Blues v Force: what you need to know
Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday 2 May
Eden Park, Auckland
Live blog coverage on RNZ Sport
The Blues need to win all four of their remaining games to make the Super Rugby Pacific play-offs, a task that starts tonight against the Force. To say this season has been disappointing so far for the defending champions is a severe understatement, however if they can turn things around now the Blues can make an unlikely title defence - especially since they were so poor in
their loss to the Reds
last weekend.
Even though the Force were
handily beaten last weekend
by the Chiefs, they are a much more powerful threat than usual thanks to an influx of players this season from the defunct Melbourne Rebels.
Ofa Tu'ungafasi dives for the try line.
Photo:
Photosport
Blues:
1. Joshua Fusitu'a, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Marcel Renata, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 5. Laghlan McWhannell, 6. Anton Segner, 7. Dalton Papali'i, 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 9. Taufa Funaki, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. AJ Lam, 12. Xavi Taele, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Cole Forbes, 15. Stephen Perofeta
Bench: 16. Kurt Eklund, 17. Mason Tupaea, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. Josh Beehre, 20. Cam Christie, 21. Adrian Choat, 22. Sam Nock, 23. Corey Evans
Force:
1. Ryan Coxon, 2. Nic Dolly, 3. Tom Robertson, 4. Jeremy Williams (c), 5. Darcy Swain, 6. Nick Champion de Crespigny, 7. Carlo Tizzano, 8. Reed Prinsep, 9. Henry Robertson, 10. Ben Donaldson, 11. Mac Grealy, 12. Hamish Stewart, 13. Bayley Kuenzle, 14. Harry Potter, 15. Kurtley Beale
Bench: 16. Albert Alcock, 17. Atu Moli, 18. Josh Smith, 19. Josh Thompson, 20. Will Harris, 21. Nic White, 22. Max Burey, 23. George Poolman
Xavi Taele of the Blues at the Super Rugby Pacific at FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton.
Photo:
Jeremy Ward / Photosport
Finlay Christie, Zarn Sullivan and Mark Tele'a are all missing from the side that lost to the Reds, but at least Tele'a can blame suspension for his omission. He's out for three weeks after a
horrible tackle
on Tim Ryan, but the other two have simply paid the price for poor performances. Taufa Funaki takes over at halfback and AJ Lam moves to the wing, with Xavi Taele coming in at second five.
Photo:
AFP
It's a warm welcome back for Kurtley Beale, the former Wallaby pulling on the boots for the first time this season after an injury layoff. Jeremy Williams returns to the starting side after being a late withdrawal last weekend, while Reed Prinsep is elevated to the starting side. Former All Black Atu Moli comes onto the bench.
Harry Potter during the Chiefs v Force, Super Rugby Pacific match, Blake Park, Tauranga.
Photo:
Aaron Gillions/ActionPress
The Blues are undefeated in their last 12 Super Rugby games against Western Force (W11 D1) and have won their last nine in a row against them. The only time the Force have ever beaten the Blues was in 2008.
The Force have lost 22 of their last 23 Super Rugby Pacific games in New Zealand including their last nine in a row, conceding 55+ points in each of their last three games.
Force winger Harry Potter has scored six tries in his last six games in Super Rugby Pacific. He's never played against the Blues, but he has scored four tries in his last four games against New Zealand opponents.
"I just don't think we have that same intensity. I think we've forgotten and it's important we remind ourselves that it's a competition, and one you've got to engage yourself in fully to be competitive." - Blues coach Vern Cotter.
"It's a great opportunity to come to Eden Park and play, it's a privilege to play at the stadium but it's a field, it's grass, it's got white lines. It's important that we can perform at any surface at any time." - Force coach Simon Cron.
Blues 50 - 3 Force
The Blues enjoyed their biggest win of the season with this beatdown at Eden Park, scoring at a regular rate across the 80 minutes despite having rested many of their top lineup. Taufa Funaki was the main beneficiary with two tries and a very assured performance.
