Ta'avao to start against Chiefs
Blues head coach John Kirwan has made just one injury-enforced change to the starting XV for Saturday's Super Rugby showdown with the Chiefs in Mount Maunganui.
Angus Ta'avao will start at tighthead prop in place of Charlie Faumuina, who tore his right calf against the Waratahs last week and is expected to be out of action for at least eight weeks.
Former New Zealand Under-20 prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi is poised to make his Super Rugby debut after being named on the bench.
"Ofa is still a young man, he's getting better, he's been very good for the Development squad but Angus has been great for us so it's just a natural progression after the unfortunate injury to Charlie," Kirwan said.
After consecutive losses against the Bulls and Waratahs, Kirwan said it was important for his side to rediscover their excitement levels.
"We just need to play our game, we want to get excited again and start playing the high tempo, high skill, high impact game which we haven't done in the last two matches so let's let the shackles off and get out there and enjoy it."
Kirwan believed playing against the defending champions would bring out the best in his young team.
"If you can't get motivated to play the current champions who are in our neighbourhood then get out of the game," he said.
"This is why we play the game. The Chiefs, our neighbours, down there, they're champions, we need to win – it doesn't get any better than that."
Blues: 15 Charles Piutau, 14 Frank Halai, 13 Rene Ranger, 12 Francis Saili, 11 George Moala, 10 Chris Noakes, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Luke Braid, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Culum Retallick, 3 Angus Ta'avao, 2 James Parsons, 1 Tom McCartney.
Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Brendon O'Connor, 20 Jamison Gibson-Park, 21 Baden Kerr, 22 Jackson Willison.
Date: Saturday, 30 March
Venue: Baypark Stadium, Mount Maunganui
Kick-off: 19.35 (06.35 GMT)
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
