Blues field powerful midfield for Stormers
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Blues have opted for a very experienced midfield combination for their Super Rugby clash against the unbeaten Stormers.
The New Zealand outfit named TJ Faiane and All Blacks star Rieko Ioane in the midfield for Saturday’s match.
The pair have 85 caps for the Blues between them, with Faiane returning to the starting line-up after coming off the bench in last week’s win over the Bulls and Ioane, making a speedy recovery from a fractured hand.
England centre Joe Marchant is pushed out to the wing to accommodate the returning Ioane.
It is the only significant change from the team that played strongly in Pretoria last weekend, with England international Marchant making his fifth straight start.
Sam Nock gets his first start with Jonathan Ruru to come off the bench.
The only change in the pack sees Kurt Eklund get his second start at hooker with James Parsons returning to New Zealand with a shoulder injury, with exciting North Harbour prospect Luteru Tolai coming into the reserves as a replacement.
There is a strong look to the bench, which made a real impact last week, with All Black Ofa Tuungafasi, newcomer Aaron Carroll and the experience of Blake Gibson, Matt Duffie, Harry Plummer and Marcel Renata.
Blues: 15 Stephen Perofeta, 14 Joe Marchant, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 TJ Faiane, 11 Mark Telea, 10 Otere Black, 9 Sam Nock; 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Tom Robinson, 5 Jacob Pierce, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Sione Mafileo 2 Kurt Eklund, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe.
Replacements: 16 Luteru Tolai, 17 Marcel Renata, 18 Ofa Tuungafasi, 18 Aaron Carroll, 20 Blake Gibson, 21 Jonathan Ruru, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Matt Duffie.
Date: Saturday, February 29
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT; 02.00, Sunday, March 1 NZ time)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Divan Uys (South Africa)
TMO: Joey Klaaste-Salmans (South Africa)
