INVESTEC SUPER RUGBY OFFICIAL MATCH PROGRAMME
SATURDAY 23 MAY 2015
Investec – Official sponsor of Super Rugby in New Zealand
Specialists in the field With skill and expertise to boot. At Investec we recognise that it takes a winning spirit to create out of the ordinary performance. Our international teams are well positioned to deliver a distinctive range of specialist banking and investment products and services in private banking, wealth & investment and asset management. Keeping you ahead of the game. www.investec.co.za/rugby
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77611 Prog 210x132FIN.indd 1
2015/02/06 4:11 PM
A MESSAGE FROM
OUR SPONSORS Welcome to Investec Super Rugby 2015. What an exciting World Cup year it promises to be. This is Investec’s fifth year as title sponsor of the Investec Super Rugby tournament in New Zealand. Once again we expect a thrilling five months of top quality rugby as the 15 best teams this side of the equator face off for the right to be crowned club rugby champions of the southern hemisphere. The competition is closely followed by Investec’s clients around the world. With the quality of rugby being as it has been over recent years, it
Welcome to the 2015 season of Investec Super Rugby. On behalf of our 5500-strong team at the Bank of New Zealand, we extend a warm welcome to you – our fellow rugby fans from right around the country. It’s set to be a sensational year for the nation’s game as we look forward to the 2015 Rugby World Cup in the UK. But in the meantime, there are more than 120 games to be played across New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. In the months ahead, there are untold tries to be scored and dozens of new sporting heroes to be crowned – but just one coveted Super Rugby championship title to be awarded. And we can’t wait!
remains a perfect association for the Investec brand. Investec is proud to be involved in a number of other high profile rugby-related sponsorships. These include The Rugby Championship in New Zealand and the Investec International Rugby Academy in South Africa. All of our rugby sponsorships uphold the values of a winning spirit. We wish all teams and all supporters the best of luck for the games ahead. Enjoy the rugby! JANET LARSEN Head of Marketing Investec South Africa
BNZ – like the game of rugby – is steeped in the history, culture and very fabric of this country. We’re proud to have a track record of more than 150 years of enabling a high achieving New Zealand by supporting Kiwis in pursuing their goals and achieving their dreams, which is why we’re delighted to be backing all five New Zealand Super Rugby franchises for the sixth year running. BNZers around the country are also passionate about being bold and brave, and working together as one team – things we know the world’s best sports teams continually strive to achieve, and just another reason why supporting our
ABOUT INVESTEC Investec is an international specialist bank and asset manager that provides a diverse range of financial products and services to a niche client base in two principal markets, the United Kingdom and South Africa as well as certain other countries. The group was established in 1974 and currently has approximately 8,200 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. In July 2002 the Investec group implemented a dual listed company structure with listings on the London and Johannesburg Stock Exchanges. The combined group’s current market capitalisation is approximately £4.6 billion.
country’s national game makes so much sense. As we witness the determination of our Super Rugby teams this season and admire their peak physical fitness, it could be a good time to think about your own goals and financial fitness. Our teams across the country are here to help you be good with money, so please pop into your local BNZ store or Partners Centre or give us a call. We’d love to have a chat. Enjoy the game! ANTHONY HEALY Chief Executive Officer Bank of New Zealand
B LU E S
VS
H U R R I C A N E S | 2 3 M AY 2 0 15
3
GUARANTEED
5,000 WINNER
*
$
WILL BE DRAWN TODAY BLUES vS HURRICANES
*The Trade/ Know how Card aCCounT holder is The winner. Players who have linKed To ThaT Trade/ Know how Card aCCounT will noT direCTly win The major or minor Prize.
Entries for that weekend’s match draws of Super Rugby games close at 11.59pm every Thursday during the 2015 Investec Super Rugby season. Spending $200 excl GST or more on fastenings, sealants or adhesives (in one transaction) on a Trade Account or spending $100 incl GST or more (in one transaction) on your Know How Card account earns 1 entry in all match draws for that week. For all terms and conditions and how to play go to www.placemakers.co.nz/gameday
The Official Community Partner of
GREAT EXPECTATIONS The Blues team has a rich history and successful past. But in recent years it’s been a struggle to make the playoffs and meet the expectations of fans. As a result of these pressures, there are a number of our young players who have entered the Blues team environment with the weight of history on their shoulders. Tevita Li, Blake Gibson and Akira Ioane are three such young players who know this feeling well but have quickly adjusted to the high-pressure environment. Blake is one of the youngest on the Blues squad. At age 20 he’s got one year of a drain-laying apprenticeship under his belt and a year of Auckland Rugby experience to draw on. He was called in to the Blues late in 2014 as a replacement for Luke Braid and was asked to stay on in the Wider Training Group for 2015. Blake was recognised for his strong performance captaining the 2013 St Kent’s First XV and has continued to demonstrate his power as a loose forward for the Blues, making his first start this year against the Highlanders. “Because I enjoy it and I love the game, it makes everything quite easy to manage,” said Blake about the transition to full-time Super Rugby. “But it’s definitely full on.” Tevita also entered the Blues through the Wider Training Squad in 2014. This was following on from a break-out year in 2013, where he played for North Harbour while still at Massey High School. An unusual feat for an 18-year-old. The coverage on the young winger was extensive. He’d already made NZ Sevens and Under 20 teams and was fielding offers from the NZ Warriors. “It’s sometimes pretty intense, especially heading in
to big games,” said Tevita of the media attention. “You’re always going to have at least one bad performance and the media will pull you down for it. But it’s all about how fast you get back up.” A similar story, albeit different position, is coming from our newest breakout star Akira Ioane. Akira first entered the media spotlight in early 2014 when he made the NZ Sevens team at the age of 18. Already there were comparisons drawn between him and some former rugby greats. One Stuff article said, “It’s unfair to make the comparison with the ambassador of this year’s Wellington Sevens, but, like Jonah Lomu in his youth, Ioane is a No 8 in fifteens.” But Akira refused to get drawn in to the lofty expectations, merely pointing out “it means I’m doing something right.” “I’ve just gotta keep working hard and I can’t take any of it for granted.” The loose forward committed to 15-a-side and Super Rugby this year when he signed on with the Blues. He’s already made an impressive contribution to the team, scoring a try from 55-metres out and playing more wing than forward in his pursuit of the try-line. “Coming into an environment like the Blues where everybody is their own person means that you can be yourself,” said Akira. And the only pressure he’s feeling is the one coming from himself. “There is pressure to perform for my family, I’m trying to make them proud.” Each of our young players has shown remarkable maturity stepping in to the high-pressure environment of Super Rugby. We can’t wait to see what they bring to the team as their careers develop.
