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Dalton Papalii to captain Blues in Super Rugby Pacific 2022
All Blacks flanker Dalton Papalii has been announced as Blues captain for the upcoming Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
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Papalii fills the void left by lock Patrick Tuipulotu, who led the Blues to a drought-breaking Super Rugby Trans-Tasman title last year but has joined Toyota Verblitz on a season-long sabbatical deal this season.
With 45 appearances for the Auckland-based side since his Super Rugby debut in 2018, Papalii has developed into one of the most important figures in the Blues squad.
That, according to Blues head coach Leon MacDonald, made it an easy decision to appoint the 24-year-old as skipper of the franchise he has been involved with since his days as a schoolboy.
“He is a born-and-raised Aucklander who has come through the Blues system. His work ethic is second-to-none to go with his immense skill, speed and tenacity,” MacDonald said via a statement released on Saturday.
“Dalton has already been in our leadership group and has been a big part in building the culture of our team and although he is a young man, he has already emerged as a key cog at our club, both on and off the field.
“We believe he is ready to take on the captaincy, bearing in mind that we have a number of highly experienced leaders like Beauden Barrett, Harry Plummer, Tom Robinson and a bunch of All Blacks who will wrap around him.”
Papalii, a 12-test international, said that he was humbled to lead the Blues as they target back-to-back titles for the first time since 1997.
“It is a real honour and privilege. To be honest, I was surprised when Leon approached me but very humbled to take over this season from Patty,” he said.
“We have a bunch of my teammates who have international experience and I am going to be calling on them within our leadership group.
“I’ve also reached out to Patty in Japan and he has given me loads of advice, and is a phone call away if I need a sounding board.
“The boys have already set the tone and welcomed the All Blacks back into the group. We are all buying in to what we stand for, and what we want to achieve.
“We have some challenges with this time away in Queenstown, but we need to put in the mahi every single day.
“Every time we put the jersey on, we will be 100 percent committed to our teammates, our staff, our families, our sponsors, our club and our fans.”
Papalii is currently on All Blacks leave and hasn’t been named to play for the Blues in their first pre-season match of the year against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Sunday.
However, he is expected to be available for selection from round one of Super Rugby Pacific, which kicks-off against Moana Pasifika at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on February 18.
Comments on RugbyPass
End 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.
7 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.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
2 Go to commentsNice piece of writing. And yes the Sharks pulled a rabbit from the hat and were a little lucky with that penalty try that wasn’t given… however the Sharks (with their resources) should be way more consistent and should be putting teams like Claremont away for breakfast. I expect more from them and hope they kick on now.
8 Go to commentsJust what the Sharks needed to get things going in the right direction Defence on the outside really creates havoc for the whole team and needs to be addressed.
8 Go to comments