Sotutu, Narawa, Hodgman in Blues Match 23

Auckland: Blues coach Leon MacDonald has sent a clear message with his first selection of the year to face the Chiefs tomorrow with enigmatic No.8 Akira Ioane dumped in favour of rising young star Hoskins Sotutu.

The others of Fijian connection are prop Alex Hodgman and former Queen Victoria School’s pivot Emoni Narawa.

Sotutu is the son of former national rep Waisake Sotutu, who was vice-captain at the 1999 RugbyWorld Cup MacDonald has named four debutants in his starting XV for the Eden Park season opener and another two on the bench as he brings in a healthy swag of freshness to kick things off in 2020.

The second-year Blues coach was not looking to make too much of his preference for the 21-year-old Sotutu ahead of the blockbusting Ioane who was an ever-present for the franchise over the previous two Super Rugby seasons. But there is no mistaking the message it sends.

Sotutu, who won his only two caps at the tail-end of last year, is a powerful young player on the rise who has been playing well. Ioane, one of the most frustrating figures in the New Zealand game, is coming off a sub-par provincial season and his stock has taken a severe dip.

The easy call would have been to send Ioane out with a flea in his ear; the bold one is to give the form youngster the first shot which sends a fairly direct message to both parties.

Ioane does not even make the match day 23, while his younger brother Rieko Ioane, who confirmed his intention to play as much of his rugby as possible this year at centre, opens the campaign on the left wing for what will be his 50th appearance for the franchise. At the ripe old age of 22.

LINE-UP

BLUES: Matt Duffie, Mark Telea, Joe Marchant, TJ Faiane, Rieko Ioane, Stephen Perofeta, Jonathan Ruru; Hoskins Sotutu, Tony Lamborn, Dalton Papalii, Tom Robinson, Patrick Tuipoulotu (capt), Sione Mafileo, Kurt Eklund, Alex Hodgman.

Reserves: Ray Niuia, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi, Josh Goodhue, Blake Gibson, Sam Nock, Harry Plummer, Emoni Narawa.

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEKEND

Round One: Friday; 6.05pm Blues v Chiefs, 8.15pm Brumbies v Reds; Saturday; 5.10am Sharks v Bulls, 3.45pm Sunwolves v Rebels, 6.05pm Crusaders v Waratahs; Sunday: 1.05am Stormers v Hurricanes, 11am Jaguares-Lions. - Rugby News