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The Blues got their first win of the 2019 Super Rugby season on Saturday, knocking over the Sunwolves by eight points at North Harbour Stadium.
Final score
Blues 28
Sunwolves 20
After a stunning victory last week the Sunwolves will have the chance to make it two wins in a row on New Zealand soil when they play the Blues. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 5:35pm AEDT.
Not too long ago, if the Sunwolves were taking on a team from the prestigious New Zealand conference, especially away from home, you’d be backing the Kiwi team by 30 plus.
Given the Japanese team are coming off a stunning upset over the Chiefs last weekend, and that the Blues are floundering back from a flat loss in Argentina, and of course the past history between these two sides, we have a game on our hands.
Firstly: the Sunwolves. While the Chiefs were nowhere near their best (or were they), the Sunwolves didn’t have to defeat a fully firing NZ side. However, from the second minute of play, the visitors were leading, and never looked like losing, in a comfortable victory.
The Blues struggled against the Jaguares, and were edged out by an unconvincing Argentine team. Home ground advantage (you know, the thing where you don’t have to travel) is a myth for this game, the hosts having travelled 10,348 km while the visitors took a short 88 km trip from Waikato.
Also, while the Blues ground out a victory, 24-10, in these clubs’ last meeting, before that the Sunwolves demolished the Aucklanders, 48-21 in Tokyo.
In team news: some shake-ups happen at the Blues, with Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Patrick Tuipolotu dropped from the team, with those nightmarish All Black resting rules the culprit. Blake Gibson will run out with seven on his back, Sonny Bill Williams will skipper the team from inside centre, as Ma’a Nonu is dropped from the side.
Jason Gates misses the Sunwolves’ 23, Semisi Masirewa will play fullback, and Jason Emery moves across to 13.
Surprisingly, Hayden Parker won’t fit into the starting side, rather he’ll watch on as Rikiya Matsuda and Jamie Booth run the show. Luke Thompson will be rested, and Uwe Helu will play from the bench tonight, as James Moore and Tom Rowe start.
Prediction
After the Sunwolves romping win last Saturday, there’s no reason why they can’t beat the Blues this evening.
Sunwolves by 7.
Time: 5:35pm AEDT.
Venue: North Harbour Stadium.
Referee: Mike Fraser.
TV: Fox Sports More.
Blues
1 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 2 James Parsons, 3 Sione Mafileo, 4 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 5 Josh Goodhue, 6 Tom Robinson, 7 Blake Gibson, 8 Akira Ioane, 9 Augustine Pulu, 10 Harry Plummer, 11 Rieko Ioane, 12 Sonny Bill Williams ©, 13 TJ Faiane, 14 Tanielu Tele’a, 15 Melani Nanai.
Bench: 16 Matt Moulds, 17 Marcel Renata, 18 Lua Li, 19 Scott Scrafton, 20 Dalton Papalii, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Otere Black, 23 Levi Aumua.
Sunwolves
1. Pauliasi Manu, 2. Atsushi Sakate, 3. Hiroshi Yamashita, 4. Tom Rowe, 5. James Moore, 6. Hendrik Tui, 7. Shuheu Matsuhashi, 8. Rahboni Warren Vosoyaco, 9. Jamie Booth, 10. Rikiya Matsuda, 11. Jamie Henry, 12. Michael Little, 13. Jason Emery, 14. Gerhard van der Heever, 15. Semisi Masirewa.
Bench: 16. Nathan Vella, 17. Alex Woonton, 18. Asaeli Ai Valu, 19. Uwe Helu, 20. Dan Pryor, 21. Keisuke Uchida, 22. Hayden Parker, 23. Phil Burleigh.
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Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.