankle), Joshua Fusitu’a (elbow), Jordan Lay (concussion), Payton Spencer (concussion), Patrick Tuipulotu (shoulder), Flyn Yates (neck)