Rugby: Ioane brothers start, Moala and Ranger on bench for Blues

Rene Ranger of the Blues on the charge. Photo / Photosport.co.nz

Blues coach Tana Umaga has named All Black Rieko Ioane at centre but has kept George Moala and Rene Ranger on the reserves bench for his team's opening Super Rugby match against the Rebels in Melbourne on Thursday night.

Ioane's brother Akira, Steven Luatua and Blake Gibson make up the loose forwards in a relatively inexperienced starting line-up which sees lock Jimmy Tupou handed the captaincy.

Former Chiefs halfback Augustine Pulu wins the No9 jersey, with Ihaia West starting at first-five. Former Otago player Michael Collins, who has impressed in pre-season, starts at fullback.

In selecting a relatively youthful team, Umaga's hand has been forced by injury to a large extent, with James Parsons, Billy Guyton, Declan O'Donnell, Stephen Perofeta and Sonny Bill Williams all recovering from injury, and All Blacks lock Patrick Tuipulotu and loose forward Jerome Kaino only just back with the squad.

The naming of the experienced midfielders Moala and Ranger on the bench is also injury-related, with the pair not yet fully up to speed following respective elbow and knee injuries.

All Black prop Charlie Faumuina is on the bench, a boost for the Blues who today lost fellow front rower Alex Hodgman to an ankle injury.

There will be interest in particular in the performance of 19-year-old Rieko Ioane, who played two tests for the All Blacks on the November tour. The tall and powerful Ioane has mainly played on the wing for the Blues but his preference is to play in the midfield.

If he holds on to the No13 jersey by the time Williams returns from his Achilles injury in April, the Blues midfield will be a handful for any defence.

Blues team to play the Rebels at AAMI Park, Melbourne, on Thursday, kick-off 9.40pm NZT is:

15. Michael Collins
14. Matt Duffie
13. Rieko Ioane
12. Piers Francis
11. Melani Nanai
10. Ihaia West
9. Augustine Pulu
8. Akira Ioane
7. Blake Gibson
6. Steven Luatua
5. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
4. Jimmy Tupou (c)
3. Sione Mafileo
2. Matt Moulds
1. Pauliasi Manu
Reserves: Hame Faiva, Sam Prattley, Charlie Faumuina, Scott Scrafton, Murphy Taramai, Sam Nock, George Moala, Rene Ranger.