Why the Blues chose Harry Plummer over Roger Tuivasa-Sheck for Crusaders clash

When the Blues named their team to take on the champion Crusaders in Christchurch, there was one stunning omission which would’ve come as a surprise to many.

Following a lengthy stint on the sidelines with a hand injury, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck made his return last weekend in the Blues’ thrilling 31-30 win over Moana Pasifika at Eden Park.

But a week is a long time in the rugby world.

Ahead of their crunch clash with fierce rivals the Crusaders, which is arguably their biggest game of the season so far, the Blues decided to go in a different direction.

Tuivasa-Sheck has been left out of the matchday 23 completely. Instead, playmaker Harry Plummer will start in the midfield alongside All Black Rieko Ioane.

“Harry is sort of our glue guy at the moment,” Blues assistant coach Daniel Halangahu told SENZ Breakfast.

“We have threats all across the park so we don’t necessarily need another threat, we don’t need another ball carrier, we need someone who can talk and organise.

“He plays a lot of first-five as well… he’s just been in really good form at 12.

“He has provided a few nice touches, and the work he does behind the scenes, you played a lot with a guy like Ryan Crotty and I think Harry is trying to mould himself on someone like that who’s not necessarily the superstar that runs out there but everyone else plays better because he’s out there.”

Former New Zealand Warriors captain Tuivasa-Sheck confirmed last month that he’d signed a multi-year with the NRL club from next season.

The All Black, who is still hoping to make the All Blacks’ Rugby World Cup squad, is one of the greatest New Zealand rugby league players ever – and will add to his legacy when he returns to the 13-player game.

But for now, the dual international is still a rugby union player – and Halangahu insists both the Blues and Tuivasa-Sheck are “committed” to one other for the remainder of the season.

“Anyone who goes and changes codes, there’s got to be a lot of respect for the challenge they take on,” he said.

“He’s still very much committed to it (the Blues) and in the middle of it at the moment.

“We’re still very much committed to his growth, it’s no longer a long-term project with RTS, it’s about the here and now.

“He’s just so committed to being better at whatever he is doing.

“I just take my hat off to him.”

The Blues are currently third on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder, and will take on the fourth-placed Crusaders on Saturday evening at Christchurch’s Orangetheory Stadium.