1
Beauden Barrett to reach stunning milestone when Blues take on Drua
Playmaker Beauden Barrett will play his 300th first-class match on Saturday afternoon when the Blues take on the Fijian Drua in Lautoka.
ADVERTISEMENT
Barrett will start at flyhalf as the Blues look to end the Drua’s unbeaten run on home soil in this year’s Super Rugby Pacific season.
Blues coach Leon MacDonald has made six changes to the run-on XV for this clash, which is set to get underway at 2.05pm NZST.
The Blues have been preparing for the “physical” clash with “heat fitness sessions” at training this week.
“We know these guys will be physical, we know the crowd will be loud and we know we’ll need to be at our best to come away with the points on Saturday,” MacDonald said in a statement.
“It’s no secret the Drua are a tough prospect at home – something we’ve already seen this Super Rugby campaign.
“We’ve tweaked a few things at training this week, including some ‘heat’ fitness sessions to simulate the conditions over there.”
ADVERTISEMENT
All Black Ofa Tu’ungafasi is only the front rower to have retained his position in the starting side this week.
Marcel Renata replaces Nepo Laulala at tighthead prop, while Fijian-born hooker Soane Vikena has been given the nod for his first start in a Blues jersey.
“I’m honoured and privileged to get my first start for the Blues and to do it in Fiji makes the occasion even more special,” Vikena said.
“When I was named in the team earlier this week, I was in a bit of shock! I’m not sure I paid too much attention to the rest of the names being read out!”
ADVERTISEMENT
Dalton Papali’i is back at openside flanker this week, and will captain the team once again. The All Black hasn’t played since the Blues’ trip to Melbourne earlier this month.
As for the backs, Finlay Christie and Beauden Barrett will partner each other in the halves again in round 10.
Following his player of the match performance off the bench last weekend, Zarn Sullivan comes into the starting side at fullback.
The Blues are looking to become just the third time in Super Rugby history to score 50 or more points in three consecutive matches.
Captain Dalton Papali’i said the team is eager to “keep the momentum rolling” this week.
“It’s been pleasing to nail back-to-back wins,” Papali’i said. “We want to keep that momentum rolling as we head over to Fiji to take on the Dura.
“Having watched the video this week, we know the Drua have points in them, so our defence is as much a focus this match as anything else.
“We need to match them physically and that starts with us as a forward pack.
“We know it’ll be hot and humid and we’re going over there to bring out own kind of heat to the contest this Saturday.”
Blues team to take on Fijian Drua
- Ofa Tu’ungafasi
- Soane Vikena
- Marcel Renata
- Cameron Suafoa
- Sam Darry
- Adrian Choat
- Dalton Papali’i (c)
- Hoskins Sotutu
- Finlay Christie
- Beauden Barrett
- Caleb Clarke
- Harry Plummer
- Rieko Ioane
- Mark Telea
- Zarn Sullivan
Replacements:
- Ricky Riccitelli
- Jordan Lay
- James Lay
- James Tucker
- Akira Ioane
- Sam Nock
- Bryce Heem
- AJ Lam
Players not considered: Alex Hodgman, Nepo Laulala, Stephen Perofeta, Patrick Tuipulotu
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
27 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
27 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
27 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
27 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
27 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments