Preview: Sunwolves v Blues

The Blues travel to Tokyo this weekend to take on the Sunwolves for the very first time as the pair's Super Rugby seasons come to an end.

Powerhouses during the Super 12 and Super 14 eras, the Auckland-based team have struggled in recent years, and it's been no surprise that they were one of New Zealand's poorest teams again this season.

The current format of the game has not been kind to Tana Umaga's side, who, in sixth place in the Australasian Group, have won more games and picked up more points than the Brumbies, who are second, and guaranteed a place in the play-offs.

But, they can have no complaints as they were just not good enough this year, and will be looking to end the campaign on a high note against a Sunwolves outfit that's picked up just one win – against the Bulls – and are looking like a deer in the headlights.

The Japan-based side have been hapless in recent weeks, and were handed hidings in Cape Town and Johannesburg by the Stormers and the Lions. And, they will have to be at their very best to avoid the same happening when the three-time Super 12 champions visit the Japanese capital.

Recent history of New Zealand sides arriving at the Sunwolves does not bode well for the hosts too as the only other side who have made the trip were the Hurricanes, who blew them away 83-17 in the opening round of this season.

Players to watch:

For Sunwolves: Captain Willie Britz, the former Lions and Cheetahs loose forward, is just about the most recognisable name in the team to many rugby fans, and his experience of having previously played in the Currie Cup and Super Rugby, should make him the standout player for Filo Tiatia's team.

For Blues: Gone are the days when the Blues had experienced All Blacks all over the park, and that's evident in where they find themselves in the Australasian Group. There will be no Sonny Bill Williams, who is currently serving the second week of his four week ban following a sending off for the All Blacks. But, he won't be missed against the Sunwolves. All Black tighthead Charlie Faumuina will be playing his final Super Rugby game for the Blues, and his team-mates will be looking to sending him off in style ahead of a move to Toulouse in France.

Team news: The Sunwolves will continue without the services of lock Sam Wykes and full-back Yasutaka Sasakura, with South African Riaan Viljoen starting in the number 15 jersey.

TJ Faiane starts at 12 in the place of the suspended Williams, with Melani Nanai taking Rieko Ioane's place on the left wing. Ioane misses out through illness. Having started all three of the All Blacks Tests against the Lions, Jerome Kaino moves to the bench, and his place is taken by Akira Ioane.

Form: The Sunwolves haven't been good at all this year, and have managed just one win. They should be worried that they could carry their form for the last two games into this encounter against Umaga's team.

The men from New Zealand were run pretty close by the Reds in their last game of the competition ahead of the Test window, and played an encouraging 16-all draw against the Chiefs the previous week. They will be confident that they can end the season on a high against a poor Sunwolves side.

Prediction: If the Blues get going, it's going to be raining tries. Blues by 40.

The teams:

Sunwolves: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 13 Willy Tupou, 12 Timothy Lafaele, 11 Kenki Fukuoka, 10 Tu Tamura, 9 Keisuke Uchida, 8 Willie Britz (c), 7 Shuhei Matsuhashi, 6 Malgene Ilaua, 5 Uwe Helu, 4 Kotaro Yatabe, 3 Koo Jiwon, 2 Takeshi Hino, 1 Koki Yamamoto
Replacements: 16 Yusuke Niwai, 17 Keita Inagaki, 18 Yasuo Yamaji, 19 Yuya Odo, 20 Yoshitaka Tokunaga, 21 Kaito Shigeno, 22 Jumpei Ogura, 23 Ryohei Yamanaka

Blues: 15 Michael Collins, 14 Matt Duffie, 13 George Moala, 12 TJ Faiane, 11 Melani Nanai, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Steven Luatua, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Scott Scrafton, 4 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 James Parsons (c), 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Replacements: 16 Hame Faiva, 17 Pauliasi Manu, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Josh Goodhue, 20 Jerome Kaino, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Stephen Perofeta, 23 Rene Ranger

Date: Saturday, July 15
Venue: Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo
Kick-off: 12:05 local (03:05 GMT)
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant Referees: Akihisa Aso, Tasuku Takawahara
TMO: Minoru Fuji