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Blues stick with the status quo for showdown with Bulls

Akira Ioane. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung / Getty Images)

Blues Rugby

Buoyed by plenty of positives over the last few weeks, the Blues have named a largely unchanged team for what they hope will be the first in a flourishing final three regular-season games against the Bulls at Eden Park on Friday.

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Coach Leon MacDonald has retained virtually the same starting line-up that produced an impressive defensive effort in the loss to the competition-leading Crusaders in Christchurch.

He wants to see the same level of commitment and convert their attacking chances on Friday.

“We want to show our fans a top-quality performance. While it is our last regular competition game at home, we would love to be back here in the playoffs,” said MacDonald.

“We’ve done a lot of things well in recent weeks and we have trained impressively. We are ready to produce a complete performance, and there’s no better opportunity than at Eden Park in front of our fans, friends and family.”

The backline remains unchanged for the third straight game, with one change in the forwards where centurion James Parsons returns from injury to start at hooker.

The resilient 23-year-old No 8 Akira Ioane will make his 32nd straight start, virtually all with 80-minute performances, with All Black Dalton Papalii not recovered 100 percent from a head knock.

“Akira has worked hard on improving his game this year and he has been such a work-horse for us, especially early on when we had injuries with the loose forwards,” said MacDonald. “We have to remember he is still a very young man and we had initially looked to lighten his load and bring him off the bench this week.

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“But while Dalton is very close to full fitness, we did not want to take any risks and will keep him back until next week. We know Akira will put in another big effort for us.”

Ioane will link with co-captain Blake Gibson and impressive rookie Tom Robinson in a potent back row.

MacDonald said the side is not watching the Super Rugby table, but rather fully focused on the remaining three regular-season games.

“We are taking them one at a time and want to finish each really strongly. Then we add up the points and see if we continue into the post-season playoffs.”

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Blues: Melani Nanai, Caleb Clarke, TJ Faiane, Ma’a Nonu, Rieko Ioane, Harry Plummer, Jonathan Ruru, Akira Ioane, Blake Gibson (c), Tom Robonson, Scott Scrafton, Patrick Tuipulotu, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, James Parsons, Alex Hodgman. Reserves: Leni Apisai, Lua Li, Marcel Renata, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Hoskins Sotutu, Augustine Pulu, Otere Black, Tanielu Tele’a.

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Nickers 30 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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