1
What written judgement said about Alex Mann's role in gouging saga
3
{{item.n}}
Plummer relegated for fellow All Black, Sotutu returns for Blues
By Ned Lester
Rivals collide in Auckland this weekend as the Blues host the Crusaders in a bid to turn their season around.
ADVERTISEMENT
The old foes occupy opposite ends of the leaderboard this season and are the two most recent champions of the competition.
Boosting the hosts’ confidence will be the narrowest of losses to early competition favourites, the Chiefs, as well as the return of reigning Super Rugby MVP Hoskins Sotutu from a two-game suspension. A coaching intervention course has reduced his three-week suspension to two.
The No. 8 will bring much-needed physicality and X-factor to the forward pack and team at large, having led the competition in tries scored in 2024.
Fellow All Black Stephen Perofeta will make his first start of the season, coming in at No. 10 and pushing Harry Plummer back to the bench.
Elsewhere, impressive rookies Cameron Christie and Xavi Taele will start once more while fellow 2024 New Zealand U20 product Tristyn Cook has been named again on the bench.
“The Crusaders are our historic foes in this competition, and of course in provincial rugby for decades,” said Blues coach Vern Cotter.
“We know there is no respite in this competition, but after a sluggish start, we are improving across the squad as a team and as individuals every day and every week.
“We need to continue to dig deep, continue to improve in every facet of our game, every day in every training session and then bring that together at Eden Park. If we do that, trust in ourselves and in each other to play what is in front of us, then we can prosper.
“Last week was a game of the highest standard, and I am confident we can continue to improve and provide a major threat to the Crusaders and in this competition.”
Blues team to play Crusaders
- Joshua Fusitu’a (26)
- Kurt Eklund (65)
- Angus Ta’avao (71)
- Patrick Tuipulotu © (114)
- Josh Beehre (16)
- Cameron Christie (3)
- Dalton Papali’i (87)
- Hoskins Sotutu (68)
- Sam Nock (76)
- Stephen Perofeta (69)
- Caleb Clarke (68)
- Xavi Taele (1)
- Rieko Ioane (117)
- Mark Tele’a (72)
- Corey Evans (18).
Reserves:
16. James Mullan (2)
17. Jordan Lay (23)
18: Marcel Renata (58)
19. Laghlan McWhannell (14)
20. Tristyn Cook (1)
21. Finlay Christie (59)
22. Harry Plummer (80)
23. Cole Forbes (21)
Injury status
PJ Sheck (shoulder)
Zarn Sullivan (foot)
Ben Ake (shoulder)
Beauden Barrett (hand)
Adrian Choat (knee)
Taufa Funaki (shoulder)
Reon Paul (shoulder)
Ricky Riccitelli (chest)
Ofa Tu’ungafasi (neck)
Anton Segner (concussion)
Sam Darry (shoulder, season)
AJ Lam (leg)
ADVERTISEMENT
News, stats, live rugby and more! Download the new RugbyPass app on the App Store (iOS) and Google Play (Android) now!