Parsons to captain the Blues

 

The North Harbour skipper takes the captain armband after injuries to previous leaders Jerome Kaino and Steven Luatua.

 

Parsons, called into the All Blacks team during their northern tour late last year, has played strongly this season, appearing in 11 games along with his two weeks off on All Blacks leave.

 

He forms a new front row with Sam Prattley, receiving his first start of the year, and Ofa Tu’ungafasi, who will play his 27th game for the Blues.

 

New Zealand Under-20 representatives Blake Gibson and the inform Akira Ioane will pair up in the loose forwards, with the hard-working Brendon O’Connor, before the pair joins the New Zealand team that leaves next week to contest the world cup in Italy.

 

The backline that performed so well in the win over the Bulls last week remains unchanged.

 

Teenager Matt Vaega from the wider training squad and fellow North Harbour replacement Nick Mayhew will be looking for their Super Rugby debuts off the bench.

 

Blues: 15 Lolagi Visinia, 14 Ben Lam, 13 Francis Saili, 12 George Moala, 11 Melani Nanai, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Brendon O’Connor, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Culum Retallick, 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 James Parsons (captain), 1 Sam Prattley.

Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Angus Ta’avao, 18Nic Mayhew, 19 Will Lloyd/Hayden Triggs, 20 Joe Edwards, 21 Jimmy Cowan, 22 Simon Hickey, 23 Matt Vaega.

 

Date: Saturday May, 23 

Venue: Eden Park, Auckland

Kick-Off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT)

Referee: Nick Briant

Assistant Referees: Ben O'Keeffe, Aki Aso

TMO: Aaron Paterson