Rieko Ioane of the Blues. Photo: Jeremy Ward/Photosport
Blues v Chiefs
Kick-off: 7:05pm
Eden Park, Auckland
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The equation should be simple for the Blues once they hit the field: match or do better than the Hurricanes managed in the early game. If they can, top spot is theirs thanks to their superior points difference. Both these teams are coming in off disappointing losses last weekend, with the Blues getting kneecapped by the Crusaders and the Chiefs bamboozled by the Canes, so there's a bit of form needing to be found before the play-offs start next weekend.
Damian McKenzie Photo: Jeremy Ward
Here's a look at the teams:
Blues: 15 Stephen Perofeta, 14 Mark Tele'a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 AJ Lam, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Taufa Funaki, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali'i, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ofa Tu'ungafasi
Bench: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Joshua Fusitu'a, 18 Angus Ta'avao, 19 Cameron Suafoa, 20 Adrian Choat, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Corey Evans, 23 Cole Forbes
Chiefs: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Rameka Poihipi, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Luke Jacobson (c), 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Jimmy Tupou, 4 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 George Dyer, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Aidan Ross
Bench: 16 Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Sione Ahio, 19 Simon Parker, 20 Kaylum Boshier, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Quinn Tupaea, 23 Peniasi Malimali
Blues selections
Finlay Christie dives to score a try for the Blues in his side's win over Moana Pasifika at Eden Park. Photo: Photosport
This is a very powerful looking Blues side, with Finlay Christie back in the match-day squad and creating a nice problem for Vern Cotter as Taufa Funaki has been playing the house down in his absence. AJ Lam comes in at second five for the injured Bryce Heem, pairing up with Rieko Ioane in what should be a fun battle in the midfield. Ricky Riccitelli takes back over at hooker after some Blues set-piece problems last weekend.
Chiefs selections
Samipeni Finau of the Chiefs celebrates the win during the Super Rugby Pacific rugby match between the Chiefs and the Crusaders at FMG Stadium in Hamilton. Copyright photo: Aaron Gillions / www.photosport.nz Photo: Aaron Gillions / Photosport
The Chiefs can't actually move out of fourth spot on the table unless the Brumbies lose to the Force and don't get a bonus point, which is unlikely, but Clayton McMillan has named a very strong side for this game anyway. Wallace Sititi gets a start at number eight, while Samipeni Finau returns from injury to play blindside. McMillan has rotated his locks, with Jimmy Tupou and Naitoa Ah Kuoi getting the nod, Tupou Vaa'i and Manaaki Selby-Rickit getting the night off.
What they're saying
"We're going up there to win, so whether it's a one-point win or a six-point win, a 21-point win, we'll take whatever." - Chiefs assistant coach David Hill.
"Our performance wasn't good enough last week, we know that, we've talked about it and we aim to improve it against the Chiefs." - Blues coach Vern Cotter.
The last time they met
Despite being less than two hours' drive (on a good day) away from each other, this is the first time in a while these sides have played. Last April saw the Chiefs prevail on a rainy evening in Hamilton, in a game that saw Emoni Narawa and Samipeni Finau make some really strong cases for eventual All Black call ups. It was also notable for probably the low point of Beauden Barrett's illustrious career, when he embarrassingly stepped on the dead ball line before grounding the ball for a try.
Prediction
McMillan does have a bit of a safety option that he'll most probably utilise if the game is not heading the Chiefs' way, which is to pull all his important players. So, it'll be interesting to see at which point he might think that way, but there is every chance the Chiefs aren't even in that position at all. The Blues did expose some pretty glaring weaknesses in their game last weekend, Cotter said the set piece had a reset during training, but that's certainly a place for the Chiefs to target. In saying that, the Blues aren't first equal by accident and have been formidable at Eden Park this season.
