Blues v Crusaders - 19 May 2018

INVESTEC SUPER RUGBY OFFICIAL MATCH PROGRAMME | SATURDAY 19 MAY 2018

BLUES VS crusaders

JHB 62068/OJ

The Goose Step instead of a pass

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JHB 62132/OJ

Welcome Investec Super Rugby | Top 15 It’s time for another round of top quality rugby as we look forward to the 2018 season of Investec Super Rugby. The Crusaders will be defending their title of champions against some of the fiercest competition in the code.

For the eighth consecutive year, Investec is the title sponsor of all games played in New Zealand. As enablers of international rugby, we are thrilled to continue our association with this prestigious competition.

We look forward to the contests among the best of the southern hemisphere’s clubs, and wish all players and supporters well.

Regards Malcolm Fried

About Investec Investec is an international specialist bank and asset manager that provides a diverse range of financial products and services to a select client base in three principal markets – the UK and Europe, South Africa and Asia/Australia as well as certain other countries. The group was established in 1974 and currently has approximately 9 900 employees.

Investec focuses on delivering distinctive profitable solutions for its clients in three core areas of activity namely: Asset Management, Wealth & Investment and Specialist Banking.

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MATCH PREVIEW:

blues vs crusaders HEAD TO HEAD 2018 STATS RANK 11

24.0

POINTS PER GAME

31.7

RANK 3

RANK 12

75%

GOAL KICKING %

75%

RANK 11

RANK 5

450.5

METRES MADE

433.5

RANK 11

RANK 8

11.5

CLEAN BREAKS

11.9

RANK 7

RANK 2

26.5

DEFENDERS BEATEN

22.1

RANK 12

RANK 2

12.7

OFFLOADS

8.3

RANK 8

RANK 3

7.8

TURNOVERS WON

6.0

RANK 13

OVERALL HEAD TO HEAD RESULTS OVERALL GAMES: 30

11 WINS

19 WINS BLUES VS CRUSADERS | 19 MAY 20 18 5

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2degrees. Backing NZ’s rugby teams 2degrees.nz/rugby

ORBYN LEGER

A Big Tick in the Leger A young man who came into the Blues as a two-week replacement and has now earned five caps as a starter including an eye-catching try.

Twenty-one-year-old Orbyn Leger from Counties Manukau has earned his stripes not only with his excellent performances on the park, but his impressive work ethic on the training ground.

Leger was originally from West Auckland before the family moved when his mother became a teacher at Wesley College and his father – a former Counties Manukau and Tonga midfielder – became the 1st XV coach.

“I started playing rugby when I was five and played my early club for Pukekohe,” Orbyn said.

His parents gave him a choice of high schools, and with both parents heavily involved at Wesley, he decided to head to Hamilton Boys as a boarder.

“I thought it would be good to start on my own and learn to cope on my own.”

He advanced to the 1st XV and on leaving school, had the choice of rugby academies in the Waikato, Counties or Auckland.

“I choose Counties because there was a scholarship with it to AUT,” said Leger who is completing a Bachelor's Degree in Sport. “And there were lots of familiar faces there.”

After strong performances for the Counties side at the Under-19 national tournament, he forced his way into selection last year for the New Zealand Under-20s successful tilt at the world championship title.

That led to selection in

the Counties Manukau team for the Mitre-10 Cup. And then he was asked to come in pre-season as a short-term replacement in the Blues side.

He has earned a starting role alongside Rieko Ioane and then with Sonny Bill Williams.

“I was pretty, star-struck to tell the truth. I thought holy cow. But Sonny was awesome – he’s a good talker and helped me find my feet.

I have learned so much from both of them.”

The highlight was his superb try against the Hurricanes when he received a typical brilliant pass in traffic from Sonny.

“I knew he would get free for something during the game so I stuck around and kept close to him.”

Orbyn has loved his opportunity and the experience in Super Rugby – something he hopes will grow to a full contract in 2019.

BLUES VS CRUSADERS | 19 MAY 20 18 7

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LEON MACDONALD

Excited By Blues Challenge The 56-Test All Black, and current Tasman coach Leon MacDonald is already excited about his move to the Blues for the 2019 Super Rugby season.

Leon was named this week as the assistant coach for the Blues under coach Tana Umaga for 2019.

