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Sharks
26
Match Complete
Blues
7
| R. D. Preez |  | 79 | ||
| C. Bosch |  | 78 | ||
| 62 | | O. Black | ||
| 61 | | T. Tele'a | ||
| R. D. Preez | | 36 | ||
| R. D. Preez | | 36 | ||
| R. D. Preez | | 16 | ||
| A. V. D. Merwe | | 15 | ||
| A. Fassi | | 6 |
| 4 | Tries | 1 | ||
| 3 | Conversions | 1 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
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Both the Sharks and Blues surprised with their opening round performances in the new Super Rugby season, and will be out to do more of the same when the sides meet in Durban. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 12:05am (AEDT).
The Sharks were the team who stole the show from all other teams in Round 1, and while they were only playing the lowly Sunwolves, it was away from home and the end result was exactly what the doctor ordered to start the season.
The Durban-based outfit headed to Japan, and came away with a 45-10 mauling, putting them at the top of the ladder on for and again, also handing a bonus point.
Their attack was impressive to watch throughout the match, with Aphelele Fine and Robert du Perez both putting in strong performances alongside Louis Schreuder.
On the other side of this match are the Auckland-based Blues, who have been the perennial last-placed side in the New Zealand conference, however, it may not be more of the same this time around.
It’s a tough conference to be in, the New Zealand one, and while Round 1 can always throw up baffling results, the way the Blues hung with two-time defending premiers and 2019 competition favourites the Crusaders was admirable.
They ended up falling by two points at Eden Park, but that will still give them plenty of conference ahead of what will undoubtedly be a tough road trip, with the Jaguares on the agenda next week in Buenos Aires.
The Blues need to rely on their stars against a strong Sharks forward pack, with captain Patrick Tuipulotu needing to lead the way for them to capitalise on their talents outside, with Sonny Bill Williams and Rieko Ioane both incredibly dangerous.
Prediction
Hard to tip this game, because there is a real feeling that it could go either way. The Blues were strong last week, but the safe prediction is to say the trip to South Africa will be too much to them and the Sharks will make it two from two to start 2019, despite their tendency to lose crucial games like this last year.
Sharks by 5.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores of this Super Rugby match from 12:05am (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Kick-off: 12:05am (AEDT)
Venue: Kings Park Stadium, Durban
TV: Live, Fox Sports
Sharks
15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder (captain), 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Tyler Paul, 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Hyron Andrews, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Thomas du Toit, 19 Gideon Koegelenberg, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Jeremy Ward, 23 Curwin Bosch
Blues
15 Melani Nanai, 14 Caleb Clarke, 13 TJ Faiane, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Otere Black, 9 Jonathan Ruru, 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Tom Robinson, 5 Josh Goodhue, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 James Parsons, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe
Substitutes: 16 Matt Moulds, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20 Matt Matich, 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Tanielu Tele’a
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