All the action as the Blues host the Chiefs in round one of Super Rugby Pacific, from Eden Park.
Blues team to face Chiefs
All Blacks duo Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Stephen Perofeta will make their long awaited Super Rugby Pacific returns after being named in Vern Cotter’s starting side.
Tu’ungafasi is making his comeback from neck surgery last March, while Perofeta has been sidelined with calf issues since last May.
Loose forward Torian Barnes has emerged as a shock bolter after being named to make his Super Rugby Pacific debut at blindside flanker, where he will team up with captain Dalton Papali’i and Hoskins Sotutu.
Hooker Bradley Slater will make his club debut at hooker while winger Codemeru Vai is in line for his first Super Rugby Pacific match off the bench.
Regular captain Patrick Tuipulotu remains sidelined, while Beauden Barrett continues his high-performance return to play schedule.
Blues: 1. Joshua Fusitu’a, 2. Bradley Slater, 3. Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 4. Sam Darry, 5. Josh Beehre, 6. Torian Barnes, 7. Dalton Papali’i (c), 8. Hoskins Sotutu 9. Finlay Christie 10. Stephen Perofeta, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Pita Ahki, 13. AJ Lam, 14. Cole Forbes, 15. Zarn Sullivan.
Bench: 16. James Mullan, 17. Mason Tupaea, 18. Marcel Renata, 19. Laghlan McWhannell, 20. Anton Segner, 21. Sam Nock, 22. Xavi Taele, 23. Codemeru Vai.
Unavailable: Cameron Christie (knee - season), Corey Evans (ankle), Jordan Lay (concussion), Payton Spencer (concussion), Patrick Tuipulotu (shoulder), Malachi Wrampling (concussion).
Chiefs team to face Blues
New head coach Jono Gibbes has named four debutants for the Chiefs, highlighted by the inclusion of Kyren Taumoefolau on the right wing.
Taumoefolau joined the Chiefs after three years at Moana Pasifika, while Kyle Brown, Benet Kumeroa and Tepaea Cook-Savage will make their Super Rugby Pacific debuts from the bench.
The Chiefs have named several of their All Blacks with Samisoni Taukei’aho, Josh Lord, Tupou Vaa’i, Jacobson and Quinn Tupaea in the starting side, while Samipeni Finau and Cortez Ratima are on the bench.
Damian McKenzie was not considered after the birth of his first child last week.
Chiefs: 1. Jared Proffit, 2. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3. George Dyer, 4. Josh Lord, 5. Tupou Vaa’i (vc), 6. Kaylum Bosher, 7. Jahrome Brown, 8. Luke Jacobson (c), 9. Xavier Roe, 10. Josh Jacomb, 11. Liam Coombes-Fabling, 12. Quinn Tupaea (vc), 13. Daniel Rona, 14. Kyren Taumoefolau, 15. Etene Nanai-Seturo.
Bench: 16. Tyrone Thompson, 17. Benet Kumeroa, 18. Reuben O’Neill, 19. Seuseu Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20. Samipeni Finau, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Tepaea Cook-Savage, 23. Kyle Brown.
Unavailable: Brodie McAlister (broken hand - four weeks), Lalakai Foketi (knee - two weeks), Sione Ahio (ankle sprain - TBC), Issac Hutchinson (knee - eight weeks).