Blues
29
Match Complete
Chiefs
37
| 80 |  | A. Cruden | ||
| H. Plummer | | 77 | ||
| 74 |  | A. Cruden | ||
| 68 |  | S. Alaimalo | ||
| 65 |  | A. Cruden | ||
| 64 | | A. Ross | ||
| S. Perofeta | | 57 | ||
| K. Tu'inukuafe | | 56 | ||
| 51 | | A. Cruden | ||
| 50 | | P. Sowakula | ||
| 46 | | A. Cruden | ||
| 45 | | S. Taukei'aho | ||
| S. Perofeta | | 41 | ||
| R. Ioane | | 40 | ||
| 35 | | S. Taukei'aho | ||
| S. Perofeta | | 27 | ||
| R. Ioane | | 27 | ||
| T. Lamborn | | 16 |
| 4 | Tries | 5 | ||
| 3 | Conversions | 3 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 1 |
The 25th season of Super Rugby kicks off tonight in Auckland, where the Blues will host the Chiefs. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog from 5:05pm (AEDT).
The Blues haven’t played finals since 2011, and their best finish since then was ninth. Post World Cup exoduses are nothing new, but this year the Blues and Chiefs are the beneficiaries of that. The Highlanders have lost plenty of experience, the Hurricanes have lost Beauden Barrett, and the Crusaders have lost All Blacks captain Kieran Read.
Last season was disappointing for the men in blue. They dropped their first three, and after tallying up four wins on the trot early on, they won just a single game from their next nine. The Chiefs claimed seven wins, but had seven losses, with two draws as well.
In these sides’ last meeting – a 23-8 win for the Blues – the Aucklanders snapped a 15-game winless streak against their local rivals.
In team news, despite it only being the first game of the year, All Blacks Nathan Harris and Luke Jacobson are unavailable for what is otherwise a strong Chiefs forward pack that features Sam Cane, Tyler Ardron and Nepo Laulala.
Both sides will run on without their first choice flyhalf. Aaron Cruden will start on the bench alongside Brad Weber, while Beauden Barrett won’t be available for the Blues until April due to a sabbatical.
England centre Joe Marchant will start at 13 for Leon MacDonald’s team, while Akira Ioane has been left out of the 23.
Prediction
These sides are pretty evenly matched one to 15, but the Chiefs have the goods on the bench. Cruden could well be the difference when he comes onto the field against the much less experienced Stephen Perofeta.
Chiefs by six.
Make sure to join The Roar for live scores and a blog of this game from 5:05pm (AEDT).
Game information
Venue: Eden Park
Time: 5:05pm (AEDT)
Referee: Angus Gardner
Odds: Blues $2.25, Chiefs $1.65
TV: Fox Sports
Last five meetings: Blues 23-8, Chiefs 33-29, Chiefs 21-19, Chiefs 27-21, draw 16-16
Team lists
Blues
Alex Hodgman, Kurt Eklund, Sione Mafileo, Patrick Tuipulotu, Tom Robinson, Dalton Papalii, Tony Lamborn, Hoskins Sotutu, Jonathan Ruru, Stephen Perofeta, Rieko Ioane, TJ Faiane, Joe Marchant, Mark Telea, Matt Duffie. Reserves: Ray Niuia, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi, Josh Goodhue, Blake Gibson, Sam Nock, Harry Plummer, Emoni Narawa.
Chiefs
Aidan Ross, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Nepo Laulala, Tyler Ardron, Mitch Brown, Lahlan Boshier, Mitch Kaapik, Sam Cane, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Kaleb Trask, Solomon Alaimalo, Alex Nankivell, Quinn Tupaea, Sean Wainui, Damian McKenzie. Reserves: Bradley Slater, Atu Moli, Angus Taavao, Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Pita Gus Sowakula, Brad Weber, Aaron Cruden, Anton Lienert-Brown.
Drew
Roar Rookie
Tend to agree. The Blues are just so hot and cold. I don't think I'd have any hair left if they were my team. Surely Barrett will have to make a difference when he returns.
