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All Black Caleb Clarke benched for Blues’ blockbuster clash with Reds

Caleb Clarke of the Blues looks on ahead of the round nine Super Rugby Pacific match between Blues and ACT Brumbies at Eden Park, on April 20, 2024, in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

All Blacks wing Caleb Clarke will look to add impact off the bench on Saturday night when the Blues take on the Queensland Reds in a blockbuster Trans-Tasman clash in Brisbane.

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Clarke, 25, was put on “lighter duties” earlier this week and will come off the pine as a result as the high-flying Blues look to remain within touching distance of the undefeated Hurricanes.

The Aucklanders are second on the Super Rugby Pacific standings after registering a statement 46-7 win over the then-third-placed Brumbies at Eden Park last Saturday.

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Vern Cotter’s men have not been beaten in almost 50 days, with their sole loss of the campaign coming against the table-toppers at the nation’s capital on March 9th.

Looking to extend their winning streak to what would be six matches, the Blues face a tough challenge in the Reds. Queensland got the better of the Highlanders 31-nil last time out.

“We’re under no illusion as to how difficult it’s going to be to play them up there in Queensland,” coach Vern Cotter said in a statement.

“All we want from our boys is consistent effort, attitude and habits; and each week is a good test of those characteristics for us as a team.”

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Akira Ioane is unavailable after staying back in Auckland before the birth of his first child. Anton Segner comes into the run-on side while there is a potential debutant on the bench.

James Thompson has been named in the No.20 jumper ahead of a potential debut. Sam Darry also returns to the First XV after coming off the bench against the Brumbies.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins
0
Draws
1
Wins
4
Average Points scored
22
34
First try wins
60%
Home team wins
20%

The rest of the starting side remains relatively consistent other than some minor tweaks to the front row with Angus Ta’avao and Soane Vikena getting the nod.

Captain Patrick Tuipulotu partners Sam Darry in the middle row, while Anton Segner, Dalton Papali’i and in-form No.8 Hoskins Sotutu round out a menacing forward pack.

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Taufa Funaki and Harry Plummer retain their spots in the halves with Finlay Christie (groin) and Stephen Perofeta (shoulder) still out of action due to injury layoffs.

Bryce Heem joins All Black Rieko Ioane in the midfield, while Mark Tele’a, AJ Lam and Cole Forbes line up in the outside backs.

Lam replaces Caleb Clarke on the wing, with Vern Cotter explaining that selection comes down to the All Black’s calf.

“Caleb’s been on lighter duties to start the week to give his calf a rest,” Cotter explained. “AJ’s been playing well, and this is an opportunity for him to start the game.”

The Blues’ two-game road trip across the ditch gets underway on Saturday when they take on the Queensland Reds at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium at 9:35 pm NZT.

They fly out of Auckland on Thursday.

Blues team to take on Queensland Reds

  1. Ofa Tu’ungafasi
  2. Soane Vikena
  3. Angus Ta’avao
  4. Patrick Tuipulotu (c)
  5. Sam Darry
  6. Anton Segner
  7. Dalton Papali’i
  8. Hoskins Sotutu
  9. Taufa Funaki
  10. Harry Plummer
  11. Mark Tele’a
  12. Bryce Heem
  13. Rieko Ioane
  14. AJ Lam
  15. Cole Forbes

Reserves

  1. Kurt Eklund
  2. Joshua Fusitu’a
  3. Marcel Renata
  4. Laghlan McWhannell
  5. James Thompson*
  6. Sam Nock
  7. Corey Evans
  8. Caleb Clarke

*Potential debut

Players not considered: Stephen Perofeta (shoulder), Finlay Christie (groin), Zarn Sullivan (knee), Rob Rush (calf), Cam Suafoa (sickness), Akira Ioane (paternity leave)

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M
Mzilikazi 2 hours ago
Does the next Wallabies coach have to be an Australian?

Great read on a fascinating topic, Nick. Thanks as always.


My gut feel is that Joe Schmidt won't carry on through to the next RWC. He is at the stage, and age, in his life , that a further two years in a very high pressure coaching job would not be a good thing for either himself or his family. The fact that he remains based in Taupo seems a significant pointer, I would have thought. I believe he has a round trip of 12 hrs driving just to get on a plane to Australia.


Amongst the many good things Joe Schmidt has achieved to this point is that the WB's are now a more enticing prospect to coach going forward.


Tbh, the only Australian coach I would see stepping up and developing the WB's further would be Les Kiss. He has far more in his CV than any other Australian. He now has 23 years of coaching Union,starting with a defence role with the Boks, then back to Australia with the Waratahs. Overseas again for nine years in Ireland, which included 5 years as defence coach with the national team, during which he was interim head coach for two games, both wins. His last years in Ireland were with Ulster, even then a team beginning a decline. So that spell was his least successful. Finally the spell with London Irish, where I felt Kiss was doing very well, till the club collapsed financially.


Of the other Australian options, Dan McKellar has a lot to prove post the year with Leicester. Stephen Larkham has not, in my view, yet shown outstanding qualities as a coach. Nether man has anything close to Kiss's experience. Some may see this as being harsh on both men, ignoring good work they have done. But is how I see it.


Looking outside Australia, I would see Vern Cotter as a strong possibility, if interested. His time with Scotland was outstanding. Ronan O'Gara, I would think, might well be another possibility, though he has no international experience. Jake White ? Maybe .

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