The Blues have assembled a strong squad, but one with question marks still remaining around that crucial 9-10 axis.
Much will depend on how 2014 NZ Schools halfback and Taniwha rep Sam Nock makes the transition to Super Rugby. He has clear talent but his form was down playing ina winless Northland side. North Harbour captain Bryn Hall will need to up the ante, with Billy Guyton of Tasman providing back-up.
If first five Ihaia West continues his Hawke's Bay form, then he should be able to erase a difficult first half of 2015, when his confidence waned. Dan Bowden, who missed all of the ITM Cup with injury, will be keen to prove himself again, while Piers Francis was a solid performer for Counties Manukau but we await how he goes at the higher level.
A midfield of George Moala and Rene Ranger looks potentially threatening to all opposition defences, whilst Blues fans would love to see 2016 as the full flowering of the inconsistent wing Tevita Li. Rieko Ioane, like Nock, was signed while still at school, and found it tough to break into the Auckland backs, but he is a brilliant young 18-year-old with pace to burn. Matt Duffie makes the shift from league, while fullback Jordan Trainor returns home to where he was schooled at St Peter's College.
The pack will offer plenty of punch, with 20-year-old Akira Ioane expected to continue his powerhouse ITM Cup form. Blake Gibson, who endured an injury-hit ITM Cup, should shoulder most of the openside duties, while Steven Luatua returns from a long layoff. It was good to see Joe Edwards win a late call-up on the back of some sterling form for Auckland.
Patrick Tuipulotu is also back from injury, to be joined in the second-row by either Josh Bekhuis, Scott Scrafton or Gerard Tuioti-Mariner. Charlie Faumuina will anchor the front-row.
Auckland hooker Greg Pleasants-Tate was unlucky to miss the cut, but was picked up by the Highlanders.
An interesting feature of the Blues is the high number of Northland and North Harbour players (16) given their lowly positions (fifth and last) on the ITM Championship tables. "We have probably picked more young guys than the other Super sides and those selections have been challenging because there are so many young players who have played well in the ITM Cup, but we just can't pick them all," said Blues head coach Tana Umaga.
But after a disastrous 14th position in 2015, the Blues look equipped to at least push up into the top half of the log.
Outside backs: Melani Nanai (Auckland) Lolagi Visinia (Auckland) Matt Duffie (North Harbour) Jordan Trainor (Waikato) Tevita Li (North Harbour) Ben Lam (Auckland) Midfielders: George Moala (Auckland) TJ Faiane (Auckland) Michael Little (North Harbour) Rene Ranger (North Harbour) Rieko Ioane (Auckland)
First fives: Ihaia West (Hawke's Bay) Matt McGahan (North Harbour) Dan Bowden (Northland) Piers Francis (Counties Manukau) Halfbacks: Bryn Hall (North Harbour) Sam Nock (Northland) Billy Guyton (Tasman) Loose forwards: Jerome Kaino (Auckland) Blake Gibson (Auckland) Kara Pryor (Northland) Jack Ram (Northland) Steven Luatua (Auckland) Akira Ioane (Auckland) Joe Edwards (Auckland)
Locks: Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland) Gerard Tuioti-Mariner (North Harbour) Hoani Matenga (Wellington) Josh Bekhuis (Southland) Scott Scrafton (Auckland)
Props: Nic Mayhew (North Harbour) Sam Prattley (Auckland) Charlie Faumuina (Auckland) Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Auckland) Sione Mafileo (North Harbour) Namatahi Waa (Northland)
Hookers: James Parsons (North Harbour) Matt Moulds (Northland) Quentin MacDonald (Tasman)
