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RTS set for lengthy sideline stint; six ABs rested as Blues name team
Blues midfielder Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will miss “at least a month” of Super Rugby Pacific with a hand injury, while another All Black has been ruled out “for the rest of the season.”
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The Blues will turn to a new-look backline on Sunday afternoon when they take on the Western Force at Eden Park.
All Blacks Beauden Barrett, Finlay Christie, Caleb Clarke, Rieko Ioane, Nepo Laulala and Dalton Papali’i weren’t considered for this weeks match due to the national teams resting policy.
A handful of other Blues stars – including Tuivasa-Sheck, Alex Hodgman and James Lay – have also been ruled out of the Round Five clash due to injuries.
Hodgman will miss the rest of the Super Rugby Pacific season with a shoulder injury, while Tuivasa-Sheck is also set for a lengthy stint on the sidelines.
“It was a real ding-dong over the weekend and we’ve unfortunately picked up a couple more injuries,” Coach Leon MacDonald said in a statement.
“Roger has a cast on his right hand so will be out for at least a month while Alex and James picked up shoulder and ankle injuries respectively.
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“Unfortunately Alex will be out for the rest of the season, you never like to see players end their season prematurely and we wish him well in his recovery. Our medical staff will monitor James’ ankle over the next week to see where he lands.
After losing to the Crusaders in an all-time classic in Auckland last week, the Blues have made a staggering 12 changes to their starting XV.
Second-rowers James Tucker and Cameron Suafoa have retained their places in the run-on side, and All Black Hoskins Sotutu has as well.
The rest of the team looks different this week, with Adria Choat moving from blindside flanker to the openside. Similarly, Mark Telea has shifted wings in what is a minor change.
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Playmaker Harry Plummer has come into the starting side at inside centre, and has also been given the captaincy.
“Harry Plummer will lead the team in Dalton’s absence. Harry is (the) captain of the Auckland Bunnings NPC side and has the respect of our team. He’s a leader within the group and we trust him with the armband this weekend,” he added.
Plummer will start in the midfield alongside Bryce Heem, and is set to play outside of Stephen Perofeta who has been given his first opportunity at flyhalf this season.
“I was honoured when Leon asked me to take the reins this weekend,” Plummer said.
“I’ve been out for a couple of weeks now, so I’m stoked to be back playing and I know the boys are keen to bounce back from last weekend and put in a tough performance against the Force.
“We’ve got some fresh faces in the line-up and we work in a competitive environment. WE all want game time so when you get a chance to perform you have to take it with both hands.”
The match is scheduled to kick-off at 3:35pm NZT at Auckland’s Eden Park on Sunday afternoon.
Blues team to take on Western Force
- Joshua Fusitu’a
- Kurt Eklund
- Ofa Tu’ungafasi
- James Tucker
- Cameron Suafoa
- Anton Segner
- Adrian Choat
- Hoskins Sotutu
- Sam Nock
- Stephen Perofeta
- Mark Telea
- Harry Plummer (c)
- Bryce Heem
- Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
- Zarn Sulivan
Replacements:
- Ricky Riccitelli
- Jordan Lay
- Marcel Renata
- Tom Robinson
- Sam Darry
- Taine Plumtree
- Taufa Funaki
- AJ Lam (Corey Evans)
Players not considered: Beauden Barrett, Finlay Christie, Caleb Clarke, Alex Hodgman, Akira Ioane, Rieko Ioane, Nepo Laulala, James Lay, Dalton Papali’i, Patrick Tuipulotu, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Comments on RugbyPass
I like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
8 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
8 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
8 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
8 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to comments