The Blues are gearing up for a home stadium clash. Photo / Photosport
The start of the 2021 season has been filled with obstacles for the Blues but a return to home comforts, and the potential for a bumper crowd, could be just reward for a team on the rise.
Two weeks ago Leon MacDonald's men kicked off their campaign with a rusty round one win over the Hurricanes in Wellington, only to discover post-match they would spend the next seven days outside Auckland to avoid lockdown.
The team took that setback in their stride, with some players taking the chance to tackle the Whangamata surf, before resuming training in Cambridge.
Returning from their bye week, the Blues received a significant boost on Friday with welcome news the drop to Covid-19 alert level 1 allows fans to flock to their first home match of the season against the Highlanders at Eden Park on Sunday afternoon.
The Blues last lost at Eden Park over a year ago, and with the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy on the line they are intent on preserving that record.
"We've planned all week we were going to be at level 1 so it's great for the country," Blues forwards coach Tom Coventry said. "Good on Auckland for getting its act together and looking after the virus. We're stoked."
Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu, set to be partnered by rookie lock Sam Darry against the Highlanders, expects a healthy turnout.
"Hopefully we'll see a full Eden Park," Tuipulotu said. "It's understandable if we don't - people are still sketchy and there's a lot of danger out there in the unknown, but it will be great for us to get a crowd. It's a different atmosphere when we get our fans at Eden Park."
The Blues have made five starting changes - four in their tight-five - to the side that defeated the Hurricanes 24-15.
Darry, as revealed by the Herald on Wednesday, will start on debut. The 20-year-old, 2.03 metre lock has impressed Coventry since making the surprise move to ditch the Crusaders, after spending two years in their academy, and shift to Auckland.
In starting alongside All Blacks lock Tuipulotu, Darry pushes Gerard Cowley-Tuioti to the bench.
"Sam has had a marvellous preseason so he's earned the right on merit to have a crack," Coventry said. "We're looking forward to his performance. He's a really conscious young man. He does his homework, he works hard on and off the field so it's a process of getting him on the grass so we can develop him even further."
Elsewhere the Blues rotate their stacked front-row with All Blacks props Ofa Tuungafasi and Karl Tu'inukuafe trading places with James Lay and Nepo Laulala. Luteru Tolai makes his starting debut at hooker, with Kurt Eklund switching to the bench.
The other tweak involves Jonathan Ruru's promotion to replace Sam Nock at halfback. With Finlay Christie, the Blues best halfback, nearing a return from a calf injury, both nines are on notice.
Coventry noted comments from Highlanders assistant coach Clarke Dermody in which he labelled the Blues a South African pack, suggesting they want to slow the contest and walk from set piece to set piece.
"We are big, but we're not as immobile as that was implied," Coventry said. "We can still run and move around the field as well as anyone. I get the implication, but I like to think we're more than a big heavy pack that does one thing well."
The Highlanders arrive in Auckland following a round one home loss to the Crusaders, and their comeback victory over the Chiefs in Hamilton last week when Jona Nareki's hat-trick inspired the southerners to score 26 unanswered points.
While Nareki's efforts stole the spotlight, there's one main area of focus for the Blues to counter.
"We're very aware of where they score their points – I think half came from their lineouts last year," Coventry said. "That's no change. I know Ash [Dixon] had a great season with Hawke's Bay and he fits back into the Highlanders team in the boot there. We've spoken about it, we train that area a lot.
"The maul has become quite big in Super footy again. Teams are getting the craft pretty accurate so we're very conscious of their strength."
In the Covid-19 climate distractions and diversions are the new normal for the Blues.
All the more reason to savour this season's first taste of a sun-drenched Eden Park in front of home fans.
Blues: Stephen Perofeta, Mark Telea, Rieko Ioane, Harry Plummer, Caleb Clarke, Otere Black, Jonathan Ruru, Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papalii, Akira Ioane, Sam Darry, Patrick Tuipulotu (c), Ofa Tuungafasi, Luteru Tolai, Karl Tu'inukuafe.
Reserves: Kurt Eklund, James Lay, Nepo Laulala, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Tom Robinson, Sam Nock, Tanielu Tele'a, Emoni Narawa.
Highlanders: Connor Garden-Bachop, Ngane Punivai, Michael Collins, Sio Tomkinson, Jona Nareki, Josh Ioane, Aaron Smith (c), Hugh Renton, James Lentjes, Shannon Frizell, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Josh Dickson, Siate Tokolahi, Liam Coltman, Ethan De Groot.
Reserves: Ash Dixon, Josh Hohneck, Jeff Thwaites, Bryn Evans, Marino Mikaele Tu'u, Folau Fakatava, Mitch Hunt, Billy Harmon