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Watch: Blues winger Mark Telea scores 'outstanding' try vs Crusaders
By Finn Morton
Mark Telea just can’t be stopped when he’s in this kind of form. The Blues winger has scored one of the individual tries of the season with an “outstanding” effort against the Crusaders.
The in-form speedster beat a number of tackle attempts en route to the tryline, including defensive efforts from All Blacks Braydon Ennor, Ethan Blackadder and Richie Mo’unga.
Telea was brought to a standstill after getting the ball, but wasn’t going to throw in the towel just yet.
Far from it, in fact.
The 26-year-old ended up making a 60 metre burst through the heart of the Crusaders’ defence, and beat at least four tackle attempts on his way to the tryline.
Sky Sport commentator Tony Johnson said it best, having described Telea’s try as “outstanding.”
“Oh what a try,” Johnson said. “Outstanding!”
The Blues started their season with a big win over the Highlanders in Dunedin, but were handed an early season wakeup call by the Brumbies in Super Round.
But the Auckland-based outfit bounced back with a thrilling win over New Zealand rivals the Hurricanes in Wellington last weekend, which set up a mouth-watering blockbuster against the Crusaders.
The Blues had returned to winning ways at the right time, as they looked to avenge their defeat in last year’s Super Rugby Pacific final against the Crusaders.
Ahead of the rematch, the Blues made a handful of changes to their starting XV, including the return of a Test star on the right wing.
All Blacks winger Mark Telea was named to return for the Blues after missing the trip to the capital due to a concussion.
This match needed no introduction, as it promised so much in terms of a rugby spectacle.
Winger Telea set the tone early with his try in the 8th minute, but the Crusaders hit back shortly after through Fergus Burke.
It was a back-and-forth first half, with the Crusaders taking a hard-fought three-point lead into the sheds.
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Latest Comments
My ‘fantasy’ team V Ireland,
Including options from ABXV if needed, as V Mun better V Ireland better prep than England.
The most important aspect V Ireland is AB need ALL their loosies AND 'loosie capable locks' on ALL match [except IF(?) any tiring ie the aging & slowing eg Cane]. As follows,
{starting} bench (3rd choice)
1 {De Groot} / Tu’ungafasi (Williams)
2 { anyone that can throw!! }/ Aumua (Brodie McAlister)
Ryan! coach lineouts & Aumua to throw!
3 {Lomax}/ Tosi (Newell )
Tosi immense strength V England
4,5 Locks { P.Tuipulotu, S.Barrett }, Vaa’i, Darry
( Isaia Walker-Leawere)
Vaa’i off V Eng. Assumed due to leg injury(?)
6,7,8 Loose forwards { Sititi, A.Savea, Cane } Vaa’i, S.Barrettm, P.Tuipulotu back up (Devan Flanders, Du'Plessis Kirifi )
9 {Roigard } Ratima ( TJ )
10 {D.McK} Perofeta ( Plummer)
12 {J.Barrett } ALB ( Q.Tupaea )
13 {Proctor} Ioane ( AJ Lam )
Ioane (off V England ) but Irish experience (NO not Sexton!)
14 { Tele’a} Reece (bkup W.Jordan )
11 {C.Clarke} Narawa (K.Naholo)
15 {W.Jordan} Love (Stevenson)
Go to commentsI guess the other option would be to start ALB, he's looked good in the 12 so far when he starts and sets up those outside him. But that would mean putting the vice captain on the bench, which is unlikely. Another option would be to drop Reiko to the bench and play Proctor, though he's gone home so that's not going to happen either.
Both of those players just offer more of the soft distribution skills good centres learn from playing their careers there. Unfortunately that's what's lacking with the current combo.
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