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Mark Telea set for milestone, Blues skipper returns for Highlanders blockbuster
In-form winger Mark Telea will play his 50th Super Rugby match on Friday night when the Blues host the Highlanders in a season-defining clash at Eden Park.
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Coming off their 36-25 win over the Hurricanes last weekend, which saw milestone man Mark Telea score an incredible four tries, the Blues can clinch a top four spot with a win in round 15.
The Blues will turn to Telea for another solid outing on Friday, with the red-hot winger currently leading the competition in tries, clean breaks and defenders beaten.
“Mark’s been electric for us this year and continues to put in strong performances week in, week out,” coach Leon MacDonald said in a statement.
“Fifty games for the Blues is something to be proud of and as a backline we just need to keep putting him in good positions to let his talent flourish.”
The Blues have also welcomed back captain Dalton Papali’i, with the All Black set to start at the back of the scrum in the No. 8 jersey.
Papali’i will pack down in the back row alongside dynamic flanker Tom Robinson and powerful openside Anton Segner.
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“It’s always pleasing to welcome back a player of Dalton’s calibre. He adds even more leadership and experience to the pack and I know he’s hungry to put in a performance for his teammates,” he added.
“This weekend is about what we can control; a win and we guarantee a home quarterfinal spot.
“The Highlanders have everything to play for and we’re planning for a real battle.
“We want to ensure we lock away the Gordy Hunter trophy for the season and know we’ll need to be at (our) best in order to do so.”
Flanker Akira Ioane has been moved to the bench as part of the All Blacks’ resting policy, and the backline remains unchanged.
Currently third on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder, the Blues’ “destiny is in our own hands” – but the Highlanders are hungry.
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The Highlanders need to win on Friday to secure a playoffs berth, while a loss could see them fall out of the top eight depending on other results.
“I’m grateful to be able to return on Friday, the body might have enjoyed a bit of time off, but it’s fair to say I’m pretty keen to get back into it,” Papali’i said.
“Whenever we have a spell on the sidelines, you feel a bit helpless as the boys run out there and put their body on the line for the jersey.
“We need to take care of business on Friday night. Our destiny is in our own hands, a good performance and we’ll be back at Eden Park, guaranteed – it’s up to us to make it happen.”
This match is set to get underway at 7.05pm NZST at Auckland’s Eden Park on Friday.
Blues team to take on Highlanders
- Ofa Tu’ungafasi
- Ricky Riccitelli
- Nepo Laulala
- Patrick Tuipulotu
- James Tucker
- Tom Robinson
- Anton Segner
- Dalton Papali’i
- Finlay Christie
- Harry Plummer
- Caleb Clarke
- Bryce Heem
- Rieko Ioane
- Mark Telea
- Zarn Sullivan
Replacements:
- Kurt Eklund
- Jordan Lay
- Marcel Renata
- Rob Rush
- Akira Ioane
- Sam Nock
- Stephen Perofeta
- AJ Lam
Players not considered: Beauden Barrett, Adrian Choat, Sam Darry, Alex Hodgman, Cameron Suafoa, Hoskins Sotutu, Tanielu Tele’a
Comments on RugbyPass
Looked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
34 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.
34 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”?
1 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.
34 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.
34 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.
34 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.
34 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.
34 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!!
34 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…
34 Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
2 Go to commentsHaha lads lads lads, that’s how you have a holiday In Majorca
4 Go to commentshit on Lynagh was defo late and card-worthy. The other 2 are bang on OK. Hurts you at Test level if youre timing is off and the nostrils are flared. Jerry C knew when to lean in on one, Finau just needs to keep his discipline and head straight.
7 Go to commentsSlade was exceptional against Gloucester. Not only was he doing the classic Slade stuff of running amazing lines and timing passes to perfection to put his wingers into space, he was kicking goals, flying off the line smashing people and crashing into rucks like a flanker… his hair even looked on point. 😍
1 Go to commentsThat’s really sad, hope everyone involved is ok. At least he had pants on.
4 Go to comments