Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

No Beauden Barrett as Blues name strong team for first Super Rugby Pacific clash

Caleb Clarke and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. (Photo by Dave Rowland/Getty Images for New Zealand Rugby)

The Blues will welcome eight All Blacks, past or present, into their line-up for the first appearance in the DHL Super Rugby Pacific.

ADVERTISEMENT

They take on the Hurricanes, who impressed in their opening loss against the Crusaders, at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday night.

Prop Nepo Laulala, loose forward Hoskins Sotutu, halfback Finlay Christie and centre Rieko Ioane will start with prop Ofa Tuungafasi coming off the bench from the All Blacks who went on the northern tour, while Alex Hodgman, Luke Romano and Caleb Clarke have all worn black.

Video Spacer

Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 2

Video Spacer

Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 2

There is considerable interest in the appearance of two players set to make their Blues debuts, although both are far from rookies.

Romano, with 137 Super Rugby caps for the Crusaders and 32 for the All Blacks, is among the most experienced locks in the competition, while there is excitement in the first Super Rugby showing for Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who has amassed 195 appearances in the NRL and 20 caps for New Zealand in Rugby League.

Coach Leon MacDonald said he has been impressed with the efforts both on and off the field from Romano and Tuivasa-Sheck.

“Luke has settled into life here really well and has been an outstanding contributor already, although he has to get through the Thursday training with an injury niggle.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Likewise Roger has settled in extremely well and fitted into rugby like the professional he is. If we can get some good front-foot ball it will be interesting to see the backline in action.”

The Blues missed the opening clash with Moana Pasifika unable to play, although MacDonald says that will not be an excuse for his side.

“It is something we need to overcome. All teams have come in with a short pre-season and with the obvious challenges in these bubbles,” said MacDonald.

“For us it is about pride in our jersey and our Blues region, overcoming any perceived adversity, and having the confidence to play our game to the standards we have achieved on the training fields.

ADVERTISEMENT

“The attitude and aptitude have been excellent and it is a matter of taking that form from the training pitch into the game situation.

“We know it will be a super-fast and open game as it always is under the roof at Forsyth Barr.”

Key players missing with injuries include All Blacks Beauden Barrett and captain Dalton Papalii, both recovering from head knocks, and Akira Ioane.

Blues team to play Hurricanes:

1. Alex Hodgman (42 Blues caps)

2. Kurt Eklund (24)

3. Nepo Laulala (13)

4. Josh Goodhue (38)

5. Luke Romano (0)

6. Tom Robinson (34)

7. Adrian Choat (5)

8. Hoskins Sotutu (24)

9. Finlay Christie (18)

10. Harry Plummer (44)

11. Caleb Clarke (27)

12. Roger Tuivasa-Scheck (0)

13. Rieko Ioane (73)

14. Mark Telea (25)

15. Zarn Sullivan (7)

Reserves:

16. Ricky Riccitelli

17. Ofa Tuungafasi (107)

18. Marcel Renata (19)

19. Sam Darry (5)

20. Anton Segner (0)

21. Sam Nock (41)

22. Stephen Perofeta (31)

23. Tanielu Tele’a (13)

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

Sungoliath vs BlueRevs

LIVE

Hong Kong SVNS | Day 2

Hong Kong SVNS | Day 1

Behind the Scenes with the Australian Rugby Sevens Team in Hong Kong | HSBC SVNS Embedded | Episode 9

The Rise of Kenya | The Report

New Zealand in Hong Kong | Brady Rush | Sevens Wonders | Episode 4

When the referee is put in an impossible position? | Whistle Watch

The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

Boks Office | Episode 38 | Six Nations Round 5 Review

Watch now: Lomu - The Lost Tapes

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

P
Peter chong 2 hours ago
'Ulster, though no one wants to admit it, isn't much more than a development province right now.'

IS IT POSSIBLE TO RECOVER STOLEN CRYPTO LOST TO ONLINE SCAM? YES! HIRE DIGITAL TECH GUARD RECOVERY


WhatsApp: + 1 ( 4 4 3 ) 8 5 9 - 2 8 8 6 Email @ digital tech guard . com Telegram: digital tech guard . com Website link: digital tech guard . com

