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Blues name key signing for Hurricanes clash
Ma’a Nonu will make highly-anticipated return to the Blues against the team of which he spent most of his Super Rugby career with.
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The 36-year-old midfielder has been named to start at centre against the Hurricanes in the two side’s final pre-season hit out at Mangatainoka on Saturday.
Nonu, who is entering his third stint with the Blues after playing for the franchise in 2012 and 2014, played 126 times for the Hurricanes after making his Super 12 debut for them in 2003.
After 10 seasons spread across two stints in Wellington, Nonu spent time at the Blues, Highlanders, Ricoh Black Rams and Toulon before returning to the Auckland-based Blues with an eye on the World Cup later this year.
Nonu played the last of his 103 tests for the All Blacks in the 2015 World Cup final against Australia, and is hopeful of attending a third World Cup after a four-year hiatus in France.
He is by far the most experienced player in the Blues’ line-up for their match this weekend, with two-test All Blacks halfback Augustine Pulu the only other player in the starting side with international experience.
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27-test Canadian loose forward Evan Olmstead has been named in the reserves, with current All Blacks Karl Tu’inukuafe, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Dalton Papali’i, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, and other senior players such as Akira Ioane and Matt Duffie all rested for the match.
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The Hurricanes have also named an inexperienced side, with one-test All Blacks Gareth Evans and Jeffery Toomaga-Allen the only internationally capped players in the starting team, while uncapped All Black hooker Asafo Aumua will feature off the pine.
Brothers Matt and Billy Proctor have been named in the midfield, and will be tasked with closing down opposites Nonu and TJ Faiane.
New playmaker Fletcher Smith will also start in Hurricanes colours for the first time since arriving from the Highlanders in the off-season.
He was initially named in the starting XV in last week’s 34-19 defeat to the Crusaders in Levin last week, but instead had to start from the bench.
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Both teams open their Super Rugby campaigns next week, with the Blues hosting the Crusaders at Eden Park in Auckland, while the Hurricanes travel to Sydney to face the Waratahs at Brookvale Oval.
Kick-off at Mangatainoka Domain is at 3pm.
Hurricanes: Chase Tiatia, Vince Aso, Matt Proctor, Billy Proctor, Ben Lam, Fletcher Smith, Finlay Christie, Gareth Evans, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Reed Prinsep (c), Liam Mitchell, James Blackwell, Jeff To’omaga-Allen, Ricky Riccitelli, Chris Eves
Reserves: Asafo Aumua, James O’Reilly, Ben May, Alex Fidow, Fraser Armstrong, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Geoff Cridge, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Sam Henwood, Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Carlos Price, Jono Hickey, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Danny Toala
Blues: Michael Collins, Melani Nanai, Ma’a Nonu, TJ Faiane, Tanielu Tela’a, Stephen Perofeta, Augustine Pulu, Hoskins Sotutu, Matt Matich, Tom Robinson, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Josh Goodhue, Sione Mafileo, Leni Apisai, Alex Hodgman
Reserves: Marcel Renata, Matt Moulds, Mike Tamoaieta, James Tucker, Evan Olmstead, Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa, Adrian Choat, Jack Grooby, Jonathan Ruru, Otere Black, Caleb Clarke, Levi Aumua, Harry Plummer, Tomas Aoake
Rugby World Cup City Guides – Oita:
Comments on RugbyPass
This team does not beat the ABs sadly
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to comments