SHECK TO DEBUT | SUAFOA RETURNS
PJ Sheck will make his debut this weekend while Cam Suafoa is back in the Blues 23 following cancer treatment as the team prepare to face the Melbourne Rebels at AAMI Park on Friday night.
Sheck, who made one appearance for the Highlanders last season joins the experienced Ricky Riccitelli and Ofa Tu’ungafasi in the front row for his debut at Tighthead Prop on Friday night.
Meanwhile, Cam Suafoa, who has spent large parts of the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season on the sidelines undergoing radiation treatment for a cancerous tumor in his back, miraculously returns to the Blues 23 this weekend after only finishing his radiation treatment in early April.
Laghlan McWhannell gets another chance to start at Lock while Blues Head Coach, Vern Cotter, has opted for the same Loose Forward trio of Anton Segner, Dalton Papali’i and Hoskins Sotutu to round out the forward pack.
In the backline, Caleb Clarke returns to start on his preferred Left Wing, meaning Mark Tele’a switches back to the 14 jersey for Friday night against the Rebels.
Versatile AJ Lam gets his first start at Second Five-Eight this season playing outside industrious First Five-Eight, Harry Plummer.
Cotter said the team have benefitted from staying in Australia this week as they prepare for Friday’s encounter.
“It’s been good to connect as a group, take stock and get a decent training block under our belt in pleasant conditions here on the Sunshine Coast,” said Cotter.
“A quick look at the Super Rugby table tells you all you need to know about the Rebels – they’ve won five matches this season and are well entrenched in the top eight.”
“I was proud of how we didn’t panic and showed belief in each other against the Reds. We’ll need that same level of composure on Friday night against the Rebels if we want to compete.”
Cotter believes the team are building nicely at this stage in the season but is imploring his troops to continue to work hard each week.
“This competition is tough, if we want to maintain our spot near the top of the standings we have to perform on Friday before a run of home matches that will test us all over again,” he said.
The Blues play the Melbourne Rebels on Friday, kicking off at 9:35pm (NZT) at AAMI Park.
Blues:
Ofa Tu’ungafasi
Ricky Riccitelli
PJ Sheck*
Patrick Tuipulotu (c)
Laghlan McWhannell
Anton Segner
Dalton Papali’i
Hoskins Sotutu
Taufa Funaki
Harry Plummer
Caleb Clarke
AJ Lam
Rieko Ioane
Mark Tele’a
Cole Forbes
Reserves:
Kurt Eklund
Joshua Fusitu’a
Marcel Renata
Sam Darry
Cam Suafoa
Sam Nock
Corey Evans
Bryce Heem
*debut
Players not considered: Finlay Christie (groin), Stephen Perofeta (shoulder), Zarn Sullivan (knee), Rob Rush (calf), Akira Ioane (paternity leave)
Friday 3 May
Melbourne Rebels v Blues
Kick-off 9:35pm (NZT)
AAMI Park, Melbourne
LIVE on Sky Sport, Stan Sport, Gold Sport & iHeart Radio