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Matenga locks in Blues start

By
Wednesday 6 Apr 2016

Matenga, who has played for Otago and Wellington, earned his start after strong performances off the bench. He will start as a replacement for the injured Patrick Tuipulotu, who will be out for two weeks with a fracture in his hand.

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Matenga has also had experience playing in France and Japan.

Prop Sam Prattley gets his first start of the season, coming in for Nic Mayhew, who is out for two to three weeks with a knee injury suffered in his debut against the Jaguares.

The remainder of the starting XV remains unchanged from the side that beat the Jaguares at North Harbour Stadium.

Blues: 15 Lolagi Visinia, 14 Rieko Ioane, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Piers Francis, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Steven Luatua, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Joe Edwards, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Hoani Matenga, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 James Parsons (captain), 1 Sam Prattley.

Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Namatahi Waa, 18 Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 19 Akira Ioane, 20 Kara Pryor, 21 Billy Guyton, 22 Matt McGahan, 23 George Moala.

Date: Friday, April 8

Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

Kick-off: 19.35 NZST (07.35 GMT)

Referee: Jamie Nutbrown (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Kane McBride (New Zealand)

TMO: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)

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