BLUES WARY OF WARATAHS THREAT
The Blues have their sights set on returning to the DHL Super Rugby Pacific winner’s circle this weekend as they travel to Sydney to take on the Waratahs at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night at 9:35pm (NZT).
A focused and determined Blues side travel across the ditch with Captain Dalton Papali’i well aware of the threat the Australian teams have brought this year.
“This Super season has already thrown up a mixed bag of results; you get the feeling that anyone can get tipped up on any given day,” said Papali’i.
“These away games are important for us early in the season, we have a run of home games through the middle of the competition, and we don’t want to look back at these early season games and have any regrets,” he said.
Blues Head Coach, Vern Cotter, was equally wary of their trans-Tasman opponents.
“Already this season we’ve seen how dangerous the Waratahs can be, they’ll be up for it, especially in front of their home fans on a Saturday night,” said Cotter.
Number Eight Hoskins Sotutu and Wing Caleb Clarke both return to the starting side this week with Bryce Heem slotting in for his second start of the season at Second Five-Eight.
Prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi also makes a return to the starting side, partnering Kurt Eklund and Marcel Renata in the front row.
“Ofa is a leader in this group, and I expect him to lead with his physicality on Saturday. I’ve been impressed by Kurt and Marcel so far this season, and those boys know any dominant display starts up front with their work in the dark spaces,” said Cotter.
This Saturday’s match in Sydney is the last in a string of away games for the Blues before the team return to Eden Park to take on the Crusaders in Round Five of DHL Super Rugby Pacific next weekend.
Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Kurt Eklund
Marcel Renata
Josh Beehre
Laghlan McWhannell
Akira Ioane
Dalton Papali’i (c)
Hoskins Sotutu
Finlay Christie
Stephen Perofeta
Caleb Clarke
Bryce Heem
Rieko Ioane
Mark Tele’a
Zarn Sullivan
Reserves:
Soane Vikena
Joshua Fusitu’a
Angus Ta’avao
Cameron Suafoa
Anton Segner
Sam Nock
Harry Plummer
Cole Forbes
Players not considered: Patrick Tuipulotu (jaw), Sam Darry (knee), AJ Lam (concussion)
Waratahs v Blues
Saturday 16 March
9:35pm NZT
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Live on Sky Sport & Gold Sport + iHeart Radio