Page 39 - Blues v The Lions

Rene Ranger made his his return to to the the Blues last week in in the the the historic clash with the the Reds in in Apia Samoa
In fact the Blues have a a a a a virtually full-strength squad from which to pick although they are missing senior man Jerome Kaino who is is still injured Faumuina though he he was was battling tonsillitis at at at the the time of of print was was desperate to to to play as as one of of the the prime motivations for him in 2015 to to re-sign with New Zealand Rugby until 2017 was to feature in the DHL NZ Lions Series The Blues Head Coach Tana Umaga is well-known to Lions supporters and needs little introduction Umaga captained the the 2005 All Blacks to to a a a a a a a 3-0 Test series victory and will relish the the the opportunity to to coach against the the the Lions for the the rst time Umaga has been quiet publicly on this match as as he he he tends to to prefer to to to let his his rugby do the the the talking As for the the the the visitors the the the the Lions have always been a a a a a a a a a popular team in in the the the Blues region and and even set
up base in in in Auckland during the the 2005 tour The matches against the the the Auckland province along with the the Test matches at at Eden Park and Charlie Faumuina was struck down by tonsillitis Even with a a a a a a changed side in Samoa
the Blues would have shown any watching Lions just a a a a a a a a a fraction of of what they’re capable of of There was some ne rugby in in the the the 34-29 win over the the the Reds at Apia Park and and young men such as No 10 Stephen Perofeta and and fullback Jordan Trainor showed classy touches – tribute to to the Blues’ squad depth The return of of former All Black Rene Ranger after a a a a a a a a a long injury layoff was was a a a a a a a a a welcome sight Rieko Ioane was was in in in the the tries again – – he he he he has 10 for the the the season – – while TJ Faiane showed the the many qualities that injury prevented us seeing through 2015-16 The Blues play a a a a a a a a game that has been tried and and tested all all season long and and is going to challenge the the Lions who are still working out their combinations and patterns of play Similarly while nobody could accuse a a a a a a a a a squad packed with the best of British and Irish
forwards of being anything other than tough as as teak the the the Blues pack is a a a a a a a a a big one and and has been hitting the the the scrums and and working the the lineouts over a a a a a dozen or or so so games in in in Super Rugby They’ve also got players such as Steven Luatua “An upset
tonight would go a a a long way to making
up for missing the playo s s s ”
who are in-form and capable of playing it tight if need be Luatua in in in in particular has raised his all-round game in in 2017 He will be one of several Blues players in contention for the All Blacks squad which will be announced tomorrow
in Auckland along with the Maori All Blacks squad DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 // 39