Blues
55
Match Complete
NSW Waratahs
21
| B. Barrett |  | 74 | ||
| C. Suafoa |  | 74 | ||
| 72 | | J. Bowen | ||
| 72 | | T. Wilson | ||
| B. Barrett | | 64 | ||
| S. Darry | | 63 | ||
| 60 | | B. Donaldson | ||
| 60 | | D. Pietsch | ||
| B. Barrett | | 56 | ||
| C. Clarke | | 55 | ||
| B. Barrett | | 51 | ||
| R. Riccitelli | | 50 | ||
| B. Barrett | | 44 | ||
| Z. Sullivan | | 44 | ||
| B. Barrett | | 29 | ||
| Z. Sullivan | | 28 | ||
| 18 | | B. Donaldson | ||
| 17 | | M. Vailanu | ||
| S. Perofeta |  | 8 | ||
| S. Perofeta | | 0 | ||
| S. Perofeta | | 0 | ||
| R. Riccitelli | | 0 |
| 7 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 7 | Conversions | 3 | ||
| 2 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
An understrength New South Wales Waratahs head across the Tasman to take on the Blues in Auckland. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5pm (AEST).
The Waratahs have spun up the booby prize this week as a mix of Wallabies resting protocols and the suspension of Lachie Swinton leaving coach Darren Coleman to make six changes for this important clash.
After an impressive win over the Force, it will be important to maintain their momentum given their ladder position and it will be interesting to see if they can do so with Michael Hooper, Lalakai Foketi and Mark Nawaqanitawase having the week off. Hunter Ward takes the seven jersey ahead of the returning Charlie Gamble who is making his return from a shoulder injury via the bench.
Joey Walton gets the nod at inside centre and Harry Wilson slots in at fullback. Max Jorgensen reverts back to the right wing and will be giving away plenty of weight against Caleb Clarke.
Newly signed prop Nephi Leatigaga from Leicester is straight into the matchday 23 and alongside two other potential debutants in Michael Icely and Jack Bowen.
The Blues are coming off the bye and sit in fifth place on the ladder and looking to close the gap on the Crusaders. The return fixture came down to the wire last year and it took some brilliance from Beauden Barrett to get the Blues over the line to make it seven wins in a row over the Waratahs.
Even with Dalton Papali’I out, the backrow trio of Anton Segner, Adrian Choat and Hoskins Sotutu looks to be an area they will use to gain the upper hand over the Waratahs. They also have Akira Ioane to call on from the bench as he makes his return from a long-term injury.
Beauden Barrett chalks up his 150th Super Rugby game and will be looking to mark the occasion with a big day out. It will take a disciplined effort from the Waratahs to keep him and the star-studded Blues backline quiet. The Blues last game against the Rebels saw them run riot in second half and the likes of Rieko Ioane and Mark Talea will be looking to unleash after a week off.
Prediction
The Blues side looks very strong on paper. It would be one of the all-time upsets if the Waratahs were to get up and it would take a brave person to tip them.
Game information
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 5:05pm (AEST)
Streaming: Stan Sport
Odds: Blues $1.05 Waratahs $12.00 – odds via Playup
Teams
Blues (1-15): Ofa Tuungafasi, Ricky Riccitelli, Nepo Laulala, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Darry, Anton Segner, Adrian Choat, Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Harry Plummer, Rieko Ioane, Mark Telea, Stephen Perofeta.
Replacements: Soane Vikena, Jordan Lay, James Lay, Cameron Suafoa, Akira Ioane, Sam Nock, Bryce Heem, Zarn Sullivan.
Waratahs (1-15): Tom Lambert, Mahe Vailanu, Harry Johnson-Holmes, Jed Holloway, Zac Von Appen, Taleni Seu, Hunter Ward, Will Harris, Jake Gordon, Ben Donaldson, Dylan Pietsch, Joey Walton, Izaia Perese, Max Jorgensen, Harry Wilson.
