Star winger ruled out of Blues' trip to the capital
All Blacks winger Mark Telea will miss the Blues’ trip to the capital this weekend after copping “a wee head knock” against the Brumbies in Super Round.
It’s a tough blow for the Blues, as they prepare for their spot at redemption against the Hurricanes on Saturday at 7:05pm NZT.
The Blues began their Super Rugby Pacific campaign with a staggering 40-point win over the Highlander in Dunedin, with Telea stealing the show with more than 220 running metres.
But the Auckland-based outfit were handed an early season wakeup call against Australian rivals the Brumbies on Sunday, having lost a thriller 20-25 in the heat.
Blues coach Leon MacDonald has only made the one change to his starting XV ahead of the match in Wellington, as they look to return to winning ways against the undefeated Hurricanes.
Telea has been replaced by rising star AJ Lam in the No. 14 jersey.
“Mark copped a wee head knock last weekend, so he’ll sit this one out, but it’s great to have talent like AJ waiting in the wings to replace him,” MacDonald said in a statement.
“It’s early in the competition and we know we weren’t at our best against a good Brumbies side. There’s certainly no panic around the place, we just want to see improvements in a few areas this weekend.”
Playing on a sweltering Sunday afternoon in Melbourne, the Blues were their own worst enemies throughout a thrilling contest at AAMI Park.
After conceding 17 penalties to the Brumbies’ nine, MacDonald added the Blues have “talked a bit” about their poor discipline this week.
“We’ve talked a bit this week about discipline and ensuring we’re giving ourselves a chance to build pressure and take the game to the Canes,” he added.
The Hurricanes started their season with an emphatic win over the Queensland Reds in Townsville, before beating the Melbourne Rebels in a tense tussle on Friday.
Blues captain Dalton Papalii is expecting another tight contest against their North Island rivals on Sunday.
“We saw it in round one last season and I’m sure we’ll see it again this Saturday – both teams like to play with enterprise and we’ve been preparing to shut down the threats they possess across the park,” Papali’i said.
“There’s always a bit of edge at training coming off a loss and as captain I can’t fault the commitment and drive I’ve seen around Blues HQ this week.”
Blues team to take on the Hurricanes
- Joshua Fusitu’a
- Ricky Riccitelli
- James Lay
- Patrick Tuipulotu
- Cameron Suafoa
- Tom Robinson
- Dalton Papali’i
- Hoskins Sotutu
- Finlay Christie
- Beauden Barrett
- Caleb Clarke
- Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
- Rieko Ioane
- AJ Lam
- Stephen Perofeta
Replacements:
- Kurt Eklund
- Alex Hodgman
- Nepo Laulala
- James Tucker
- Adrian Choat
- Taufa Funaki
- Bryce Heem
- Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Players not considered: Sam Darry (knee), Akira Ioane (knee), Sam Nock (calf), Harry Plummer (ribs), Mark Telea (concussion), Ofa Tu’ungafasi (concussion)
Comments on RugbyPass
It was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
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