Preview: Blues v Chiefs

The Chiefs will be looking to make it 12 successive Super Rugby wins over the Blues when the two teams meet at Eden Park on Friday.

Not since 2011 have the Blues come out on top in this fixture as from then on it has been a nightmare run against the two-time champions. They will be desperate for that to change especially after no doubt feeling unhappy with their recent defeat to the Stormers at Newlands.

Currently the Blues are 10 points off the fourth-placed Highlanders in the New Zealand Conference and finishing above them would probably secure a play-off spot, such is the form of the country’s franchises. Subsequently this game on their home patch is vital to their hopes.

For the Chiefs they will also be hurting after losing to the red-hot Crusaders but they’re still in a strong position, albeit one that is likely to see them travel from the semi-final stage. In truth, top position in New Zealand looks all but sealed for those unbeaten Crusaders.

What may give the Chiefs hope of replicating their impressive win over the Blues from Round Two is that they have won three of their last four regular-season away games against fellow New Zealand opposition; three of those four matches were won by the team trailing at half-time.

They face a Blues side whose situation on the table this season has been down to losses against their countrymen – they have won only one of their last 21 New Zealand derbies, despite leading at half-time in four of their last seven – which they simply must change on Friday.

How the Chiefs picked apart the Blues early in the campaign is hard to ignore and while the Blues have improved since then, Dave Rennie’s outfit are rightly favourites, with the Blues also having to factor in a long flight back from Cape Town compared to Fiji for the Chiefs.

Put simply, the hosts need all of their All Blacks to make statements to the national selectors this week and if they can create for the likes of the Ioane brothers then a Blues win is by no means impossible in Auckland.

Gaining such front-foot ball against this streetwise Chiefs side though will be difficult, but with the weather forecast suggesting rain throughout the day that may be a leveller in an intriguing game to kick-off Round 14.

The last time the teams met: The Chiefs ran out 41-26 winners in Hamilton earlier this season. First-half tries from Liam Messam, Damian McKenzie and Hika Elliot saw them go into the break 22-9 ahead before Lachlan Boshier and James Lowe crossed early after the break, with Anton Lienert-Brown also getting on the board. The Blues, despite having Steven Luatua red carded towards the end of the first-half, got second-half scores from Patrick Tuipulotu, Charlie Faumuina and Rene Ranger but it was too little too late as the Chiefs got the maximum.

Players to watch: As mentioned above the Blues only really clicked into gear against the Chiefs in Round Two when lock Patrick Tuipulotu and prop Charlie Faumuina came off the bench. They start this time around and will be key to their hopes on Friday, with the former also hoping to press his claims to return to the All Blacks matchday squad. The Blues need both to have a big impact if they are to prevail.

For the Chiefs we were impressed with fly-half Aaron Cruden last week in Fiji. While his goal-kicking was poor – no doubt he would have worked hard on that during the week – his form in every other aspect was excellent. He set up Tim Nanai-Williams with his break and pass before his kick led to James Lowe crossing. Cruden also claimed a try, but no doubt he will rue those missed kicks at goal at full-time.

Team news: All Black Patrick Tuipulotu returns to the Blues’ starting line-up, while Michael Collins also returns at full-back after both came off the bench for the match against the Stormers in South Africa last weekend. Charlie Faumuina will make his 98th appearance for the Blues and is in superlative form this season, setting up two tries in the game against the Stormers. Two others will near milestones with wing Matt Duffie and prop Sione Mafileo playing their 19th games for the Blues, one cap away from their blazer games. Piers Francis will start at fly-half after coming off with a head injury against the Stormers while there is interest in the potential debut of former New Zealand U20s player Stephen Perofeta, who is listed on the bench. Perofeta has been sidelined with an ankle injury for most of the season.

Chiefs head coach Dave Rennie has made three changes to the starting line-up for Friday. There’s just one change to the forward pack with number eight Liam Messam contributing 156 caps of experience to the starting XV. The remaining two changes effect the backline with Johnny Faauli returning to the playing 23 to start at inside centre. The potent midfielder reunites with Anton Lienert-Brown who moves out to 13.

Form: The Blues had a three-game winning streak ended last week at the Stormers as they went down 30-22. Before that they seemed to have turned a corner with victories over the Brumbies, Waratahs and Cheetahs so that was a setback to their slim hopes of making the play-offs.

The Chiefs also lost last week, going down 31-24 to the Crusaders in a thrilling game in Suva. They had won their previous four games but know that loss to their New Zealand rivals has left them with a tough job in usurping them at the summit. They are 11 points behind them but do have a game in hand. They have averaged four tries per game in 2017 and concede just two while the Blues score four and leak three.

Prediction: In big games the Chiefs tend to stand up. They looked solid last week in defeat and we fancy them to bounce back. Chiefs by 5.

Previous results:

2017: Chiefs won 41-26 in Hamilton
2016: Chiefs won 29-23 in Hamilton
2015: Chiefs won 23-16 in Hamilton
2015: Chiefs won 23-18 in Albany
2014: Chiefs won 11-8 in Auckland
2014: Chiefs won 32-20 in New Plymouth
2013: Chiefs won 26-16 in Auckland
2013: Chiefs won 23-16 in Mount Maunganui

The teams:

Blues: 15 Michael Collins, 14 Matt Duffie, 13 George Moala, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Piers Francis, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Scott Scrafton, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 James Parsons (c), 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Replacements: 16 Hame Faiva, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 20 Kara Pryor, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Stephen Perofeta, 23 TJ Faiane

Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Tim Nanai-Williams, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Johnny Faauli, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Liam Messam, 7 Sam Cane (c), 6 Mitchell Brown, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Kane Hames
Replacements: 16 Hika Elliot, 17 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi, 18 Atu Moli, 19 Taleni Seu, 20 Lachlan Boshier, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 Solomon Alaimalo, 23 Shaun Stevenson

Date: Friday, May 26
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19:35 local (07:35 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant Referees: Nick Briant, Angus Mabey
TMO: Glenn Newman