Rugby: Mealamu named to start in milestone match

Blues Keven Mealamu . Photo / Greg Bowker.

If they Blues need any extra inspiration ahead of their match against the Lions at North Harbour on Saturday, they might just find it in the form of their hooker Keven Mealamu.

The 35-year-old, in his last Super Rugby season, is poised to set a new appearance record by going one ahead of former Wallaby Nathan Sharpe. It will be Mealamu's first match of the year after his late lead-in on All Blacks' orders, and it might tip the balance in the Blues achieving their first win of the season.

Mealamu will start against the Johannesburg-based team for his 163rd appearance in Super Rugby.

Mealamu has been named alongside fellow All Black Charlie Faumuina and Ofa Tu'ungafasi, who gets his first start of the season.

Steven Luatua is back to his regular starting spot in the loose forwards with captain Jerome Kaino and Luke Braid.

Last year's Blues Development player of the year, Melani Nanai, has earned a second start after a useful debut in South Africa as a replacement, to be joined by Frank Halai, who makes his first appearance of the season following rehabilitation from an off-season shoulder operation.

All Black Charles Piutau remains at centre and is paired in the midfield by Francis Saili.

It is a busy weekend for the organisation with several members of the Blues squad expected to be named today in Blues A team to play the Argentina Pampas at Pakuranga FRC on Friday.

The Argentine side is preparing to play in the Pacific Challenge and includes the best home-grown talent including Pumas players Manuel Montero and Tomas Cubelli as they work towards their inclusion into the Super Rugby competition next year.

Saturday afternoon will feature the Blues Secondary Schools Invitational 10s Tournament at QBE Stadium, where 16 high schools compete in the 10-a-side competition.

The competing teams are high schools from Orewa, Otahuhu, Whangarei, Papatoetoe, Aorere, Massey, Kings, Onehunga, Rangitoto, Rosmini, Mt Albert, Tangaroa, Takapuna, Westlake, De La Salle and Kelston.

The semifinals and final will be the official curtain raiser competition to be screened on Sky Television, before the Blues take on the Lions at 7.35pm.

The Blues team to play the Lions at QBE Stadium is: Lolagi Visinia, Frank Halai, Charles Piutau, Francis Saili, Melani Nanai, Ihaia West, Jimmy Cowan, Jerome Kaino (c), Luke Braid, Steven Luatua, Patrick Tuipulotu, Josh Bekhuis, Charlie Faumuina, Keven Mealamu, Ofa Tu'ungafasi. Reserves: James Parsons, Sam Prattley, Angus Ta'avao, Hayden Triggs, Brendon O'Connor, Jamison Gibson-Park, Simon Hickey, Hamish Northcott.