Blues v Rebels
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What changes do you expect?
Travelling back from Perth can be a bitch so I expect a few changes in the pack. Hopefully the backs remain largely the same - Rieko to return and maybe Perofeta at fullback?
The Blues need to get some time into Vikena because clearly that other guy can't be trusted. I hope Vikena gets a start
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With Barrett expected to satisfy his All Blacks rest requirements this week, following a series of 80-minute efforts, Perofeta appears poised to make a timely return to first-five after missing the past two patchy performances from the Blues while isolating with Covid.
Fortunately for Perofeta he suffered a mild case and is confident of bouncing back on Friday night against the Rebels at Eden Park where the Blues will attempt to atone for two unconvincing victories.
"I was quite lucky so I managed to freshen up the body and mind after a busy schedule at the start of the season so I'm ready to go," Perofeta said.
Just as he matures into a classy, calm operator, Perofeta is weighing his future. He's yet to commit to Taranaki or the Blues beyond this season but indicates his intention is to keep pursuing the All Blacks dream, for now.
"It's a work in progress at the moment. I've connected with Taranaki and Neil Barnes. My ambition is to stay. If my form dies off towards the end of the season or I'm not as consistent then overseas is a viable option but I'm more leaning towards staying in New Zealand as long as possible.
"The All Blacks is in the back of my mind - that's the ultimate goal in what I'm wanting to achieve while I am in New Zealand. If that happens, it will be an extra motivation."
The Blues' secret weapon: Overshadowed star weighing future in NZ
Career best form has to put the Blues' secret weapon in the All Blacks frame.
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I would like to see us start playing close to our strongest side from now on.
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Kinda sucks that after four straight away games they won't running out Barrett at Eden Park.
Anyway, some selection guesses:
6 Ioane
7 Papalii
8 Sotutu
9 Christie
10 Perofeta
11 Clarke
12 RTS
13 Ioane
14 Lam
15 SullivanWill be interesting to see if Sullivan gets any time at 10.
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@nzzp said in Blues v Rebels:
He's really matured into a good player that many, including me, had written off.
There's a thread for that.
I'm going Friday with a cohort. Hopefully a really good crowd and a big Blues win
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@Tim said in Blues v Rebels:
Kinda sucks that after four straight away games they won't running out Barrett at Eden Park.
Anyway, some selection guesses:
6 Ioane
7 Papalii
8 Sotutu
9 Christie
10 Perofeta
11 Clarke
12 RTS
13 Ioane
14 Lam
15 SullivanWill be interesting to see if Sullivan gets any time at 10.
Just highlighted Lam because while everyone else is getting wraps, he's been quietly doing the roles asked of him to a very good standard.
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Pre game stats -
The Melbourne Rebels won their most recent Super Rugby match in New Zealand against the Blues (20-10, 2 June 2018).The Melbourne Rebels have made dominant contact on 28% of their total carries (257/914) in the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season, the best rate of any team in the competition; the Blues (26%) are ranked third in this category (Hurricanes – 27%).
The Blues have crossed the gainline on 66% of their total gainline carries (611/932) this Super Rugby Pacific season, the best rate of any team in the competition and 11 percentage points higher than the Melbourne Rebels (55%).
The Melbourne Rebels (168) and Blues (156) have gained the most and third most metres from mauls of any teams this Super Rugby Pacific season (Crusaders – 165).
Beauden Barrett (Blues) has made 11 kicks in play per 80 minutes this Super Rugby Pacific season, the most of any player in the competition and five more than any Melbourne Rebels player in this category.
James Hanson (Melbourne Rebels) has crossed for five tries in his last five starts in Super Rugby competitions, including a brace of tries against Moana Pasifika in Round 11 of this Super Rugby Pacific season.
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PLAYERS OUT TO SHOW ALL THAT GLITTERS IS BLUE AT EDEN PARK — Blues Rugby
The Blues are firmly focussed on a performance of quality to celebrate their return home to Eden Park where they take on the Melbourne Rebels in DHL Super Rugby Pacific on Friday night. While they return from two wins across the Tasman, the team were not satisfied with the level of their performan
1. Jordan Lay (5)
2. Kurt Eklund (32)
3. Ofa Tuungafasi (115)
4. James Tucker (7)
5. Tom Robinson (40)
6. Akira Ioane (89)
7. Dalton Papalii© (52)
8. Hoskins Sotutu (31)
9. Finlay Christie (25)
10. Stephen Perofeta (39)
11. Caleb Clarke (33)
12. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (6)
13. Rieko Ioane (81)
14. Mark Telea (33)
15. Zarn Sullivan (13)16. Soane Vikena (10)
17. Karl Tu’inukuafe (37)
18. Nepo Laulala (19)
19. Sam Darry (13)
20. Adrian Choat (14)
21. Sam Nock (46)
22. Bryce Heem (15)
23. AJ Lam (16) -
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@Tim said in Blues v Rebels:
It's a work in progress at the moment. I've connected with Taranaki and Neil Barnes. My ambition is to stay. If my form dies off towards the end of the season or I'm not as consistent then overseas is a viable option but I'm more leaning towards staying in New Zealand as long as possible.
this is a huge quote for NZ rugby as a whole
I want to be an AB, but if my form drops off? I'll take the easier, and probably bigger pay off.
And we lose another player before they get to the finished article. Because your wages are dogshit unless you are an AB (relatively speaking)
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