Blues get timely Beauden Barrett boost as All Blacks playmaker returns for crunch Western Force clash
Blues and All Blacks fly-half Beauden Barrett.
All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett has been recalled to the Blues’ starting line-up for their Super Rugby Pacific encounter against the Western Force at Eden Park on Friday.
The two-time World Rugby Player of the Year was dropped for last weekend’s defeat to the Reds in Brisbane, but is back at fly-half as Blues head coach Vern Cotter has made numerous changes to his run-on side.
Barrett comes into the starting line-up at the expense of Harry Plummer, who drops out of the matchday 23. Meanwhile, Taufa Funaki joins Barrett in the halfbacks and he replaces Finlay Christie as the starting scrum-half.
Meanwhile, Fresh from signing a one-year contract extension with the Blues 20-year-old Xavi Taele will start at inside centre, with AJ Lam shifting to the left wing in the absence of the suspended Mark Tele’a.
Cole Forbes continues as the starting right wing, while Stephen Perofeta is back in the starting line-up at full-back.
Dalton Papali’i back from injury
Amongst the forwards, All Blacks back-row Dalton Papali’i returns to start on the openside flank after recovering from an ankle injury, and he will be joined loose trio by fellow flanker Anton Segner and Hoskins Sotutu, who starts at number eight.
Elsewhere, Laghlan McWhannell comes into the second-row, partnering with skipper Patrick Tuipulotu, while Marcel Renata is back at tighthead prop after some time on the sidelines due to a calf strain.
Joining Renata and fellow prop Joshua Fusitu’a in the front-row is Ricky Riccitelli, who comes into the run-on side after a strong showing off the bench against the Reds in Round 11, with Kurt Eklund moving to the bench.
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This weekend’s fixture against the Force will be an extra special occasion for reserve flanker Adrian Choat, who is set to come off the bench to make his 50th appearance for the Blues.
Cotter said the Blues are keen to make a statement in front of their home fans.
“The Force are another very good team and we need to lift our intensity to ensure we compete well against them on Friday night,” he said.
“Being consistent across these next four games is really important for us and I know every one of us is working hard to step up.”
With five rounds of matches left of the league phase of Super Rugby Pacific, the Blues – who are the defending champions – are currently languishing in ninth position in the standings and can ill afford another defeat if they want to advance to the play-offs and will be determined to get their campaign on track with a victory over the Force.
Blues team to face the Western Force
Blues: 15 Stephen Perofeta, 14 Cole Forbes, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Xavi Taele, 11 AJ Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Taufa Funaki, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Anton Segner, 5 Laghlan McWhannell, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Joshua Fusitu’a
Replacements: 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
Date: Friday, May 2
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19:05 local (08:05 BST, 07:05 GMT)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Stu Curran (New Zealand), Jackson Henshaw (New Zealand)
TMO: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
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