In fact he played for the Crusaders in 2003 Super Rugby final, when the Blues won the title, and remembers that moment and the successful Blues teams of that era.

"The Blues teams that we encountered they were physical and they were abrasive and they were nearly impossible to beat at home.

I've seen what the Blues can be like and it's fresh in my memory, so to be sitting inside this room is a little bit surreal to a degree, but it only takes one day to start rubbing shoulders and you become really passionate about your team and I'm looking forward to meeting the players here.

"I can't wait to be involved coaching a team at Eden Park as the home ground."

After one year as an assistant coach for the Crusaders, Leon returned to his home in Blenheim, but nearly two years on, the time was right for him to move.

“In terms of a rugby challenge then this is the biggest and best there is. The Blues have not performed to their potential and I am excited by that challenge.

The talent here is huge, I am encouraged by the number of key players who are signing on for long periods at the Blues. The facilities at the Blues are outstanding and the support here is impressive.

“It is also the right time for my wife and my family – so they are looking forward to it.”

He will take on the reins as back attack coach which was a key to his decision.

“That is the role that I am passionate about.”

It will also reunite Leon and Tana who coached together in the successful New Zealand Under-20 world championship winning side of 2015.

He will coach Tasman in this year’s Mitre-10 Cup before heading north.

BLUES VS CRUSADERS | 19 MAY 20 18 9

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PLAYER STATS Pauliasi Manu James Parsons

1.84 M | 115 KG | 30 YR | 28 BLUES SR CAPS

1.85 M | 106 KG | 31 YR | 88 BLUES SR CAPS

Ofa Tuungafasi

Gerard Cowley-Tuioti

1.95 M | 129 KG | 25 YR | 62 BLUES SR CAPS

1.96 M | 112 KG | 25 YR | 23 BLUES SR CAPS

Matiaha Martin

Jerome Kaino

2.01 M | 112 KG | 25 YR

1.96 M | 109 KG | 34 YR | 134 BLUES SR CAPS

Dalton Papalii

Akira Ioane

1.91 M | 95 KG | 20 YR | 5 BLUES SR CAPS

1.94 M | 113 KG | 23 YR | 42 BLUES SR CAPS

Augustine Pulu

Stephen Perofeta

1.80 M | 89 KG | 28 YR | 19 BLUES SR CAPS

1.80 M | 85 KG | 21 YR | 10 BLUES SR CAPS

Rieko Ioane

Sonny Bill Williams

1.88 M | 103 KG | 20 YR | 30 BLUES SR CAPS

1.91 M | 108 KG | 32 YR | 10 BLUES SR CAPS

Orbyn Leger

Melani Nanai

1.83 M | 89 KG | 21 YR | 5 BLUES SR CAPS

1.94 M | 90 KG | 24 YR | 44 BLUES SR CAPS

Matt Duffie

Matt Moulds

1.92 M | 92 KG | 27 YR | 30 BLUES SR CAPS

1.88 M | 108 KG | 26 YR | 19 BLUES SR CAPS

Ross Wright

Sione Mafileo

1.80 M | 116 KG | 31 YR | 9 BLUES SR CAPS

1.77 M | 130 KG | 25 YR | 27 BLUES SR CAPS

Ben Nee-Nee

Murphy Taramai

2.00 M | 115 KG | 24 YR | 4 BLUES SR CAPS

1.87 M | 98 KG | 25 YR | 16 BLUES SR CAPS

Jonathan Ruru

Daniel Kirkpatrick

1.83 M | 94 KG | 25 YR | 10 BLUES SR CAPS

1.81 M | 88 KG | 29 YR | 4 BLUES SR CAP

Michael Collins 1.87 M | 94 KG | 24 YR | 20 BLUES SR CAPS

BLUES VS HIGHL ANDDERS | 20 APRIL 20 18 1 1

COACH

BLUE crusa

ASSISTANT COACHES

Tana Umaga

Alistair Rogers Steve Jackson Dave Ellis

MANAGER Richard Fry

15

Matt Duffie

14

Melani Nanai

13

7.35pm SATURDA EDEN

Orbyn Leger

12

Sonny Bill Williams

11

Rieko Ioane

10

Stephen Perofeta

9

Augustine Pulu

8

Akira Ioane Dalton Papalii

7

(Murphy Taramai)

