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All Blacks trio return to starting side as Blues look to bounce back vs. Tahs
All Blacks Caleb Clarke, Hoskins Sotutu and Ofa Tu’ungafasi have been named to return to the Blues’ starting side this weekend as the Aucklanders look to return to winning ways against the Waratahs at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.
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The Blues are third on the Super Rugby Pacific standings heading into Round Four following wins over the Fijian Dura and Highlanders in the opening couple of rounds.
But the Blues were handed an early season wakeup call last Saturday when they ventured down to the nation’s capital to take on a red-hot Hurricanes outfit. The Canes are the only undefeated side left in the competition after recording a clinical 29-21 win.
Looking to bounce back in a rematch of one of last season’s quarter-finals, albeit being a home game for the Tahs this time, coach Vern Cotter has named a star-studded matchday 23.
The starting side alone boasts plenty of international experience with the likes of Finlay Christie, Stephen Perofeta, Rieko Ioane, Mark Tele’a and captain Dalton Papali’i set to take the field at the well-known Sydney venue.
“This Super season has already thrown up a mixed bag of results; you get the feeling that anyone can get tipped up on any given day,” captain Papali’i said in a statement.
“These away games are important for us early in the season. We have a run of home games through the middle of the competition and we don’t want to look back at these early season games and have any regrets.”
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Coach Cotter is expecting All Black Ofa Tu’ungafasi “to lead with his physicality” this weekend after being named to start alongside hooker Kurt Eklund and prop Marcel Renata.
The front-row trio joins locks Josh Beehre and Laghlan McWhannell in the tight five, and backrowers Akira Ioane, Dalton Papali’i and Hoskins Sotutu in the forward pack.
Sotutu, 25, was sensational during his first two starts this season by scoring five tries across two matches. But after being benched last week, the 14-Test All Black is back in the No. 8 jersey.
The backline is full of world-class talent, with a notable change being that Bryce Heem slots in at second five alongside Rieko Ioane in the midfield.
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“Already this season we’ve seen how dangerous the Waratahs can be, they’ll be up for it, especially in front of their home fans on a Saturday night,” Cotter said.
“I’ve been impressed by Kurt and Marcel so far this season, and those boys know any dominant display starts up front with their work in the dark spaces,” he added.
This Trans-Tasman derby between the Waratahs and Blues is scheduled to kick off at 9:35 pm (NZT) on Saturday evening at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.
Blues team to take on Waratahs
- Ofa Tu’ungafasi
- Kurt Eklund
- Marcel Renata
- Josh Beehre
- Laghlan McWhannell
- Akira Ioane
- Dalton Papali’i (c)
- Hoskins Sotutu
- Finlay Christie
- Stephen Perofeta
- Caleb Clarke
- Bryce Heem
- Rieko Ioane
- Mark Tele’a
- Zarn Sullivan
Reserves
- Soane Vikena
- Joshua Fusitu’a
- Angus Ta’avao
- Cameron Suafoa
- Anton Segner
- Sam Nock
- Harry Plummer
- Cole Forbes
Players not considered: Patrick Tuipulotu (jaw), Sam Darry (knee), AJ Lam (concussion)
Comments on RugbyPass
I guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
43 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
3 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
43 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
43 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
3 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
6 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
6 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to comments