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Blues
20
Match Complete
Brumbies
19
| 77 |  | N. Lolesio | ||
| 75 |  | L. Lonergan | ||
| 58 | | L. Lonergan | ||
| S. Perofeta | | 35 | ||
| M. Telea | | 33 | ||
| S. Perofeta | | 23 | ||
| H. Sotutu | | 22 | ||
| S. Perofeta |  | 20 | ||
| S. Perofeta | | 9 | ||
| 3 | | N. Lolesio | ||
| 2 | | I. Simone |
| 2 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 2 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
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A grand final spot is up for grabs when the Blues and Brumbies meet in the second Super Rugby Pacific semi-final. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5:05pm AEST.
The Brumbies’ chances of overcoming the rampant Blues received a setback with Test centre Len Ikitau banned for his red card last week.
Ikitau was sent off for a high hit on Hurricanes flyhalf Aidan Morgan during the Brumbies’ 35-25 victory on Saturday.
Ikitau is banned for three weeks, but only two games because he has chosen to undertake coaching intervention.
Brumbies head coach, Dan McKellar said Ikitau was “shattered”.
“It’s the way game is headed with high contact,” McKellar said. “We thought there were mitigating factors, the judicial panel didn’t, so unfortunately he misses out the remainder of our season.
“He’s shattered. really disappointed. He’s never had a yellow card in his career so to get a red card and be ruled out of the two biggest games of the year is difficult for him to take.”
“He understands his role now is to help Ollie and the backs defensively as he always does.”
McKellar said Ikitau was “outstanding delivering his thoughts on the incident.
In more encouraging news for the Brumbies, Rob Valetini returns from injury at No.8 in what, Ikitau apart, is a full strength lineup.
The Blues named their team on Thursday with three starting changes.
Nepo Laulala replaces Ofa Tuungafasi at prop, AJ Lam comes onto the left wing following Bryce Heem’s head knock, and Josh Goodhue will start at lock.
The Blues have four locks in their 23 due to the absences of loose forwards Dalton Papalii and Anton Segner.
The Brumbies found joy at the breakdown, successfully slowing down the Blues’ ruck speed, while setting the Kiwis on the back foot through use of their rolling maul weapon.
“They were up for it,” Coventry told reporters.
“They were playing as close to the law as they could to keep themselves in the game. Physicality at the breakdown is what most teams crave and they were after that. They played on the edge, and they got penalised for it. This week I’m sure they would’ve talked about their discipline and I’m sure they’ll be better there.
“We had three guys held up over the line so we were responsible for not finishing off as well. We’ll start from scratch again.
Prediction
It is tough to look past the Blues in this one, with point-scoring potential in the back line likely to bust open the Brumby defence on regular occasions.
Holding the middle of the field is a must for the visitors should they hope to remain in the game deep into the second half. However, doing so and defending far more aggressively than they did across those three late-season losses could see the Brumbies in with a chance for what would be a significant upset.
Yet the Blues’ form cannot be ignored, and off the back of class in the halves and an explosive centre pairing, the home side should stamp their authority in this one quite early.
Venue: Eden Park
Kick-off: 5:05pm (AEST)
Live stream: Stan Sport
Betting: Blues $1.14, Brumbies $5.75 – odds via PlayUp
BLUES (1-15): Alex Hodgman, Kurt Eklund, Nepo Laulala, Josh Goodhue, Tom Robinson, Akira Ioane, Adrian Choat, Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett (c), Mark Telea, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Rieko Ioane, AJ Lam, Stephen Perofeta.
RESERVES: Soane Vikena, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi, Luke Romano, James Tucker, Sam Nock, Tamati Tua, Zarn Sullivan.
BRUMBIES (1-15): James Slipper, Folau Fainga’a, Allan Alaalatoa, Darcy Swain, Caderyn Neville, Tom Hooper, Pete Samu, Rob Valetini, Nic White, Noah Lolesio, Andy Muirhead, Irae Simone, Ollie Sapsford, Tom Wright, Tom Banks.
RESERVES: Lachlan Lonergan, Scott Sio, Sefo Kautai, Nick Frost, Luke Reimer, Jahrome Brown, Ryan Lonergan, Hudson Creighton.
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