Drew
Roar Rookie
Agree re: L. Boshier. What a great game from him.
Old Bugger
Guest
Sheeesh!!! Talk about "shaking out the cobwebs" except it took the Chiefs a millennium, to do so. Seemed like the nightmare of last year's start, was gonna happen again until the "Little General", entered the fray. Gats has a problem with these kinds of starts but his HT team-talk seems to be on-track. However, his biggest problem will be the scrum and after last night, it will be a haunting nightmare for him and his forwards if, there looks to be no improvement(s), over these next early rounds. BTW, is there something in the Hamilton water because for as long as I can recall, the Chiefs always seem to suffer injuries to their propping stocks, early in the season??? A fair start for the Chiefs but not, one for the memory books....wake up lads otherwise you'll be chasing your opponents all season and that's not good cos the opposition, need to be chasing you.
Uriah Heep
Roar Rookie
There are a few patchy things in the Blues’ game but the biggest and most enduring is the lack of mental fitness IMO – this might be connected to aerobic fitness for some individuals as well. The seem to have no mental staying power or resilience. It must be difficult supporting this side. They also don’t look like they’ve been taught to defend mauls – or are they simply not listening to their coaches ? Sotutu was pretty impressive. Perhaps he should come home to Canterbury though ???? Or ship Arika down here – it may be what he needs.
Mark
Guest
Another embarrassing performance from the Blues The same as every other game for the last 17 years The exact same performance - the exact same result The same never achieved anything coach - the same result The Blues have the largest player and commercial base and this rubbish is the best they can produce - they should dominate the NZ conference Heads should roll - but they won't - because if the NZRU thinks Foster is the best option for the AB's you can guarantee they have zero clue about the Blues Worst run sporting organisation in the world Still no 1st Five Still no Halfback Rubbish at Fullback A Forward pack that still can't defend mauls - how long as this existed - 10 years plus What a joke
WithTheDawn
Roar Rookie
Nailed it!
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Thanx mate and fyi 2020 is my year in the Chinese calendar, a RAT year. :silly: :silly: :silly:
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Tell me about it ...
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
HNY Thugby ...
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Great game of NZ rugby, tough forward play and scintillating backs cutting you to pieces on every error. I'll go with Highlander here that L.Boshier was awesome as was S.Cane and the Chiefs sure played good footy once A.Cruden was back in the driving seat. It was nice to see Reiko Ioane back eating meat pies and the two Blue locks were pretty impressive also. For mine unless the Euro attracts him then R.Ioane will soon hold the all-time try scoring SR record, (TJ.Parenara likely get it this year but RI soon after) the bloke is a freak.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
If this is a harbinger of what's to come... Bring it on.
Tom English
Roar Guru
Awesome game, thanks for joining me Roarers!
Uriah Heep
Roar Rookie
How did the Blues lose that ? Don't answer - it's a rhetorical question.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
On a train to Waterloo so not watching. Was heat a factor? Players tiring?
Highlander
Guest
Man of the match surely, both sides of the ball, Lachlan Boshier, once they get Jacobsen back the Chiefs are going to have huge loose forward depth. Better from the Blues overall, boy that 9-10 axis remains the big issue Well done to Angus Gardner, if you referee the entry and second effort at the breakdown according to the laws, we get a far better spectacle.
Tom English
Roar Guru
Cruden gets it! Chiefs win it by 8! FULLTIME Blues 29 Chiefs 37
80
Tom English
Roar Guru
They'll look for goal. What a game to start our season – how good, Super Rugby's back!! 81' – final play. Blues 29 Chiefs 34
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
My tip is Chiefs by 5
Tom English
Roar Guru
Two minutes left apparently, Goodhue claims the kickoff. Wide to Faiane, he gets away from one, two. Sotutu on a hefty run! Blues still with it, Duffie takes it – Boshier wins the penalty, the game for his team, and the man-of-the-match as well! I'd think. Chiefs won't drop it from here! 79' Blues 29 Chiefs 34