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'We'll be sweating on a few guys': Blues reveal injury concerns for key players ahead of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final
Blues head coach Leon MacDonald has revealed a couple of his key players are injury doubts for the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final against the Highlanders on Saturday.
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The Auckland-based franchise will play in their first final since 2003 when they host the southerners at Eden Park this weekend, but they might do so without some of their star forwards.
Blindside flanker and occasional captain Tom Robinson was forced from the field during last week’s 31-21 victory over the Western Force due to a head knock sustained in the first half.
Openside flanker Dalton Papalii also left the field early as a result of a hip injury, leaving the pair in doubt for this weekend’s final.
“Our loosies are a bit dinged up, but they’ve got through a lot of work,” MacDonald told reporters after his side’s victory over the Force.
“Tom’s sore, Dalton’s sore… we’ve got a few sore bodies. Tom took a head knock, and we’ll be sweating on a few guys this week.
“I think the backs have come through pretty unscathed, but the forwards have been doing some hard work, and it’s pretty physical so it’s no surprise that they’re sore.”
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Aside from the repercussions their injuries may have on the Blues, the concerns around Robinson’s and Papalii’s availability may be worrying for All Blacks head coach Ian Foster.
Both Robinson and Papalii are thought to be in contention to make the New Zealand national side to play Tonga and Fiji during next month’s test window, with Foster expected to name his squad for that series in the coming weeks.
However, regardless of whether his two loose forwards are available or not, MacDonald is excited by the prospect of staging a final at Eden Park in front of what’s set to be a packed crowd full of success-starved Blues fans.
“It’s pretty special for us. We were really disappointed with the Aotearoa competition; we were one point away really from making the final, and we didn’t get there through our own form not being where it needed to be in a really tough competition,” he said.
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“To be able to turn around and regroup; we set ourselves up and we’re really consistent for four weeks in our performances. That set us up with the opportunity to play for the final, and to be able to grab that and have a home final is going to be special.
“I know there a lot of guys who have been a part of this Blues team for a long time and been desperately keen to play in a Super Rugby final, so it is a special moment for us.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Sorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
7 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
2 Go to commentsNice piece of writing. And yes the Sharks pulled a rabbit from the hat and were a little lucky with that penalty try that wasn’t given… however the Sharks (with their resources) should be way more consistent and should be putting teams like Claremont away for breakfast. I expect more from them and hope they kick on now.
8 Go to commentsJust what the Sharks needed to get things going in the right direction Defence on the outside really creates havoc for the whole team and needs to be addressed.
8 Go to commentsWell done guys both teams will be ready to play knockout rugby.
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