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Blues team to play Highlanders in round one of Super Rugby Pacific
Blues prop, Nepo Laulala is poised to bring up 100 Super Rugby games this weekend with his side set to face the Highlanders in the opening game of the DHL Super Rugby Pacific 2023 season on Saturday, February 25, at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
Laulala, who has previously played for the Crusaders and Chiefs, will be eager to make his milestone game a memorable one with Blues Coach Leon MacDonald appreciative of his burly prop’s contribution to the Blues set-up.
“Nepo’s a quiet achiever and someone who speaks with his actions,” said MacDonald.
“He’s a rock in our pack and certainly brings an edge for us at scrum time. I wouldn’t want to be training against him week-in, week-out, let alone playing against him!”
“We’re wishing him all the best for his 100th Super Rugby match and will be doing everything we can to get a win to note his milestone match.”
The Blues will wear black arm bands for the match to acknowledge those who have lost loved ones in the recent cyclone to hit the country.
“Our thoughts go out to those who have suffered at the hands of Cyclone Gabrielle. The arm bands are a small token from the team and it really does put rugby into perspective when things like this happen,” said MacDonald.
Meanwhile, Captain Dalton Papalii said his team have prepared well in the pre-season with hit-outs against the Hurricanes and Chiefs but are now ready to rip into the season.
“We know it’s hard to win under the roof in Dunedin, but we’re excited about the challenge,” said Papalii.
“The boys have had a great week of training – there’s been a real bite to it. We’ve had enough of running pre-season Broncos and now it’s time to play some rugby.”
Papalii also commented on the double-header aspect of Saturday’s southern showdown with the nib Blues women’s team playing Matat? at 4:45pm under the roof.
“Playing a double-header alongside our women is a great opportunity to showcase the talent in both teams,” said Papalii.
“We’re looking forward to playing after the nib Blues women and hope both teams can paint Dunedin blue on Saturday!”
The Blues side has a familiar feel to it with no less than 13 All Blacks in the starting lineup. The northern club have won the last four encounters between the two sides but are taking nothing for granted as they head south for the season opener.
“This week has been about our standards, and playing to a level we know we are capable of,” said MacDonald.
“The team is excited to get going and we know a fast start is always helpful to get some momentum into the campaign.”
Blues team v Highlanders
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- Ofa Tuungafasi
- Kurt Eklund
- Nepo Laulala
- Patrick Tuipulotu
- Cameron Suafoa
- Akira Ioane
- Dalton Papalii
- Hoskins Sotutu
- Finlay Christie
- Beauden Barrett
- Caleb Clarke
- Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
- Rieko Ioane
- Mark Telea
- Stephen Perofeta
Reserves: 16. Ricky Riccitelli 17. Joshua Fusitu’a 18. Marcel Renata 19. James Tucker 20. Adrian Choat 21. Taufa Funaki 22. Bryce Heem 23. AJ Lam
Players not considered:
Sam Darry (knee), Alex Hodgman (illness), James Lay (ankle), Sam Nock (calf), Harry Plummer (ribs), Tom Robinson (illness)
Via Press Release / Blues
Comments on RugbyPass
Utter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
2 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
2 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
10 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
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