Ma’a Nonu, Jerome Kaino and Hayden Triggs have all been promoted from the bench to start in a strong Blues team to face the Highlanders at Eden Park on Saturday night.

He’s got one of the best beards going around, but Blues prop Charlie “Big Grizzly” Faumuina is going to shave it all off in support of the Child Cancer Foundation.

The Blues bounced back from consecutive defeats in South Africa to overrun the Cheetahs 40-30 in a thriller at Eden Park tonight.

The Blues have been bolstered by the return of World Cup winning All Blacks Jerome Kaino and Ma’a Nonu for Saturday’s match against the Cheetahs at Eden Park, with the destructive duo poised to resume their Blues careers from the reserves bench.

The 2014 Investec Super Rugby may be just over a month old but already the Blues are entering must-win territory as they take on the Cheetahs at Eden Park on Saturday.

New Zealand Rugby and the Blues have expressed sadness following the death of former All Black Frank Oliver.

The Blues scored five tries in a spectacular 25 minute spell but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Lions as they suffered a 39-36 defeat at Ellis Park.

The Blues Development team kicked off their season with a last minute, 33-27 victory over the Chiefs Development team.

Benji Marshall will make his first start for the Blues when they take on the Lions at Ellis Park on Sunday morning (kick-off 2am NZT).

Blues Development coach Steve Jackson has named an experienced team for their first hit out against the Chiefs Development team at Ardmore Marist tomorrow.

Blues hooker Keven Mealamu will return home to New Zealand after failing to overcome a calf injury.

The Blues slumped to a disappointing 38-22 defeat to the Bulls in Pretoria on Sunday morning.