The Blues have been boosted by the return of All Blacks Ofa Tuungafasi and Sonny Bill Williams for Friday’s clash with the Hurricanes in Auckland.
Fresh from re-signing with the Blues for another three years, Tuungafasi returns to the front-row while Williams is back in the starting line-up at inside centre – Tuungafasi having missed three games and Williams six.
The other player to return off the injury list is outside back Melani Nanai who is listed in the reserves.
Northland prop Ross Wright, originally a short-term replacement in the pre-season, gets his second start and his ninth cap in a row after a strong performance against the Waratahs, to pair with Tuungafasi, leaving Pauliasi Manu and Sione Mafileo as powerful front-row energisers.
In other changes, Murphy Taramai starts at loose forward with Dalton Papalii ruled out with minor injury and illness.
Williams comes into the midfield with Orbyn Leger, leaving All Black Rieko Ioane to move to the right wing. Rookie Caleb Clarke, named in the New Zealand U20 side, will enjoy his second start on the left wing with Matt Duffie retained at full-back.
“It is great to have Ofa back, and it is awesome for the team to know we have him for a further three years and Sonny has been fizzing to get back on the field,” said Blues coach Tana Umaga.
“n the main we have the same team that played well last week. We will take confidence from that but we also understand we need to lift to another level this week for this big challenge.”
Blues: 15 Matt Duffie, 14 Rieko Ioane, 13 Orbyn Leger, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 9 Augustine Pulu (c), 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Murphy Taramai, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Ofa Tuungafasi, 2 James Parsons, 1 Ross Wright
Replacements: 16 Matt Moulds, 17 Pauliasi Manu, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Ben Nee-Nee, 20 Kara Pryor, 21 Jonathan Ruru/Sam Nock, 22 Dan Kirkpatrick, 23 Melani Nanai
Date: Friday, May 11
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19:35 local (07:35 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand), Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
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