6 RESERVES 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Matt Moulds Ross Wright Sione Mafileo Ben Nee-Nee Murphy Taramai* Jonathan Ruru Daniel Kirkpatrick Michael Collins *(Antonio Kiri Kiri)

Jerome Kaino

5

Matiaha Martin

4

Gerard Cowley-Tuioti

3

Ofa Tuungafasi

2

James Parsons

1

Pauliasi Manu

REFE

Glen Ja

ASSISTANT

Cam S Angus

TM

Shane Mc

ES VS aders

ASSISTANT COACHES Brad Mooar Andrew Goodman Jason Ryan Ronan O'Gara

ackson

T REFEREES

Stone Mabey

MO

cDermott

MANAGER Shane Fletcher

15

David Havili

14

Seta Tamanivalu

DAY 19 MAY 2018 PARK

EREE

COACH Scott Robertson

13

Jack Goodhue

12

Ryan Crotty

11

George Bridge

10

Richie Mo'unga

9

Bryn Hall

8

Jordan Taufua

7

Matt Todd

6

Heiden Bedwell-Curtis

5

Quinten Strange

4

Scott Barrett

3

Owen Franks

2

Codie Taylor Tim Perry

1

RESERVES

Andrew Makalio Wyatt Crockett Michael Alaalatoa Mitchell Dunshea Pete Samu Mitchell Drummond Mitchell Hunt Manasa Mataele

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

PLAYER STATS Tim Perry 1.88 M | 116 KG | 29 YR

Codie Taylor

Owen Franks

1.83 M | 106 KG | 27 YR

1.85 M | 118 KG | 30 YR

Scott Barrett

Quinten Strange

1.97 M | 112 KG | 24 YR

2.00 M | 108 KG | 21 YR

Heiden Bedwell-Curtis

Matt Todd

1.88 M | 104 KG | 26 YR

1.86 M | 105 KG | 30 YR

Jordan Taufua

Bryn Hall

1.82 M | 100 KG | 26 YR

1.83 M | 93 KG | 26 YR

Ritchie Mo'unga

George Bridge

1.79 M | 86 KG | 23 YR

1.85 M | 95 KG | 23 YR

Ryan Crotty

Jack Goodhue

1.81 M | 96 KG | 29 YR

1.87 M | 100 KG | 22 YR

Seta Tamanivalu

David Havili

1.89 M | 105 KG | 25 YR

1.84 M | 88 KG | 23 YR

Andrew Makalio

Wyatt Crockett

1.82 KG | 111 KG | 26 YR

1.93 M | 116 KG | 35 YR

Michael Alaalatoa

Mitchell Dunshea

1.90 M | 136 KG | 26 YR

1.96 M | 107 KG | 22 YR

Pete Samu

Mitchell Drummond

1.85 M | 101 KG | 26 YR

1.80 M | 84 KG | 24 YR

Mitchell Hunt

Manasa Mataele

1.74 M | 80 KG | 23 YR

1.85 M | 100 KG | 21 YR

1 4 BLUES VS CRUSADERS | 19 MAY 20 18

*than the average carb content of leading NZ beer.

NEW

enter potato olympics BE IN TO WIN GROCERY VOUCHERS There’s a bundle of fun and a great game to watch when the Blues take on the Rebels after their bye week.

The game, with the early kick-off of 5:15pm, is at Eden Park on Saturday 2 June – the final round of Super Rugby before the June International break.

With the early kick-off it is a perfect family outing so we’re offering free entry for one child with every paying adult. This is available for any seat; Bronze (GA), Silver, Gold or Platinum.

Our Match Day sponsor is the super popular Bhana Family Farms – and they’ll be giving away 2.5kg bags of potatoes. What’s more we have the Potato Olympics at halftime – four families of four people (2 adults/2 kids) competing to win great grocery vouchers – everyone wins a prize. To enter email your contact details to

info@theblues.co.nz and enter 'Potato Olympics' in the email subject line.

We’ll even have a MILO Fan Zone – where you can meet players, collect a free team poster and have a go at blending your own MILO drink on the MILO blender bikes.

Get along for the pre-match and catch the return of the Little Blues Rugby thanks to our sponsor Barfoot & Thompson.

Buy your tickets before gates open to save, and remember that travel on trains and special event buses to and from the match, is included with your match ticket.

