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‘Our destiny’s in our hands’: No Beauden Barrett in Blues’ team to play Hurricanes

(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Playmaker Beauden Barrett will miss the Blues’ crunch clash with the Hurricanes at Eden Park on Saturday due to the All Blacks’ mandatory resting policy.

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Barrett has been replaced by experienced campaigner Harry Plummer in the No. 10 shirt, while Bryce Heem shifts to inside centre.

The Blues are currently fourth on the Super Rugby Pacific standings, and will look vying for a home quarterfinal when they host the fifth-placed Hurricanes.

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There’s plenty to play for this weekend.

In the last 39 meetings between the two proud Super Rugby franchises, the teams are split at 19 wins each – and one draw.

Props Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Nepo Laulala come into the starting side as the only two changes to the forward pack. They’ll pack down in the front row alongside former Hurricane Ricky Riccitelli.

Patrick Tuipulotu will captain the side again this week in the absence of Dalton Papali’i. The skipper will combine with Cameron Suafoa in the second row.

Akira Ioane, Adrian Choat and Hoskins Sotutu make up the loose forward trio this weekend.

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As for the backline, All Blacks Finlay Christie, Caleb Clarke and Rieko Ioane are set to return for the Blues this weekend.

“These weeks are what rugby is all about,” coach Leon MacDonald said in a statement. “As a team you’re preparing for a tough, uncompromising battle in the knowledge it’s likely to be small margins and moments determining the outcome on Saturday.

“Our focus is on stacking good performance together.

“I thought we created space and time really well against the Reds and want more of the same taking on the Hurricanes.

“Our destiny’s in our hands and we need to push hard in this final phase of the round robin.”

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Captain Patrick Tuipulotu said that the Blues are eager to “defend” their “fortress” with “honour’ this weekend.

“Eden Park’s our home, our fortress and it’s up to us to defend it with honour,” he said.

“Look at the table, one point separates us and we’re both gunning for a home quarter-final spot.

“We love it when the fans turn up in numbers and we’re hoping for a bumper crowd on Saturday night.”

The match is set to get underway at 7.05pm NZST at Auckland’s Eden Park on Saturday.

Blues team to take on Hurricanes

  1. Ofa Tu’ungafasi
  2. Ricky Riccitelli
  3. Nepo Laulala
  4. Patrick Tuipulotu (c)
  5. Cameron Suafoa
  6. Akira Ioane
  7. Adrian Choat
  8. Hoskins Sotutu
  9. Finlay Christie
  10. Harry Plummer
  11. Caleb Clarke
  12. Bryce Heem
  13. Rieko Ioane
  14. Mark Telea
  15. Zarn Sullivan

Replacements:

  1. Kurt Eklund
  2. Jordan Lay
  3. Marcel Renata
  4. James Tucker
  5. Anton Segner
  6. Sam Nock
  7. Stephen Perofeta
  8. AJ Lam/Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens

Players not considered: Beauden Barrett, Sam Darry, Alex Hodgman, Dalton Papali’i, Tanielu Telea

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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TRENDING Marcus Smith on that substitution and his England plea Marcus Smith on that substitution and his England plea
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