Blues coach Vern Cotter has named a strong side to take on the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua in the third quarter final of the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific competition this weekend.
The former Flying Fijians coach knows it will not be an easy game this time around and knows the physicality that the Drua will be bringing into this match compared to the last time they met in round 1 of the competition this season at the same venue.
In the forwards, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Ricky Riccitelli and Marcel Renata complete the front row, captain Patrick Tuipolotu and Josh Beehre will partner up at locks, Akira Ioane and Dalton Papali’i will be on the flanks and Hoskins Sotutu will at number 8.
Finlay Christie will start at halfback while Harry Plummer will be at flyhalf with AJ Lam and Rieko Iowane in the centres.
Caleb Clarke and Mark Tele’a will link up on the wings and Stephen Perofeta will start at fullback.
There will be a lot of firepower on the bench as well with Kurt Eklund, Joshua Fusitu’a, Angus Ta’avao, Cameron Suafoa and Adrian Choat covering the forwards while Taufa Funaki, Corey Evans and Cole Forbes covering the backline.
The Blues will host the Drua at 7.05pm this Saturday at Eden Park in Auckland.
In other quarter finals this weekend, the Chiefs will play the Reds at 7.05pm tomorrow, the Hurricanes will host the Rebels at 4.35pm Saturday and the Brumbies will play the Highlanders at 9.35pm Saturday.
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