Replacements: Tolu Latu, Nephi Leatigaga, Daniel Botha, Michael Icely, Charlie Gamble, Teddy Wilson, Jack Bowen, Mosese Tuipulpotu.
Referee: Paul Williams
Sullivan is not a 10
Sullivan is a fullback for the Blues whilst Barett is a 10 for them It is Perofeta who is keeping Sullivan out. As Perofeta will be out for a while Sullivan will get more game time this year and has earned it.
Aim your criticism at the poor headless play by the Waratahs and take off the blinkers. They have slipped back in their so-called recovery and are playing dire rugby. Their depth is definitely shallow and all is not well at the Tahs.
Good question Don M.
So the Highlanders have been done over by Kiwi refs? Well if they have been then Australian ref Reds Berry upped it by quite a bit. Could it be that it's not the refs but dumb play by the Highlanders? You might need to read what the coach of the Highlanders said. It wasn't Berry he criticised but his own team. Coach Dermody had no problems with Berry's decisions. So are the Highlanders' slow learners because they have been caned by NZ referees and now Australian referees are also getting into them. Seems they are serial offenders and if they continue this they will end up near the bottom of the competition. Going on how some of the Australian teams are playing this could be very embarrassing. So they need to clean up their act very quickly.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
There are other formats that could make Super rugby relevant, resonant and competent. A full 5 (or more) team Oz conference shoot out, before a top 2 and Best of the Rest Team (developed by the WB coaching team) to make up a 3 team challenge of NZ, Pacifica (and Japanese?) teams. At club level - the Premier Club phase, a short term NRC drawn from regional representative catchments (ie no region ‘hopping’ by club players, they play for the region their club is in). We need to distill our offering to NZ contests. NZ wants us to only send 3 teams. Let one (or two) of them be Best of the Rest squad(s) under the purview of national coaches, as a pre-Wallaby development phase. Keep all ‘Super’ franchises intact except for short inter-conference finals phase.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
>We simply can’t beat kiwi sides, that’s not just tge Tahs but every franchise. We can’t even compete. Not sure that I can agree with you on this.
KiwiHaydn
Roar Rookie
Same. Highlanders really lacking depth and not the same team without A Smith
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
I know you were joking! And yes, Force/Highlanders was always going to be close. Sadly I was hoping for a Highlanders win!
The Late News
Roar Rookie
You fn beauty! The A is in Anzac this year!!
Atlas
Roar Rookie
I'm dreading the impact on snooker when colour limits are enforced
Tom G
Roar Rookie
I’d say that was embarrassing but that is becoming repetitive right now. We simply can’t beat kiwi sides, that’s not just tge Tahs but every franchise. We can’t even compete. Rugby Australia needs to be dismantled and rebuilt. They are ultimately responsible for the demise of this once great comp. This last decade has been painful almost unwatchable as zero investment is made in the game .This current clown show headed by that big useless limp is the worst of all.. obsessing about NRL recruits and trolling V’Landys is not what is needed from leadership.
TC
Roar Rookie
KiwiHaydn we can call it LIV Rugby :silly:
TC
Roar Rookie
KiwiHaydn those Highlanders have been Bent over by Kiwi Refs for long enough..They can play and probably win Our Comp ..Love The Highlanders..Might be their Maroon Colours ..Adam Thomson was Class at the Reds in 2015, exactly the type of player Aussie teams can learn from
KiwiHaydn
Roar Rookie
Does get the Rugby community out of the North Shore occasionally :laughing:
Brumby Jack's acquaintance
Roar Rookie
And we can take a game or two to the SFS for the benefit of the "regional areas"
Brumby Jack's acquaintance
Roar Rookie
Wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy :laughing: Hasn't Thorn been through enough?
Wig
Roar Rookie
yea he is like that :laughing: :thumbup:
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Thanks Pinetree... wow those are some big scores...
Emery Ambrose
Roar Rookie
I literally just read that online!