I enrolled in an online professional certification program for program development, which I believed would enhance my career prospects. After researching the program thoroughly, I paid a  fee of $7,300 USD, confident that the certification would be a legitimate asset to my resume. However, after completing the course and attempting to use the credentials in my job search, I quickly realized that the certification was nothing more than a scam. The company behind the program had falsified its credentials and provided no actual value. They offered a polished website, convincing sales pitches, and promises of job opportunities, but once I began digging deeper, I found numerous complaints online from others who had been scammed in the same way. Unfortunately, the organization was not just unprofessional, but fraudulent, offering no real support or resources to help with career advancement, leaving me feeling deceived and frustrated. Desperate to recover my hard-earned money, I began researching ways to hold the company accountable and retrieve my funds. It was then that I came across Digital Tech Guard Recovery, a team that specializes in tracing fraudulent organizations and helping victims reclaim their money. After contacting them, I was relieved to find a team of dedicated professionals who understood the intricacies of recovering funds from such scams. They meticulously traced the fraudulent organization and its activities, gathering the necessary evidence to build a strong case. Within weeks, Digital Tech Guard Recovery was able to successfully recover my $7,300 USD. The entire process was seamless, and I was kept informed every step of the way. Their expertise and attention to detail were invaluable in navigating the complex world of online fraud and scams. Not only did I get my money back, but I also gained peace of mind, knowing that the scammers were being held accountable for their actions. As a resident of Dallas, I am grateful to have found such a reliable service in a time of need. If you find yourself in a similar situation, I highly recommend reaching out to Digital Tech Guard Recovery. Their commitment to helping victims of fraud are unmatched, and they offer a sense of security in the face of what could otherwise be a daunting experience.

47 Go to comments
S
Stalle li 4 hours ago
Hurricanes vs Waratahs takes: The yellow wall in midfield, Tahs backs outshined

My partner and I had always been cautious investors, but like many others, we fell victim to an investment scheme that promised high returns in the cryptocurrency space. The company had a sleek website, a compelling pitch, and even endorsements from supposed financial experts. It all looked legitimate—until it wasn’t. One morning, as I checked our crypto wallet, my stomach dropped. The 350 ETH we had transferred was gone. The platform was suddenly inaccessible, support emails bounced back, and the so-called “investment managers” had disappeared. Panic set in. My partner, Lisa, tried to remain calm, but I could see the worry in her eyes. This was our hard-earned savings, and we had been scammed. Determined not to give up, we scoured the internet for help. That’s when we came across Galaxy Ethical Tech—a company specializing in ethical blockchain investigations and asset recovery. Their reputation was impeccable, and they had successfully helped many people retrieve lost funds from fraudulent crypto schemes. With nothing to lose, we reached out. Galaxy Ethical Tech assigned us a dedicated blockchain forensics expert, Daniel, who listened patiently to our story. He assured us that their technology could trace our stolen Ethereum across multiple wallets, even if the scammers had tried to obscure the transactions. Using advanced blockchain analytics and AI-driven tracing, Daniel and his team mapped out the movement of our ETH. The scammers had funneled the funds through multiple wallets and mixing services, but Galaxy Ethical Tech’s algorithms identified patterns in the transactions. Within 72 hours, they pinpointed where the stolen Ethereum had been consolidated. The next step was enforcement. Galaxy Ethical Tech collaborated with cybercrime authorities and blockchain security networks to freeze the identified wallets. They also leveraged their ethical hacking team to monitor real-time movements and prevent further laundering of the funds.Within two weeks, we received an email that made our hearts race. A significant portion of our 350 ETH had been recovered! Galaxy Ethical Tech coordinated with an exchange compliance team to ensure the funds were returned to our wallet. The relief was overwhelming. We had gone from despair to gratitude, all thanks to the ethical, transparent, and highly skilled approach of Galaxy Ethical Tech. Their AI-powered forensics, legal partnerships, and ethical hacking had saved us from a devastating loss.Today, Lisa and I are more cautious than ever in the crypto space, and we actively educate others on avoiding scams. But if there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s this: when technology is used ethically, it can do wonders—even reclaim what was thought to be lost forever.Galaxy Ethical Tech didn’t just recover our Ethereum. They restored our faith in the power of ethical innovation.contact them via Email: galaxyethicaltech@mail.comWhatsapp: +15072712442Telegram: Galaxy_ethical_tech

