Blues without Rieko for Rebels clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Blues welcome back prop Alex Hodgman to the starting line-up for Saturday’s Super Rugby clash against the Rebels at Eden Park.
Hodgman is back after a wrist injury which has sidelined him for nine games.
The other change in the pack sees Northland captain Matt Moulds make his first start for the season, with the durable James Parsons not recovered from the head injury he received last week, which has led to a two-week suspension to Crusaders prop Owen Franks.
There is a second start for two-metres Counties Manukau lock Matiaha Martin after impressing on debut as a late replacement for the Blues’ injury-hit locking stocks.
The Blues welcome their All Blacks Ofa Tuungafasi and Sonny Bill Williams back while Rieko Ioane takes his enforced All Black break this week, to allow try-scoring wing Tumua Manu his fourth game for the club on the left wing. Williams is bracketed with Bay of Plenty midfielder Terrence Hepetema after receiving a knock at the All Black camp this week.
Michael Collins, who returned from a four-game injury break, as a replacement last week, comes back into the starting line-up with an in-form Matt Duffie back to his accustomed spot on the right wing.
Blues: 15 Michael Collins, 14 Matt Duffie, 13 Orbyn Leger, 12 Sonny Bill Williams/Terrence Hepetema, 11 Tumua Manu, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Augustine Pulu (captain), 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Matiaha Martin, 4 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 3 Ofa Tuungafasi, 2 Matt Moulds, 1 Alex Hodgman.
Replacements: 16 Leni Apisai, 17 Pauliasi Manu, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Ben Nee-Nee, 20 Sione Havili, 21 Jonathan Ruru, 22 Bryn Gatland, 23 TJ Faiane/Terrence Hepetema.
Date: Saturday, June 2
Vene: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 17.15 (15.15 AEST; 05.15 GMT)
Referee: Nick Briant
Assistant referees: Brendon Pickerill, Angus Mabey
TMO: Ben Skeen
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