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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.

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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.

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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.

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“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.

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“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)

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J
JW 1 hour ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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