Blues head coach Pat Lam had been lambasted in the press in the lead up to the game but he and his players answered their critics with a character filled performance to defeat the Bulls 29-23

The Blues Development team triumphed in an error ridden match against Tonga A, 40-3 on Friday night.

SKYCITY has been a major partner of the Blues for 15 years and now The Nation’s Clubrooms at SKYCITY is the home of the Blues.

With two games and two wins under their belt, the Blues Development team head into their first Pacific Rugby Cup match with confidence and an element of intrigue.

Ma’a Nonu will debut for the Blues and Piri Weepu will make his first start when the Blues take on the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Sunday morning (6.10am NZT).

After sustaining a left shoulder injury during last week’s match, Kaino remained in New Zealand when the rest of the team departed for South Africa in the hope he might be able to join the squad later.

There would have been little sleep for Blues head coach Pat Lam and his troops as they flew to South Africa from Sydney yesterday pondering a disastrous start to their 2012 campaign.

Ahoy me mateys! The Blues pirate Bluebeard is once again hosting a High Sea Adventure party on the Hauraki Gulf these school holidays, setting sail on Wednesday 18 April at 10.30am.

The Blues Development team came from behind to beat the Chiefs Development team 40-37 in Thames on Saturday.

The Blues’ 29-14 loss to the Chiefs at Waikato Stadium last night has been compounded by the news Rudi Wulf and Jerome Kaino will not travel to South Africa with the team this afternoon.

Ma’a Nonu is set to make his first appearance for the Blues offshore after being named in the 26-man squad to tour South Africa.