Akwies: David and Candice Warner are sharing a hotel with a familiar face

DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND – FEBRUARY 23: Sonny Bill Williams of the Blues looks on ahead of the round two Super Rugby match between the Highlanders and the Blues at Forsyth Barr Stadium on February 23, 2018 in Dunedin, New Zealand.

Super Rugby: Hurricanes vs Blues – Team news, kick off and live stream

The Hurricanes have won their last six matches against the Blues, their best winning sequence against a New Zealand side.

by Erene Roux

05-07-2018 14:31

in Rugby

The Blues are set for their Super Rugby match against the Hurricanes at Westpac Stadium this Saturday.

Blues coach Tana Umaga said that the team’s attitude around the breakdown was key for them last week against the Reds, which created some front-foot ball for their backs and led to their 39-16 win:

“Our forwards really dug-in. There are some work around the set piece as there always is, but we need that same attitude on attack and defense again.

“I am sure the Hurricanes will be looking at ways to rectify their situation after three losses in a row, but we have nothing to lose. We will go down there and throw everything at them, get some pride and respect back.”

Hurricanes team and injury news

Hurricanes captain Brad Shields will return to the starting XV for his 100th Super Rugby match against the Blues at Westpac Stadium on Saturday.

Shields missed last week’s match against the Brumbies after he returned from South Africa following his test debut for England.

His return is one of six changes Hurricanes head coach Chris Boyd has made to the starting side from the line-up that lost to the Brumbies.

First five-eighth Beauden Barrett returns while his brother Jordie moves from center to fullback with Wes Goosen promoted to the No 13 jersey.

There is also a couple of positional changes with Julian Savea moving from the right to the left wing while Nehe Milner-Skudder moves from fullback to the right wing.

Boyd has also made four changes to the pack where lock Vaea Fifita and prop Ben May return along with Shields while the experienced Blade Thomson moves from the reserves into the starting XV.

Boyd said there was no shortage of motivation for the squad as they look to mark Shields’ milestone in the right fashion while they were also desperate to maintain their proud home record and push for a quarterfinal to be played in front of their own fans at Westpac Stadium.

The Hurricanes have won their last six matches against the Blues, their best winning sequence against a New Zealand side.

Hurricanes:15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13 Wes Goosen, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Sam Henwood, 6 Brad Shields (c), 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Ben May, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Toby Smith

Substitutes: 16 James O’Reilly, 17 Fraser Armstrong, 18 Jeff To’omaga-Allen, 19 Michael Fatialofa, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Ben Lam

Blues team and injury news

Jerome Kaino will become the second most capped Blues player when he starts in Saturday’s Super Rugby clash against the Hurricanes in Wellington.

Kaino, who heads to France after the season, will play his 138th game for the Blues on Saturday, to go past Tony Woodcock, and sit second on the all-time Blues list behind Keven Mealamu.

The Blues welcome back their two leaders, captain Augustine Pulu, who will start, and stand-in captain James Parsons, who will come off the bench.

Pulu is the only change to the starting line-up from the team that beat the Reds handsomely at Eden Park last week, while Akira Ioane, who this week confirmed his commitment to the club, is the only Blues player to have started in every game to date in 2018.

Blues:15 Matt Duffie, 14 Melani Nanai, 13 Michael Collins, 12 Rieko Ioane, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Augustine Pulu (c), 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Matiaha Martin, 4 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 Matt Moulds, 1 Alex Hodgman

Substitutes: 16 James Parsons, 17 Pauliasi Manu, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Ben Nee-Nee, 20 Murphy Taramai, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Bryn Gatland, 23 TJ Faiane