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Change in Blues’ captaincy with four All Blacks ruled out of Force clash
Blues coach Vern Cotter has made 10 changes to the starting side that defeated Moana Pasifika last time out, with a quartet of All Blacks among those ruled out of their next clash with the Western Force.
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New Zealand internationals Stephen Perofeta, Finlay Christie and Mark Tele’a have all been ruled out of the Trans-Tasman derby at Eden Park through injury, while team captain Patrick Tuipulotu is also set to miss the clash through concussion protocols.
Another six players were not considered this week for a number of reasons. Zarn Sullivan is one of them, with the fullback still recovering from a knee injury that he suffered during the drought-breaking win over the Crusaders last month.
All Blacks flanker Dalton Papali’i will lead a Blues side which looks a little bit different this week as the Aucklanders look to improve their record to what they hope will be six wins from seven starts this season.
“With a short turnaround we’re lucky to have Dalton step in and lead the side,” coach Cotter said in a statement. “It’s a seamless transition given he captained at the start of the season and is a familiar voice in the leadership group.
“We’ve been giving plenty of the group game time this season and this week is no different.
“We know the Force are coming here to disrupt us so we’ve got to be fully focused on the job at hand on Friday night.”
Super Rugby centurion Ricky Riccitelli has been promoted to the starting side, and joins All Blacks Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Angus Ta’avao in the front row.
Head-to-Head
Last 4 Meetings
Wins
4
Draws
0
Wins
0
Average Points scored
33
15
First try wins
50%
Home team wins
75%
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Josh Beehre replaces team captain Patrick Tuipulotu at loosehead lock and will pack down alongside the ever-reliable Laghlan McWhannell to round out the Blues’ tight five.
All Blacks Akira Ioane and Dalton Papali’i return to the starting side after missing out on First XV honours against Moana Pasifika. The pair join Hoskins Sotutu in the loose forwards.
The Blues have turned to a new-look halves partnership with Taufa Funaki joining Harry Plummer as the playmakers, while Corey Evans and Rieko Ioane stand outside them in the midfield.
Caleb Clark, AJ Lam and Cole Forbes are the outside backs, but keep an eye out for former All Blacks Sevens ace Caleb Tangitau who has been named on the bench.
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This clash at Eden Park is set to get underway at 7:05pm NZT on Friday night at Auckland’s Eden Park.
Blues team to take on Western Force
- Ofa Tu’ungafasi
- Ricky Riccitelli
- Angus Ta’avao
- Josh Beehre
- Laghlan McWhannell
- Akira Ioane
- Dalton Papali’i
- Hoskins Sotutu
- Taufa Funaki
- Harry Plummer
- Caleb Clarke
- Corey Evans
- Rieko Ioane
- AJ Lam
- Cole Forbes
Reserves
- Soane Vikena
- Joshua Fusitu’a
- Marcel Renata
- Anton Segner
- Adrian Choat
- Sam Nock
- Lucas Cashmore*
- Caleb Tangitau
*potential debut
Comments on RugbyPass
Great role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
54 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
54 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
54 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
54 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
54 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
54 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
54 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
54 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
54 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
54 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
54 Go to comments