MacDonald shows his hand for Crusaders clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Blues coach Leon MacDonald has shown his hand ahead of his team’s opening Super Rugby encounter against the Crusaders at Eden Park.
There will be considerable interest in the inclusion of Ma’a Nonu at centre, returning to the Blues for a third time and for his 161st Super Rugby game, the most capped player in the competition.
With the Rugby World Cup year firmly on the horizon, new coach Macdonald is required to manage the playing minutes of returning of All Blacks with Patrick Tuipulotu to captain the side at lock, exciting loose forward Dalton Papalii and Rieko Ioane on the left wing.
Strong pre-season form has been rewarded with the inclusion of North Harbour’s Sione Mafileo at tighthead prop, Northland’s Josh Goodhue at lock, Auckland captain TJ Faiane in the midfield and the debut of robust loose forward Tom Robinson from Northland.
There is an ominous look to the Blues bench that includes All Blacks Karl Tu’inukuafe, Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Sonny Bill Williams, along with the experienced Augustine Pulu, Northland captain Matt Moulds and Gerard Cowley-Tuioti along with the exciting Harry Plummer, who is set to make his debut off the bench.
While just 23 years of age, outstanding No.8 Akira Ioane will celebrate his 50th game for the Blues.
Ioane has showed his resilience in amassing 48 Super games and the memorable win over the Lions, playing in every Super game for the Blues over the last two seasons.
While he plays his 50th, Otere Black has shown his patience to make his long-awaited debut at flyhalf after missing the entire 2018 Super season with injury.
Enjoy 10 of Akira’s best trys for The Blues ahead of his 50th game for the club on our Facebook or YouTube page.
Here’s a little taste.#RiseUp #BluesAllDay #AkiraIoane pic.twitter.com/Dl69IYs99Q
— The Blues (@BluesRugbyTeam) February 14, 2019
Players not considered because of injury include co-captain Blake Gibson (ankle), Stephen Perofeta (pectoral), Leni Apisai (neck), Jed Brown (calf), Ezekiel Lindenmuth (knee), Sam Nock (calf), Jacob Pierce (ankle), Jimmy Tupou (knee), Jordan Trainor (thigh), Matt Duffie (hamstring), Scott Scrafton (knee).
Blues: 15 Michael Collins, 14 Melani Nanai, 13 Ma’a Nonu, 12 TJ Faiane, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Otere Black, 9 Jonathan Ruru, 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Tom Robinson, 5 Josh Goodhue, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Sione Mafileo, 2 James Parsons, 1 Alex Hodgman.
Replacements: 16 Matt Moulds, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 19 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20 Matt Matich, 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Sonny Bill Williams.
Date: Saturday, February 16
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19.35 (06.35 GMT)
Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Federico Anselmi (Argentina), Dan Waenga (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
“Once you get that ball, you just unleash it”
💯🔥Catch the full interview with Akira Ioane ahead of his 50th Blues game on our YouTube channel 👀#RiseUp #BluesAllDay #BLUvCRU #AkiraIoane pic.twitter.com/cijJBuYDat
— The Blues (@BluesRugbyTeam) February 13, 2019
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