The Blues welcome back some of their big guns for this weekend's Super Rugby clash with the Waratahs.
Experienced All Blacks trio Augustine Pulu, Patrick Tuipulotu and Jerome Kaino are back in the starting line-up for Saturday's match at Brookvale Oval.
The return of the star players is positive news for the Blues, with Pulu having played 30 minutes off the bench last week, while Tuipulotu missed the game with illness. Kaino returns after a hamstring strain that sidelined him for three games.
"We have some key players starting to slowly return over the next couple of weeks, but it is welcome news to have these three players back, not just with their rugby ability but especially their experience," said coach Tana Umaga.
Pulu will partner Stephen Perofeta in the halves, with Caleb Clarke making his Blues debut on the left wing. Rieko Ioane and Orbyn Leger are again paired in the midfield.
Tumua Manu, who has scored in each of his two games, moves to the right wing to allow for the selection Clarke, son of Blues great Eroni, who has recovered from appendicitis that ruled him out of the All Black Sevens team at the Commonwealth Games.
"It is back to the basics again for us," Umaga said. "We need to win our set piece and the collision, hold our discipline, play positively with patience with some go-forward ball, communicate well and defend to plan," said Umaga.
"We are working hard. Each week we do some things well, but one or two things let us down. We know this is a tough test with our young and inexperienced team, but we are ready to put a performance together."
Blues:1. Pauliasi Manu 2. James Parsons, 3. Sione Mafileo, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 5. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 6. Jerome Kaino, 7. Dalton Papalii, 8. Akira Ioane, 9. Augustine Pulu (c), 10. Stephen Perofeta, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Rieko Ioane, 13. Orbyn Leger , 14. Tumua Manu, 15. Matt Duffie
Reserves: 16. Matt Moulds, 17. Pauliasi Manu, 18. Mike Tamoaieta, 19. Ben Nee-Nee/Lyndon Dunshea, 20. Murphy Taramai, 21. Jonathan Ruru, 22. Dan Kirkpatrick, 23. Terrence Hepetema.
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