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All Black Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to return for Blues this weekend
By Finn Morton
All Blacks midfielder Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been named to return this weekend following a lengthy stint on the sidelines with a hand injury.
Late last month, Blues coach Leon MacDonald revealed that Tuivasa-Sheck was feeling “pretty confident” with how he was “tracking” ahead of his return.
Now, after a fair stint on the sidelines, the dual-international has been included in the Blues’ matchday squad as one of 10 changes to the starting XV.
Looking to win three games in a row for the first time this season, MacDonald has named a star-studded side to take on Moana Pasifika at Eden Park.
Among the changes in the forward pack, Kurt Eklund is set to start at hooker while All Black Akira Ioane will return to the starting side after a successful return from injury off the bench.
Playmaker Harry Plummer has shifted from inside centre to flyhalf, and will partner Taufa Funaki in the halves.
As for regular flyhalf Beauden Barrett, he’ll line up in the No. 15 jersey this week.
With the playoffs just around the corner, coach MacDonald spoke about the importance of the team “getting our mindset right” ahead of their clash with Moana.
“It’s been about switching on and getting our mindset right for this weekend,” MacDonald said.
“One of the hardest challenges in sport is consistency and I’ve been encouraging the boys to find what works for them to ensure they have a ruthless mindset to take on Moana Pasifika this weekend.
“It’s starting to be a pretty congested middle of the points table as the playoff race heats up.
“We need to continue accumulating points as we’ve done in recent weeks to keep pushing for home advantage in the quarterfinals.”
Flanker Dalton Papali’i will captain the side again this week, when he comes up against roommates and Moana Pasifika stars Ezekiel Lindenmuth and Sam Slade.
“I live with Ezekiel Lindenmuth and Sam Slade from the Moana team so it’s fair to say bragging rights and washing up duties at our house are on the line this weekend!” Papali’i said in a statement.
“We’re good mates and have played together at provincial level so I’m looking forward to locking horns against them in the Super Rugby arena.
“We can’t sit on our hands this week and think it’s just going to happen for us, we have to go at this game and solidify our spot in that top four.
“Moana Pasifika have shown they can score tries from anywhere and when they get a roll on, they can be hard to stop.”
The match is set to kick-off at 7.05pm NZST on Saturday at Auckland’s Eden Park.
Blues team to take on Moana Pasifika
- Ofa Tu’ungafasi
- Kurt Eklund
- Marcel Renata
- James Tucker
- Sam Darry
- Akira Ioane
- Dalton Papali’i
- Cam Suafoa
- Taufa Funaki
- Harry Plummer
- Caleb Clarke
- Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
- Bryce Heem
- AJ Lam
- Beauden Barrett
Replacements:
- Soane Vikena
- Joshua Fusitu’a
- James Lay
- Tom Robinson
- Anton Segner
- Finlay Christie
- Rieko Ioane
- Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Not considered: Alex Hodgman, Nepo Laulala, Stephen Perofeta, Hoskins Sotutu, Tanielu Telea, Mark Telea, Patrick Tuipulotu
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Latest Comments
There is this thing going around against Siya Kolisi where they don't want him to be known as the best national captain ever, so they strike him down in ratings permanently whenever they can. They want McCaw and reckons he is the best captain ever. I disagree.
Just like they refuse to see SA as the best team and some have even said that should the Boks win a third WC in a row, they will still not be the best team ever. Even if they win every game between now and the WC. That is some serious hate coming SA's way.
Everyone forget how the McCaw AB's intimidated refs, was always on the wrong side, played on the ground etc. Things they would never have gotten away with today. They may have a better win ratio, but SA build depth, not caring about rank inbetween WC's until this year.
They weren't as bad inbetween as people claim, because non e of their losses was big ones and they almost never faced the strongest Bok team outside of the WC, allowing countries like France and Ireland to rise to the top unopposed.
Rassie is still at it, building more depth, getting more young stars into the fold. By the time he leaves (I hope never) he will leave a very strong Bok side for the next 15- 20 years. Not everyone will play for 20 years, but each year Rassie acknowledge the young stars and get them involved and ready for international rugby.
Not everyone will make it to the WC, but those 51/52 players will compete for those spots for the WC. They will deliver their best. The future of the Boks is in very safe hands. The only thing that bothers me is Rassie's health. If he can overcome it, rugby looks dark for the rest of the rugby world. He is already the greatest coach in WR history. By the time he retires, he will be the biggest legend any sport has ever seen
Go to commentsWas it? I just brought it up in some of my posts to rub it in that the AB last year nearly put 100 on a top 6N side lol
I agree to be honest. The biggest key to me that they might be jadded was none of them had mom performances, or even as good as their last three games.
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