3 Go to comments
S
Stalle li 4 hours ago
Test rookie Dylan Richardson to make Scotland move

My partner and I had always been cautious investors, but like many others, we fell victim to an investment scheme that promised high returns in the cryptocurrency space. The company had a sleek website, a compelling pitch, and even endorsements from supposed financial experts. It all looked legitimate—until it wasn’t. One morning, as I checked our crypto wallet, my stomach dropped. The 350 ETH we had transferred was gone. The platform was suddenly inaccessible, support emails bounced back, and the so-called “investment managers” had disappeared. Panic set in. My partner, Lisa, tried to remain calm, but I could see the worry in her eyes. This was our hard-earned savings, and we had been scammed. Determined not to give up, we scoured the internet for help. That’s when we came across Galaxy Ethical Tech—a company specializing in ethical blockchain investigations and asset recovery. Their reputation was impeccable, and they had successfully helped many people retrieve lost funds from fraudulent crypto schemes. With nothing to lose, we reached out. Galaxy Ethical Tech assigned us a dedicated blockchain forensics expert, Daniel, who listened patiently to our story. He assured us that their technology could trace our stolen Ethereum across multiple wallets, even if the scammers had tried to obscure the transactions. Using advanced blockchain analytics and AI-driven tracing, Daniel and his team mapped out the movement of our ETH. The scammers had funneled the funds through multiple wallets and mixing services, but Galaxy Ethical Tech’s algorithms identified patterns in the transactions. Within 72 hours, they pinpointed where the stolen Ethereum had been consolidated. The next step was enforcement. Galaxy Ethical Tech collaborated with cybercrime authorities and blockchain security networks to freeze the identified wallets. They also leveraged their ethical hacking team to monitor real-time movements and prevent further laundering of the funds.Within two weeks, we received an email that made our hearts race. A significant portion of our 350 ETH had been recovered! Galaxy Ethical Tech coordinated with an exchange compliance team to ensure the funds were returned to our wallet. The relief was overwhelming. We had gone from despair to gratitude, all thanks to the ethical, transparent, and highly skilled approach of Galaxy Ethical Tech. Their AI-powered forensics, legal partnerships, and ethical hacking had saved us from a devastating loss.Today, Lisa and I are more cautious than ever in the crypto space, and we actively educate others on avoiding scams. But if there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s this: when technology is used ethically, it can do wonders—even reclaim what was thought to be lost forever.Galaxy Ethical Tech didn’t just recover our Ethereum. They restored our faith in the power of ethical innovation.contact them via Email: galaxyethicaltech@mail.comWhatsapp: +15072712442Telegram: Galaxy_ethical_tech

0 Go to comments
T
Thomas Walsh 5 hours ago
Super Rugby Pacific's rebirth can finally restore the missing All Blacks edge

I’m a musician, and not long ago, I was scammed out of $12,000 by a fake music streaming service called Streamify Pro. It’s a story I never thought would happen to me, but it did, and I feel it’s important to share it, especially for other artists in the music industry who might be vulnerable to the same scam. I got an email from what seemed like a legitimate music streaming platform, offering me an opportunity to get my music on a huge new service. They promised high visibility, global exposure, and the chance to generate more revenue from streams. It seemed like a dream come true for an independent musician like me, who is always looking for ways to grow my audience. The email looked official, and they even provided testimonials from artists who’d “made it big” by using their service. They had a polished website with all the right buzzwords, making everything look very convincing. They also gave me a “special deal” on their package, offering me placement on their platform for a fee of $12,000. It was a hefty amount, but I thought it was worth the investment, considering the exposure they promised. I transferred the money, but soon after, things started to feel off. My music was never uploaded to their platform. They stopped responding to my emails, and the phone number they gave me went straight to voicemail. I tried to do some research and found that there were no actual reviews or artists talking about the service online. It hit me hard—I had just lost $12,000.That’s when I reached out to ASSET RESCUE SPECIALIST. I was feeling desperate and didn’t know what else to do. They were incredibly responsive and understood exactly what I was going through. They launched an investigation into the scam and worked tirelessly to recover the full amount that I had lost. To my amazement, they were able to recover 100% of the $12,000 I had been scammed out of. Since then, I’ve been recommending ASSET RESCUE SPECIALIST to other musicians. They did what seemed impossible, and their service was absolutely worth it. If you’re a musician or anyone in the creative industry, be cautious about these types of scams. I learned the hard way, but thanks to ASSET RESCUES SPECIALIST, I got all of my money back.DM FOR MORE DETAILS:mail: assetrescuespecialist@qualityservice.comWhatsApp:+ 1 9 0 3 5 5 9 1 7 3 3.support@assetrescuespecialist.com.

19 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Alex Masibaka: 'I was on a stag do in Barcelona when Gregor Townsend called' Alex Masibaka: 'I was on a stag do in Barcelona when Gregor Townsend called'
Search