There is no space for code-hopping star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in the Blues’ matchday 23 for their Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final against the Waratahs at Eden Park on Friday.<\/p>\n
Tuivasa-Sheck has struggled to find his feet this season and head coach Leon MacDonald has opted to leave him out with Harry Plummer being preferred on the bench.<\/p>\n
In the starting line-up, Dalton Papalii captains the team from the side of the scrum alongside Hoskins Sotutu and Akira Ioane in a blockbuster back-row.<\/p>\n
Tom Robinson is named in the second-row with James Tucker whilst prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi is joined by Ricky Riccitelli and Nepo Laulala in the front-row.<\/p>\n
Veteran superstar, Beauden Barrett returns from injury to start at fly-half alongside scrum-half Finlay Christie in the half-back pairing.<\/p>\n
Bryce Heem and the dynamic Rieko Ioane partner in the midfield with full-back Zarn Sullivan and wings Mark Telea and AJ Lam completing the back-three.<\/p>\n
On the pine, hooker Kurt Eklund is in line to win his 50th cap and is joined by Jordan Lay and Mark Renata as front-row options. Cameron Suafoa and the talented Anton Segner are the other forward replacements.<\/p>\n
Scrum-half Sam Nock is joined by Plummer and All Black Stephen Perofeta as backline substitutions.<\/p>\n
MacDonald said the side has been hard at work for the clash and is looking to put in a big performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were in early this week to get clarity for what we want to achieve against the Waratahs,\u201d said MacDonald.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s happened in the regular season means nothing on Friday night. Knockout footy brings a special kind of intensity, it\u2019s where we learn about players under pressure and we\u2019re looking forward to putting on a performance for our home fans, our friends and families.\u201d<\/p>\n
The coach also expects a backlash from the Waratahs after their final-round loss to Moana Pasifika last weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou never want to face a team after a loss, they will be hurting and out to spoil our party at Eden Park,” he said. “We\u2019ve seen when they put it together, they\u2019re a very dangerous outfit so we need to show up on Friday night prepared for a battle.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Papalii simplified the situation and believes the team is ready to stand up and produce.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a simple equation in front of us \u2013 win and we advance. That\u2019s all we want from this match and all we expect of ourselves,” he said. “Finals footy brings out a different beast, you play for these big matches and big moments and the team are ready to stand up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Mark Telea, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 Bryce Heem, 11 AJ Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Fin Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papalii (c), 6 Akira Ioane, 5 James Tucker, 4 Tom Robinson, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ofa Tuungafasi
\nReplacements: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Jordan Lay, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Cameron Suafoa, 20 Anton Segner, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Stephen Perofeta<\/p>\n