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TJ Faiane handed captain's armband for beach-side pre-season derby with Chiefs

(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

TJ Faiane’s professional career may have hit a few roadblocks along the way, but the young midfielder is now going from strength to strength and will captain the Blues in their first pre-season match of the year, against the Chiefs in Waihi.

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Waihi Athletic Rugby Club will host the derby, with the Blues naming a 35-man strong side to compete with their local rivals.

The Blues earned their first regular-season victory over the Chiefs in eight years when they bested their southern neighbours at Eden Park in 2019.

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Despite that unflattering record, the Blues have had the wood over the Chiefs in pre-season matches in recent times, with the Blues winning their three hit-outs in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Faiane, who only made his Super Rugby debut in 2017, won’t be phased by the hoodoo and will run out on Friday knowing he’s already taken charge of a number of his fellow Blues during the last two provincial seasons as captain of Auckland.

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The Blues have not yet officially appointed a captain for the season ahead but Blake Gibson and Patrick Tuipulotu have both served that role in the past. Gibson will also start in Friday’s match and therefore looks to have been usurped by Faiane, but Tuipulotu won’t make his return until the first official round of Super Rugby at the earliest. Somewhat ironically, the Blues will also be going up against the Chiefs in that game.

The other area of interest sees Otere Black get the first chance to impress in the 10 jerey. He will contest the first five role with Harry Plummer and Stephen Perofeta (both on the bench), as well as Beauden Barrett, upon his arrival to the Blues in April.

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Blues: Matt Duffie, Mark Telea, Tamati Tua, TJ Faiane (c), AJ Lame, Otere Black, Jonathan Ruru, Akira Ioane, Blake Gibson, Waiman Riedlinger-Kapa, James Tucker, Jacob Pierce, Marcel Renata, Kurt Eklund, Alex Hodgman.

Reserves:

Ezekiel Lindenmuth, Tevita Mafileo, Ray Niuia, Luteru Tolai/ Soane Vikena, Sam Caird, Aaron Carroll, Josh Goodhue, Dalton Papalii, Tom Robinson, Tony Lamborn, Hoskins Sotutu, Sam Nock, Lewis Gjaltema, Stephen Perofeta, Jordan Hyland, Harry Plummer, Tanielu Tele’a, Joe Marchant, Emoni Narawa, Zarn Sullivan.

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AM 9 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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