Blues player Beauden Barrett during the Blues v Waratahs Super Rugby match. Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand. Saturday 22 April 2023. ©Copyright Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
All Blacks first five Beauden Barrett returns from injury for Friday night's Super Rugby quarter-final against the Waratahs in Auckland.
Barrett returns after recovering from a cut to his heel which suffered against the Reds a couple of weeks ago and slots into the backline along with another returnee in-form midfielder Bryce Heem.
Blues lock Patrick Tuipulotu's absence if a blow for the Blues. Photo: Photosport / Lynne Cameron
It's some good news for the Blues who earlier this week found out lock Patrick Tuipulotu was out for the remainder of the Super Rugby campaign with a broken arm he suffered in the final round robin win over the Highlanders.
That means versatile Tom Robinson moves from loose forward to lock to partner James Tucker in the middle of the scrum.
Skipper Dalton Papalii will play at openside flanker with Hoskins Sotutu at number eight and Akira Ioane at blindside.
Wing Caleb Clarke hasn't recovered from a leg complaint meaning AJ Lam will start on the left wing for the match.
Blues coach Leon MacDonald was also wary of a wounded Waratahs side who lost to the Moana Pasifika last round - giving Moana their only win of the season.
"You never want to face a team after a loss, they will be hurting and out to spoil our party at Eden Park. We've seen when they put it together, they're a very dangerous outfit so we need to show up on Friday night prepared for a battle," he said.
"What's happened in the regular season means nothing on Friday night. Knockout footy brings a special kind of intensity."
-RNZ
