Beauden Barrett switches roles for ‘scrambling’ Blues ahead of first Trans-Tasman clash
Blues and All Blacks utility back Beauden Barrett.
After three rounds of Super Rugby Pacific action, All Blacks star Beauden Barrett will finally make a start at fly-half for the Blues when they face the Brumbies in Auckland on Friday.
After clinching their first victory of the season against the Hurricanes in Wellington last week, Blues head coach Vern Cotter has rung the changes to his run-on side as they return to Eden Park.
Cotter has made seven alterations in all, including two positional changes, with Barrett named at fly-half for the defending champions for the first time since 2023.
The 33-year-old utility back missed the Blues‘ victorious 2024 Super Rugby Pacific campaign as he was on sabbatical with Japan Rugby League One outfit Toyota Verblitz.
Cotter named Barrett at full-back for the Blues’ first three matches of the current campaign, against the Chiefs, Highlanders and Hurricanes, and they lost their first two encounters before sealing a narrow victory in the third one against the Hurricanes.
Part of an experienced Blues backline
Barrett will form a halfback combination with Finlay Christie which means Cole Forbes comes into the starting line-up at full-back and he is joined in the back three by All Blacks wings Mark Tele’a and Caleb Clarke, while Rieko Ioane and AJ Lam retain their positions as the starting centres.
In the forwards, Cameron Suafoa shifts from the blindside flank to number eight where he replaces Hoskins Sotutu, who is suspended, and Cam Christie comes in to wear the number six jersey, while Anton Segner takes over from Dalton Papali’i, who sustained a concussion against the Hurricanes.
Captain Patrick Tuipulotu and Josh Beehre continue in the second-row while there are new props in the front-row with Angus Ta’avao and Joshua Fusitu’a replacing Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Marcel Renata respectively, while Ricky Riccitelli retains his spot as the starting hooker.
Nathaniel Pole, Tu’ungafasi, Renata, Tristyn Cook and Che Clark have been named as the forward replacements while Sam Nock, Plummer and Corey Evans will offer backline cover.
Speaking directly after the triumph over the Hurricanes, Cotter was already expecting to make changes for the clash with their first trans-Tasman opposition for the season.
“It’s just the excitement of winning again, and that’ll give the boys a boost,” he said. “Brumbies in six days’ time – we’ve got a few guys down and out as well, so we’ll be scrambling to put a team on the paddock, I would think.
“We’ll see what happens with Hoskins. Dalton came off with a cut above his eye as well, so we’re just going to have to reassess everything – but, first and foremost, enjoy the win, because it was tough and I think we’re improving.”
Cotter expects a tough challenge from the Brumbies this weekend and is keen for his troops to build on their recent victory.
“The challenge against the Hurricanes is what we have come to expect in this competition, and we expect nothing less against the Brumbies who have led the way for Australian teams in this competition for many years,” he said.
“We must continue to improve week-on-week in every aspect of our game. What is clear this year is that every team is stepping up for the whole 80 minutes.
“We showed improvement and when we got on the front foot, we showed that we have game-winners capable of breaching any defence.”
Blues team to face the Brumbies
Blues: 15 Cole Forbes, 14 Mark Tele’a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 AJ Lam, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie; 8 Cameron Suafoa, 7 Anton Segner, 6 Cam Christie, 5 Josh Beehre, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Joshua Fusitu’a
Replacements: Nathaniel Pole, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Marcel Renata, Tristyn Cook, Che Clark, Sam Nock, Harry Plummer, Corey Evans
Date: Friday, March 7
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19:35 local (06:35 GMT)
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Fraser Hannon (New Zealand), Warwick Lahmert (New Zealand)
TMO: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