Even though the Blues have been awful, and the Force have been promising, it's hard to see the Western Australians forcing a result after a horrible day of rain in Auckland. If they do, it'll likely be in the fashion that the Brumbies achieved victory earlier this season. It's likely the Blues will go back to their power game, so expect a heavy diet of Hoskins Sotutu with ball in hand.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
1News
14 hours ago
- 1News
Sabbatical-bound Scott Barrett likely to miss Super Rugby next year
Crusaders head coach Rob Penney has signed a one-year extension with the Super Rugby Pacific champions but will almost certainly be without All Blacks skipper Scott Barrett next season. Senior lock Barrett is expected to activate a non-playing sabbatical clause in his contract – much like All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor did in 2024. Penney and Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge today confirmed Barrett's situation – although not his final decision which will likely come via an All Blacks' announcement. 'I'm pretty certain he'll do something and he's earned the right,' Penney said. 'That big body of his has been knocked around for the Crusaders and the All Blacks for a long time now. ADVERTISEMENT 'As Codie did 18 months ago, I suspect he'll have a good break. He deserves it and it will be up to other people in the group to step up. When Scooter is ready we'll welcome him back with open arms.' Barrett, 31, a veteran of 81 Tests, is recovering from a calf tear suffered in his side's first Test win over France in Dunedin this month. He is likely to be available for the first Rugby Championship Test against Argentina in Cordoba on August 17. Taylor has credited his extended break last year as a big factor in his form at the age of 34 and there is little doubt that Barrett, hindered by injury over the past couple of years, would also benefit from one. Crusaders head coach Rob Penney celebrates with the Super Rugby Pacific trophy last month. (Source: Photosport) Barrett admitted during the season that his form was not where he wanted it to be and with 10 Tests remaining this year, including a potentially gruelling Rugby Championship which will include an improved Australia, plus a 'grand slam' against Ireland, Wales, England and Scotland, time off next year will be an alluring prospect. Fellow senior All Blacks Rieko Ioane (Leinster), Anton Lienert-Brown (Kobe) and Ardie Savea (Kobe) have already announced playing sabbaticals next year. ADVERTISEMENT Penney said he expected locks Antonio Shalfoon, Jamie Hannah, Taylor Cahill and Liam Jack, the nephew of former All Blacks and Crusaders lock Chris, to fill the void left by Barrett. After taking the franchise to its 13th championship following a disastrous first year in 2024 when they failed to make the playoffs, Penney said there was little doubt in his mind that he wanted to continue. 'I love coaching and I love this group and organisation… this will be me. When it's done it's done,' he said in an apparent reference to not wanting to coach elsewhere at this level. Asked about the grand final victory over the Chiefs last month, Penney said he had watched only one replay of the game. 'It's actually not the last game that I reflect on – it's the whole campaign and how it came to fruition,' he said. 'It was the small moments – the previous year we couldn't win a small moment. This year we won them through the depth and courage the players had and sometimes you get the rub of the green.' Another motivating factor for staying on will have been Christchurch's new central-city covered stadium Te Kaha, due to be completed on April 18 and potentially hosting a first Crusaders game on Anzac weekend. ADVERTISEMENT 'That hasn't gone unnoticed... It's a great thing for this wonderful region and in particular Christchurch city after what it's been through – the opportunity to get on the grass inside that beautiful coliseum… it will be a great occasion,' Penney said. Mansbridge said: 'If it's Anzac weekend and you want to open with a bang there's no other place in New Zealand you'd rather be.' Penney and Mansbridge confirmed assistant coaches Brad Mooar, James Marshall, Dan Perrin and Matt Todd would remain for next season and that the Crusaders had only about "three or four" positions to fill on the playing roster which would come via the NPC.
NZ Herald
16 hours ago
- NZ Herald
NPC 2025: Players to watch during provincial season
With Super Rugby Pacific in the rear vision mirror, attention now turns to the battle for provincial supremacy. The competition, which kicks off on Thursday when Auckland host Waikato, will run across 10 weekends of round-robin play, all 14 teams represented in a single points table, with the top eight
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Hastie heading to Force
Departing Highlanders halfback Nathan Hastie passes the ball against the Brumbies this season. Nathan Hastie's career resurgence will continue away from the Highlanders. The talented halfback is heading home — he was born in Perth — and will join the Western Force for the 2026 Super Rugby season after he has completed an NPC campaign with Otago. It could be a case of perfect timing for Hastie. While the Force have Nic White as their regular No 9, the former Wallaby has just turned 35. It might not be in the realms of fantasy to picture 24-year-old Hastie shining with a chance to play regularly in Super Rugby and knocking on the door of Australian selection at some stage. He will join Tom Donnelly, the former Otago coach and Highlanders assistant, at the Force. Hastie fans will be disappointed to see the combative halfback depart. The King's High School old boy and Harbour club representative had to be patient to really get his chance for the Highlanders thanks to a combination of niggling injuries and the presence of Aaron Smith and Folau Fakatava. That chance came this year, when he earned seven starts and was in outstanding form, playing with real spark and showing a willingness to trust his instinct and run with the ball. It came as something of a surprise when he then missed several match-day squads. Hastie was announced on a three-year deal at the Highlanders in early 2024, so either the club renegotiated his contract or they have reached a deal with the Force. The Highlanders, to be fair, appear loaded at halfback. Former All Black Fakatava recently signed a new deal, and pretty much everyone expects rising New Zealand under-20 star Dylan Pledger to graduate to a full contract. That presumably means Taranaki's Adam Lennox, who was in the wider squad this year and played several games, will be contracted as the third Highlanders halfback. Hastie, an Otago Daily Times Class Act recipient in 2019, finished with just 12 caps (one try) for the Highlanders, and he will add to his 16 caps for Otago when the NPC starts this weekend.
