Sotutu to start for Blues against the Highlanders

Hoskins Sotutu who has links to Fiji has been named in the starting line-up for the Blues against the Highlanders in Super Rugby Aotearoa tomorrow.

With captain Patrick Tuipulotu still recovering from a neck injury, loose-forward Tom Robinson will continue to lead the Blues.

The Northland flanker first took over the reins of leadership in the Blues' tight win over the Hurricanes last week.

Prop Ofa Tuungafasi will play his 100th game for the Blues, and will be teaming up with All Black Karl Tu'inukuafe and Lutero Tolai in the front-row.

Akira Ioane will provide impact off the bench, with coach Leon MacDonald opting for Sotutu, Dalton Papalii and Robinson as his loose-forward trio.

This is the 8th round of Super Rugby Aotearoa with only two rounds left before the final on May 8.

There is one more round left to play in Super Rugby Australia before the qualifying final on the 1st of May and the final on May 8.

After the final, the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition kicks-off on May 14th with the Highlanders hosting the Reds at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.

In Super Rugby Aotearoa this week, the Highlanders will take on the Blues at 7.05pm tomorrow and the Crusaders will face the Chiefs at 7.05pm Saturday.

Blues:

1-Karl Tu'inukuafe, 2-Lutero Tolai, 3-Ofa Tuungafasi, 4-Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 5-Sam Drury, 6-Tom Robinson. 7-Dalton Papalii, 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Jonathan Ruru, 10-Otere Black, 11-Caleb Clarke, 12-TJ Faiane, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Mark Telea, 15-Stephen Perofeta. Reserves: 16-Leni Apisai, 17-Alex Hodgman, 18-Nepo Laulala, 19-Josh Goodhue, 20-Akira Ioane, 21-Finlay Christie, 22-Harry Plummer, 23-Bryce Heem

Highlanders:

1-Ayden Johnstone, 2-Ash Dixon (cc), 3-Siate Tokolahi, 4-Bryn Evans, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-Billy Harmon, 8-Kazuki Himeno, 9-Aaron Smith (cc), 10-Mitch Hunt, 11-Jona Nareki, 12-Scott Gregory, 13-Patelsio Tomkinson, 14-Ngataungane Punivai, 15-Josh Ioane.

Reserves: 16-Liam Coltman, 17-Ethan De Groot, 18-Josh Hohneck, 19-Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20-Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, 21-Kayne Hammington, 22-Michael Collins, 23-James Lentjes.

[Source: newshub.co.nz]