Blues v Hurricanes
Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 5 April
Eden Park, Auckland
Live blog coverage on RNZ Sport
It's desperation time for the Blues as they try and add to their one win this season. They're up against a Hurricanes side that's run into a vein of form over the last few weeks, especially last Saturday when they destroyed the Waratahs in Wellington. Vern Cotter's side is coming off a bye and it's done them a world of good in terms of personnel that's now available, but questions still remain over their style of play and how effective it's been this time around.
Hoskins Sotutu on the burst against the Hurricanes Photo: Photosport
Team lists
Blues: 1. Joshua Fusitu'a, 2. Kurt Eklund, 3. Marcel Renata, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 5. Josh Beehre, 6. Anton Segner, 7. Dalton Papali'i, 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 9. Finlay Christie, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. AJ Lam, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Mark Tele'a, 15. Corey Evans
Bench: 16. Ricky Riccitelli, 17. Mason Tupaea, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. Cameron Suafoa, 20. Adrian Choat, 21. Sam Nock, 22. Xavi Taele, 23. Stephen Perofeta
Hurricanes: 1. Xavier Numia, 2. Asafo Aumua (cc), 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Caleb Delany, 5. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6. Brayden Iose, 7. Du'Plessis Kirifi (cc), 8. Peter Lakai, 9. Cam Roigard, 10. Riley Hohepa, 11. Kini Naholo, 12. Peter Umaga-Jensen, 13. Bailyn Sullivan, 14. Ngatungane Punivai, 15. Ruben Love
Bench: 16. Jacob Devery, 17. Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Will Tucker, 20. Brad Shields, 21. Ereatara Enari, 22. Callum Harkin, 23. Fatafehi Fineanganofo
Blues selections
Good news for the Blues with Patrick Tuipulotu back as skipper and Beauden Barrett at first five. Barrett's return pushes Stephen Perofeta to the bench and Harry Plummer out of the squad, with Corey Evans retaining his spot at fullback. Finlay Christie gets the start at halfback after being about the only positive performance in their loss to the Crusaders.
Hurricanes selections
Only the one change, with Ere Enari coming onto the bench in place of Jordi Viljoen. Other than that it's the same side that had their best performance of the season last weekend at Sky Stadium.
Key stats
Cam Roigard. Photo: John Cowpland/Actionpress
The Blues have only lost one of their last five Super Rugby Pacific games against the Hurricanes, a 21-29 defeat in round three last year.
Each of the Hurricanes' last six Super Rugby Pacific games as the away team have been decided by a margin of nine points or fewer - however they've won only two of those games.
Cam Roigard has directly assisted more tries than any other player in this season (8). He also ranks second for kicks in play (46) and is one of three players to have made 400+ passes (413, alongside Ryan Lonergan and Jonathan Taumateine).
What they're saying
"The Blues [game] is important because the competition is so tight, and if we can win, you get further away from them. If they win, then it tightens it back up. So the Blues are a priority. They're a team trying to find their game and we've got to be one otherwise, they might find it against us." - Hurricanes assistant coach Cory Jane.
"I just think we needed to tighten up, become a real tight team again around some simple stuff. And then obviously a game plan that suits us and something that we can do put in place without too much difficulty." - Blues coach Vern Cotter.
The last time they met
Blues 33 - 29 Hurricanes
Featuring arguably the most controversial finish to a game so far this season, this result also stands as the Blues' only win so far in their title defence. Confusion reigned as the ref overruled an HIA to Sam Nock, leaving the Blues with only 14 players to defend on their goal line for the last play - but then they escaped thanks to a very debatable scrum penalty to end the game. Earlier, Mark Te'lea's effort will be a contender for try of the season.
What's going to happen?
The Blues will definitely be feeling better thanks to the experience they've brought back, but things need to start clicking early against a Canes side that's full of confidence. Expect Barrett to kick a fair bit and the Blues to try and gain turnovers off the receptions, meanwhile it's likely the Canes backline will be given license to try and run it from everywhere again. The Blues certainly need to find a way through the tough Canes midfield defence that tightened up dramatically last weekend.
