The Blues team to take on the Lions this weekend has been announced, with a number of changes coming through as a result of injury. The backline will see a massive shuffle as coach Pat Lam fills the gaps left by 11 injured players.
The backline will see two flyhalves running next to each other as Gareth Anscombe will retain his 10 jersey, but Michael Hobbs coming into midfield, playing at inside centre, forming a new centre combination with Ma’a Nonu, who has shifted one along to outside centre. Regular outside centre Benson Stanley will take up a spot on the wing, where he joins David Raikuna and Hadleigh Parkes in the back three. Piri Weepu has retained his starting jersey ahead of Alby Mathewson.
The tight five is missing two key players in Tony Woodcock and Keven Mealamu, both struggling with injuries, with Luke Braid continuing as captain alongside his brother Daniel in the flanks.
Blues: 1. Tevita Mailau 2. Tom McCartney 3. Charlie Faumuina 4. Liaki Moli 5. Ali Williams 6. Daniel Braid 7. Luke Braid (c) 8. Peter Saili 9. Piri Weepu 10. Gareth Anscombe 11. Benson Stanley 12. Michael Hobbs 13. Ma ‘a Nonu 14. David Raikuna 15. Hadleigh Parkes (WTG)
Replacements : 16 James Parsons (WTG) 17 Angus Ta ‘avao (WTG) 18 Filo Paulo 19 Steven Luatua (WTG) 20 Alby Mathewson 21 Lachie Munro 22 Sherwin Stowers
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This is going to be a game of upsets. The Lions could win and cause an upset and I’ll be upset if the Blues lose and kick me out of LMS 😈
@JarsonX (Comment 1) : I can see that the Lions have a chance in this one; but i don’t want to lose my only LMS lifeline…sooooo i really don’t know who to support…i guess Go Blues!! 🙂
@JJR (Comment 2) : We all have to ‘die’ sometime 😛
@JarsonX (Comment 3) :
🙁 🙁 🙁
@Zibbie (Comment 4) : 😈
@JarsonX (Comment 5) :
im the ghost of LMS past 😛 😈
@Zibbie (Comment 6) : Then I’m the Ghost of LMS future. I’ve already lost my lifeline and I’ve still got to pick the Force and Rebels and the Sharks 😳
@JarsonX (Comment 7) :
man thats a mine field 😛
@JarsonX (Comment 7) :
Easy..
Go for the Sharks to beat the Force this weekend..
The Rebels to beat the ‘travelling-back-home’ Force next weekend.
ANd the following weekend the Force take on the Lions, so they can win that?!
Don’t ever say we don’t give good advise on this site 😉
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 9) : Unfortunately, I got the Blues this week, but I will ponder the other ideas 😛
@JarsonX (Comment 10) :
Ofcourse.. the Blues, this might be their only other victory of the season..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 11) : I hope so 😛
@JarsonX (Comment 7) : U lucky u still got The Sharks, they should be playing the best rugby of the season around now, and they got games against Force and Lions…if i had Sharks left i would def. have picked them this week. They gonna put on the afterburners this weekend i can feel it 😉