BLUES VS CRUSADERS | 19 MAY 20 18 1 7

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Low GI

y erg d en e n i a sust to provide

Sourc e of Protein

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8 Vit amins & Minerals *When MILOÂŽ and milk is consumed as part of a healthy diet containing a variety of foods.

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PLAY ON

2018 STANDINGS NEW ZEALAND CONFERENCE

CRUSADERS HURRICANES HIGHLANDERS CHIEFS BLUES AUSTRALIAN CONFERENCE

WARATAHS REBELS REDS BRUMBIES SUNWOLVES SOUTH AFRICAN CONFERENCE

LIONS JAGUARES BULLS SHARKS STORMERS

P

W

D

L

F

A

DIF

BP

PTS

11 10 10 10 11

9 9 7 7 3

0 0 0 0 0

2 1 3 3 8

353 331 290 283 264

199 179 248 214 345

154 152 42 69 -81

6 5 4 3 5

42 41 32 31 17

P

W

D

L

F

A

DIF

BP

PTS

10 11 10 10 10

5 5 4 3 1

1 0 0 0 0

4 6 6 7 9

298 294 198 207 240

262 327 303 254 398

36 -33 -105 -47 -158

4 5 1 3 2

26 25 17 16 6

P

W

D

L

F

A

DIF

BP

PTS

12 11 11 11 12

6 6 5 4 5

0 0 0 1 0

6 5 6 6 7

380 257 297 329 303

345 304 296 328 330

43 -47 1 1 -27

7 0 4 6 2

31 24 24 24 23

OVERALL

CRUSADERS LIONS WARATAHS HURRICANES HIGHLANDERS CHIEFS REBELS JAGUARES BULLS SHARKS STORMERS BLUES REDS BRUMBIES SUNWOLVES

2 0 BLUES VS CRUSADERS | 19 MAY 20 18

PTS

42 31 26 41 32 31 25 24 24 24 23 17 17 16 6

2018 FIXTURES ROUND

MATCH RESULT

2

HIGHLANDERS VS BLUES

3

BLUES VS CHIEFS

4

LIONS VS BLUES

5

STORMERS VS BLUES

7

BLUES VS SHARKS

8

CHIEFS VS BLUES

9

SUNWOLVES VS BLUES

10

BLUES VS HIGHLANDERS

11

BLUES VS JAGUARES

12

WARATAHS VS BLUES

13

BLUES VS HURRICANES

14

BLUES VS CRUSADERS

-

16

BLUES VS REBELS

-

17

BLUES VS REDS

-

18

HURRICANES VS BLUES

-

19

CRUSADERS VS BLUES

-

Fri 23 Feb | Forsyth Barr Stadium | 7:35PM Fri 2 Mar | Eden Park | 7:35PM Sun 11 Mar | Emirates Airlines Park | 4:15AM Sun 18 Mar | DHL Newlands | 2:05AM Sat 31 Mar | Eden Park | 7:35PM Sat 7 Apr | FMG Stadium | 7:35PM Sat 14 Apr | Chichibunomiya Stadium | 3:05PM Fri 20 Apr | Eden Park | 7:35PM

Sat 28 Apr | Eden Park | 7:35PM Sat 5 May | Allianz Stadium | 5:05PM Fri 11 May | Eden Park | 7:35PM

Sat 19 May | Eden Park | 7:35PM Fri 2 jun | Eden Park | 5:15PM Fri 29 Jun | Eden Park | 7:35PM Sat 7 Jul | Westpac Stadium | 7:35PM Sat 14 Jul | AMI Stadium | 7:35PM

ROUND 14 MATCHES

HURRICANES v REDS

L

41-34

L

21-27

W

35-38

L

37-20

WARATAHS V HIGHLANDERS

L

40-63

SHARKS V CHIEFS

L

21-19

LIONS V BRUMBIES

W

10-24

JAGUARES V BULLS

18 May | Wellington | 7:35 PM

SUNWOLVES V STORMERS 19 May | Hong Kong | 7:35 PM

BLUES V CRUSADERS

19 May | Auckland | 7:35 PM

19 May | Sydney | 9:45 PM

20 May | Durban | 1:05 AM

20 May | Johannesburg | 3:15 AM

20 May | Buenos Aires | 9:40 AM L

16-34

L

13-20

W

L

21-24

15-36

BLUES VS CRUSADERS | 19 MAY 20 18 2 1

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