Chiefs
12
Match Complete
Blues
24
71 | M. Telea | |||
68 | B. Barrett | |||
63 | B. Barrett | |||
D. McKenzie | 56 | |||
52 | O. Black | |||
D. McKenzie | 40 | |||
36 | O. Black | |||
D. McKenzie | 20 | |||
14 | O. Black | |||
14 | H. Sotutu | |||
D. McKenzie | 11 |
0 | Tries | 2 | ||
0 | Conversions | 1 | ||
4 | Penalty Goals | 3 | ||
0 | Field Goals | 1 |
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A mouthwatering clash kicks off Round 2 of Super Rugby Aotearoa when the Chiefs host the Blues. Join The Roar for live scores from 5:05pm (AEST).
These sides had contrasting fortunes last week, the Chiefs’ spluttering lineout not helping the cause in their loss to the Highlanders, while the Blues feasted on the Hurricanes’ throwing woes to make it a perfect start to the New Zealand competition in front of their home fans.
This week it’s the Chiefs with hosting privileges, and they’ll be hoping playing in the familiar (and crowded) surrounds of FMG Stadium Waikato will give them an edge.
Another area where they’ll be looking for some improvement is in the halves, with first-five Aaron Cruden coming into the starting side for Kaleb Trask. Cruden was impressive after coming on in the second half against the Landers, and his selection in the run-on side provides a mouthwatering clash of fullback-flyhalf combinations: Cruden and Damian McKenzie for the home side, Otere Black and Beauden Barrett for the Blues.
Neither side have a full-strength pack at their disposal though. Chiefs captain Sam Cane is still not fit to play, still sidelined with a back injury, while the Blues have lost Blake Gibson and Tom Robinson from the team that beat the Hurricanes. Still, in All Blacks pair Dalton Papalii and Akira Ioane, they have a couple of pretty handy replacements for the injured due.
Kick-off: 5:05pm (AEST)
Venue: FMG Stadium Waikato
TV: Fox Sports
Live stream: Kayo Sports, Foxtel
Chiefs
15 Damian McKenzie 14 Shaun Stevenson 13 Quinn Tupaea 12 Anton Lienert-Brown 11 Sean Wainui 10 Aaron Cruden 9 Brad Weber (c) 8 Pita Gus Sowakula 7 Lachlan Boshier 6 Luke Jacobson 5 Naitoa Ah Kuoi 4 Tupou Vaa’I 3 Nepo Laulala 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho 1 Aidan Ross
Bench: 16 Bradley Slater, 17 Reuben O’Neill, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Dylan Nel, 21 Lisati Milo-Harris, 22 Kaleb Trask, 23 Solomon Alaimalo
Blues
15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Mark Telea, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 TJ Faiane, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Otere Black, 9 Sam Nock; 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Josh Goodhue, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Ofa Tuungafasi, 2 James Parsons, 1 Alex Hodgman
Reserves: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Marcel Renata, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20 Tony Lamborn, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Matt Duffie
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