Super Rugby Pacific Final Preview
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The Super Rugby Pacific season comes down to Saturday's Final as the Blues host the Chiefs at Eden Park.
The Blues enter as the slight favourites after taking down the Brumbies in Auckland to book a home Final.
However, the Chiefs are in red-hot form following their upset win over the Hurricanes in Wellington.
BLUES (1-15): Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Ricky Riccitelli, Marcel Renata, Patrick Tuipulotu (c), Sam Darry, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papali'i, Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Harry Plummer, Caleb Clarke, AJ Lam, Rieko Ioane, Mark Tele'a, Stephen Perofeta
RESERVES: Kurt Eklund, Joshua Fusitu'a, Angus Ta'avao, Josh Beehre, Adrian Choat, Taufa Funaki, Bryce Heem, Cole Forbes
- Patrick Tuipulotu is a major boost after the lock overcame a knee injury to be fit
- It sees the lock take the captaincy back from Dalton Papali’i and Josh Beehre return to the bench
- Beehre is joined on the bench by Bryce Heem after he recovered from his knock
CHIEFS (1-15): Aidan Ross, Tyrone Thompson, George Dyer, Jimmy Tupou, Tupou Vaa'i, Samipeni Finau, Luke Jacobson (c), Wallace Sititi, Cortez Ratima, Damian McKenzie, Etene Nanai Seturo, Rameka Poihipi, Anton Lienert-Brown, Emoni Narawa, Shaun Stevenson
RESERVES: Bradley Slater, Jared Proffit, Reuben O'Neill, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Simon Parker, Xavier Roe, Quinn Tupaea, Daniel Rona
- Tyrone Thompson is the lone change, replacing the injured Saminso Taukei’aho
- The Blues have won seven of their last ten matches against the Chiefs, winning their last four by an average margin of ten points
- Only the Crusaders have won more finals than the Blues, who have won four of their last six deciders
- The Chiefs have conceded 11.6 turnovers per game in 2024, the fewest of any team whilst making 855 metres per game from their kicks, more than any other team.
2024: Blues 31 - 17 Chiefs (Auckland)
2023: Chiefs 20 - 13 Blues (Hamilton)
2022: Blues 25 - 0 Chiefs (Hamilton)
2022: Blues 24 - 22 Chiefs (Auckland)
2021: Blues 35 - 19 Chiefs (Auckland)
Hoskins Sotutu v Wallace Sititi
Both number eights are the physical enforcers of their respective sides, which will be the key de ice of this contest.
Sotutu is having an MVP-calibre season with the Blues, getting his 12th try of the season in an excellent outing in last week’s semi-final.
Meanwhile, Sititi has rocketed into All Blacks contention following a player-of-the-match performance to knock out the top-ranked Hurricanes.
