Blues bring back big names

Blues bring back big names

31 May 2012

Blues coach Pat Lam has made six personnel and two positional changes for the starting team to take on the Chiefs in Albany.

Ma’a Nonu and Ali Williams return at centre and lock respectively while Rene Ranger and Rudi Wulf start after recovering from injuries. There is, however, no recall for Piri Weepu. With Gareth Anscombe out for the remainder of the season, Michael Hobbs takes over at flyhalf.

Meanwhile the Chiefs have also been forced into changes due to injuries. Craig Clarke and Tanerau Latimer are both sidelined, with Michael Fitzgerald replacing the former and Sam Cane the latter.

Elsewhere props Sona Taumalolo and Ben Afeaki start along with hooker Mahonri Schwalger in the front row. In the back division Maritino Nemani takes over from Lelia Masaga at wing. Lock Romana Graham gets his first call up for the season on the bench and is joined by loose forward Scott Waldrom and hooker Hika Elliot.

Blues - 15 Rudi Wulf, 14 Lachie Munro, 13 Francis Saili, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Rene Ranger, 10 Michael Hobbs, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Luke Braid (c), 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Liaki Moli, 3 Tevita Mailau, 2 James Parsons, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Subs: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Angus Ta’avao, 18 Filo Paulo, 19 Peter Saili, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Hadleigh Parkes, 22 David Raikuna.

Chiefs - 15 Andrew Horrell, 14 Maritino Nemani, 13 Jackson Willison, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Kane Thompson, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Messam (c), 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Michael Fitzgerald, 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Mahonri Schwalger, 1 Sona Taumalolo.
Subs: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 Ben Tameifuna, 18 Romana Graham, 19 Scott Waldrom, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Robbie Robinson, Lelia Masaga


9 Comments

  • 1.ufo: Reply to this comment
    31 May 2012, 08:44 am

    So why don’t we release the team lists under the the Super Rugby Teams Round 15 thread…?

    Are we going to have 13 threads for this…? one for each team list and one for Round 15?

  • 2.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    31 May 2012, 08:58 am

    poor pat(sy) dragons.

    either he’s trully as usless and pathetic as it looks right now, as a coach. and all this is just wild highway drivin u-turn 180′s…

    or there’s in truth just that bit more to him and he is now organising for a ‘fighting retreat’… with honour and dignity, if there’s any to be had, in the unforgiving face of the unrelenting assault that is super rugby warfare.

  • 3.stormer in a teacup: Reply to this comment
    31 May 2012, 09:05 am

    From the General Custer playbook.

  • 4.gonzo: Reply to this comment
    31 May 2012, 09:35 am

    It sounds like Anthony Boric’s injury is bad enough he’s considering retiring. Pretty unfortunate for a young lad with plenty of potential. The Blues will miss him too

  • 5.whatever: Reply to this comment
    31 May 2012, 09:43 am

    Looking forward to the “money bill” v Nonu clash, should be good.

  • 6.houston, we have a problem...: Reply to this comment
    31 May 2012, 10:43 am

    @stormer in a teacup(stormer in a teacup)-3:
    hehe
    exactly

  • 7.Brigadier Van Zyl: Reply to this comment
    31 May 2012, 11:17 am

    would be a little funny if the blues win this one..

  • 8.viewer: Reply to this comment
    31 May 2012, 12:25 pm

    The blues are nowhere this year. It takes a lot to make nonu & woodcock virtually anonymous

  • 9.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    31 May 2012, 14:10 pm

    Is this the Blues big game? They have stuffed my Superbru onslaught up royally this year – yet out of blind loyalty to fave Kiwi team, I continue and will continue to pick them as winners…. Going to be a potentially sh y te weekend on Bru. Stormers and Blues to win – 2 down.

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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