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Sonny Bill Williams returns for the Blues for Hurricanes derby match

Sonny Bill Williams offloads the ball. Photo by Renee McKay/Getty Images

A number of key All Blacks will return for the Blues for their final match of the season against the Hurricanes in Wellington.

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Rieko Ioane and Patrick Tuipulotu will suit up on the wing and at lock after sitting out last week’s match with the Reds due to the All Blacks resting policy. More surprising is the return of Sonny Bill Williams, who has been absent since round seven due to a knee injury.

Ofa Tu’ungafasi will sit out the match and Karl Tu’inukuafe’s absence through illness also continues (though RugbyPass understands that he is back training with the squad), meaning Alex Hodgman and Marcel Renata will flank the experienced James Parsons in the front row.

The halves combination of Augustine Pulu and Otere Black is retained from last weekend, after the Jonathan Ruru/Harry Plummer combination was favoured for most of the season. Former All Black Pulu will make his final appearance before heading off to Japan.

Willimas will partner 20-year-old Tanielu Tele’a in the midfield. TJ Faiane, who has started in every game this year, sits out the match with a hand injury.

Ma’a Nonu, one of the Blues’ best for 2019, will add his energy off the bench. Both Nonu and Williams could be their final games for the Blues.

Ioane will be joined in the back three by the returning Caleb Clarke and the soon departing Melani Nanai.

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“Clearly last week was gutting for the whole team but it’s important we put that behind us and focus on this opportunity,” said coach Leon MacDonald. “We played some excellent rugby last week and some not-so-good, so we know that a complete performance is within our grasp.

“We owe it to ourselves, after a season of such hard work and dedication, to enjoy the opportunity to execute like we know we can.”

Blues: Melani Nanai, Caleb Clarke, Tanielu Tele’a, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Otere Black, Augustine Pulu, Akira Ioane, Blake Gibson (c), Dalton Papali’i, Scott Scrafton, Patrick Tuipulotu, Marcel Renata, James Parsons, Alex Hodgman. Reserves: Leni Apisai, Hisa Sasagi, Lua Li, Tom Robinson, Josh Goodhue, Jonathan Ruru, Harry Plummer, Ma’a Nonu.

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AM 42 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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