Tana Umaga has challenged his Blues players to show some consistency as he welcomes back a couple of his big guns but loses All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams to injury for tonight's Super Rugby game against the Chiefs at Eden Park.
Despite a pretty impressive effort overall in their season‑opening 41‑34 defeat to the Highlanders in Dunedin last Friday (grabbing a losing bonus point), Umaga has made five changes to his starting 15 and five more to a rearranged bench.
All Black Jerome Kaino, who is departing to France at competition end, and seasoned loose forward Jimmy Tupou have both recovered from injuries to take their place in the matchday 23. Tupou starts at blindside flanker, replacing the injured Glenn Preston, while Kaino will cover the loose forward spots on the bench.
But there is no SBW, with knee and head knocks from Dunedin ruling the offloading No 12 out for just this week. Umaga confirmed he will travel to South Africa on Sunday and should be fine to front against the Lions and Stormers.
Melani Nanai replaces Michael Collins at fullback, with the latter dropping to the bench, and the lively TJ Faiane comes in at second five‑eighth for Williams.
Up front, All Black Patrick Tuipulotu is restored to starting duty while highly‑rated scrummager Pauliasi Manu swaps spots with Alex Hodgman to move into the No 1 jersey.
The Blues are desperate to end a 12‑game winless streak against Kiwi opposition in Super Rugby against the injury‑ravaged Chiefs. They haven't beaten their neighbours since 2011, though they did finish deadlocked, 16‑16, at Eden Park last season.
The Blues will meet the Chiefs at 6.35 tonight while the Reds face the Brumbies at 9pm.
On Saturday, the Crusaders will take on the Stormers at 6.35pm and the Sunwolves will take on the Rebels at 9pm Saturday.
On Sunday, the Sharks face the Waratahs at 1.05am, the Bulls meet the Lions at 3.15am while the Hurricanes take on the Jaguares at 9.40am.
source : stuff.co.nz
