Blues name a strong side to face the British & Irish Lions
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The Blues have the honour of becoming the first New Zealand Super Rugby team to play the British and Irish Lions at Eden Park on Wednesday.
The Blues will have eight current or former All Blacks in their side to play the Lions, led by Captain James Parsons.
Head Coach Tana Umaga said the side was looking forward to what is a special occasion.
“Our focus all season has been on Super Rugby – it has had to be. So while the lead-up is short, there’s no doubt that this game is going to be a really special day for our players and our club to play against the British and Irish Lions,” Umaga said.
“It is something that I experienced as a player and has remained with me."
Players returning who missed the win over the Reds in Samoa include All Blacks Charlie Faumuina, Sonny Bill Williams and George Moala along with Maori All Black Ihaia West, Blake Gibson, Augustine Pulu, Matt Duffie and Michael Collins.
Williams, recovering from a knee injury, is bracketed with TJ Faiane and will need to come through Monday’s training session before confirmation.
Faumuina will be the most-capped Blues player on display, playing his 98th game for the club.Missing because of injury is inspirational 77-Test All Black Jerome Kaino and prop Pauliasi Manu.
Umaga said that Kaino, who had surgery on his knee in mid-April, was recovering well but not quite to the level to be considered for selection. He is the only Blues player who played against the 2005 British and Irish Lions, coming on as a replacement for Auckland.
The Blues team is:
1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 2 James Parsons ©, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 4 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 5 Scott Scrafton, 6 Akira Ioane, 7 Blake Gibson, 8 Steven Luatua; 9 Augustine Pulu, 10 Stephen Perofeta, 11 Rieko Ioane, 12 Sonny Bill Williams/TJ Faiane, 13 George Moala, 14 Matt Duffie, 15 Michael Collins.
Replacements: 16 Hame Faiva, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Kara Pryor, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Ihaia West, 23 TJ Faiane/Melani Nanai.
