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Blues' milestone man Patrick Tuipulotu returns from injury to face Crusaders
Captain Patrick Tuipulotu will reach a century of Blues appearances on Saturday evening when the lock returns from an injury layoff to take on the Crusaders at Eden Park.
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Tuipulotu, 31, suffered a fracture to his jaw during the Blues’ pre-season win over Tokyo Sungoliath in Japan during pre-season and has been out of action since.
All Blacks and Blues flanker Dalton Papali’i has served as the team’s skipper in Tuipulotu’s absence but normal duties will resume in a blockbuster New Zealand derby in round five.
Following a seven-week stint on the sidelines, Tuipulotu is set for a milestone appearance against one of the Blues’ traditional rivals in what will be his 100th game for the club.
“This is the club I love and grew up watching as a kid, it will be an honour to run out with the boys for my 100th game on Saturday night,” Tuipulotu said in a statement.
“To come back after an injury lay-off and be able to launch straight into the Crusaders is awesome. It’s going to be physical, it’s going to be tough and we know they’re coming to Eden Park to spoil the party.
“We’re leaving no stone unturned at training this week, make no mistake this is a big game for us and our fans.”
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The Blues, who are currently fourth on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder, will look to make it two wins from as many games after getting of the Waratahs in Sydney last weekend.
It was a return to winning ways for the Aucklanders after suffering their first loss of the season just a week before against the still-undefeated Hurricanes in Wellington.
But their next challenge is an exciting one with the Blues set to play their first home game of the season against New Zealand rivals the Crusaders.
“Paddy is a special character to have around our group, he holds a lot of mana and is a Blues man through and through. He should be proud of reaching his 100-game milestone for the club,” Cotter explained.
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“I hope our fans can come along on Saturday night and help celebrate Paddy’s milestone, but also welcome their team back to Eden Park – there’s nothing like a boisterous home crowd to give you that extra lift for a big match.
“There were a few things we needed to address this week, a few areas to tighten up to make sure we’re improving our performance week on week,” Cotter added about their upcoming fixture against the winless Crusaders.
“There are no easy games in this competition, and we know the Crusaders are a good side and have been for many years. In all honesty, this week has been about us and our own improvement, naturally there’s been a buzz around Blues HQ as we prepare to take on our old rivals on our home turf – we can’t wait.”
There are five changes to the Blues starting side this week, including the notable absence of centre Rieko Ioane who left the field only a couple of minutes into the win over the Waratahs at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.
In the forwards, Super Rugby winner Ricky Riccitelli replaces Kurt Eklund in the First XV along with All Blacks prop Angus Ta’avao.
Captain Tuipulotu joins Laghlan McWhannell in a completely different second row pairing while the rest of the starting side remains unchanged.
The Blues take on the Crusaders at Auckland’s Eden Park at 7.05 pm NZT on Saturday evening.
Blues team to take on Crusaders
- Ofa Tu’ungafasi
- Ricky Riccitelli
- Angus Ta’avao
- Patrick Tuipulotu (c)
- Laghlan McWhannell
- Akira Ioane
- Dalton Papali’i
- Hoskins Sotutu
- Finlay Christie
- Stephen Perofeta
- Caleb Clarke
- Bryce Heem
- AJ Lam
- Mark Tele’a
- Zarn Sullivan
Reserves
- Kurt Eklund
- Joshua Fusitu’a
- Marcel Renata
- Josh Beehre
- Adrian Choat
- Taufa Funaki
- Harry Plummer
- Cole Forbes
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
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