B LU E S
AKIRA IOANE
BLAKE GIBSON
TEVITA LI
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H U R R I C A N E S | 2 3 M AY 2 0 15
5
LEADING THROUGH TROUBLED WATERS Cedric Charlton is 15 years in to a lifetime commitment to Coastguard. The 46-year-old works fulltime as a Stihl shop manager in Onehunga and has a wife and daughter. He also commits 10-20 volunteer hours a week to Coastguard Papakura after a friend got him involved 15 years ago. Initially Cedric’s excuse for not being involved was the reasonable “not enough time.” But before long Cedric was out on the water for training with his friend’s unit and was “completely overwhelmed.” “I turned up at the base and was soon made aware of the family unit that it was,” Cedric said. “I sat at the back of the boat completely overwhelmed by the friendliness and camaraderie, that this was here in the community and I wasn’t
already involved in it.” Cedric was hooked. He started his 18-month long training to become a crew member, moving to senior crew member before transitioning to communications. The next challenge was learning to become a navigator and now he’s a skipper and President of Papakura Coastguard. Over these past 15 years, Cedric and Papakura Coastguard have performed hundreds of rescue missions, everything from towing a boat to safety to body recovery. One rescue that has stood out all these years is his first call-out which required Coastguard to cross the infamous Manukau Bar at 11pm in a 42-knot southwest wind with five metre breaking waves. The conditions were extreme and the unit was responding to two
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young guys aboard a yacht in distress. “The thing that stood out to me was how much fear they had,” said Cedric. “We couldn’t come alongside them in our vessel because it was too rough so we had to give them the comfort and confidence that they could do the job.” Helping those two young guys, and countless others in distress at sea has been a determining factor for Cedric’s continued involvement with Coastguard. “It isn’t about my personal satisfaction anymore, as long as we come out with a positive satisfactory result that’s my buzz.”
A FARMING FAMILY The Hira Bhana business has been known and respected as a family affair since its inception in 1958 after Hira Bhana moved to Pukekohe, bought 25 acres and began farming. The potato and vegetable suppliers came on board with the Blues as an official sponsor 56 years later in 2014. Since then, Hira Bhana has handed out 10 tonnes of potatoes to Blues supporters and is planning to hand out another 10 at the game this Saturday. The generosity of the Bhana family was established with Hira but has continued through four of his sons. Dinesh, Amrut, Bharat and Balrent, otherwise known as Woodsy, began working on the farm for their father after school and during the holidays. When the four boys could leave high school, they entered the
family business full-time. Hira passed away in 1977, so it was the Bhana kids tilling the land and their mother raising the seven children (there are two daughters as well as an older son).
Woodsy, for his part, attributes much of the farm and family’s success to his mother’s work ethic and example. “Our mother was the heartbeat,” he said. “She brought up a big family and was the
instigator of the family business. She’d work late hours and she gave us the drive. That’s probably why we’re here today.” Now, almost 60 years later, the 1500-acre farm is producing thousands of tonnes of potatoes annually, along with carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, pumpkin and “a lot of onions.” They’re also going out of their way to give Blues supporters a good experience at games. “The whole attitude of our company is not to think of ourselves but think of the Blues public,” said Woodsy. “How many games do you go to and get something to bring home?” “It’s not about getting super rich over night. We like to share and when we joined the Blues we didn’t look at it as a business proposition but as a partnership.”
BIG/BAR505/HP
Nothing beats playing at home.
BIG_BAR505_Programme_148x105.indd 1
VoTe
04/02/2015 14:01
For your Blues ‘sKyCITy Player oF The Day’
R18 to vote and enter SKYCITY’s Player of the Day prize draws. See www.skycityauckland.co.nz/blues for full terms and conditions
6010
SKYCITY is giving you the chance to have your say throughout the Blues 2015 Super Rugby season. Visit www.skycityauckland.co.nz/blues for details on how to vote and prizes up for grabs from SKYCITY.
2015 BLUES PLAYER STATS
JOSH BEKHUIS
JIMMY COWAN
JOE EDWARDS
LOCK 2.00M | 115KG | 29YR
HALFBACK 1.86M | 92KG | 33YR
LOOSE FORWARD 1.94M | 113KG | 21YR
BLAKE GIBSON
JAMISON GIBSON-PARK
SIMON HICKEY
LOOSE FORWARD 1.86M | 102KG | 20YR
HALFBACK 1.77M | 84KG | 23YR
1ST FIVE-EIGHT 1.74M | 83KG | 21YR
AKIRA IOANE
BEN LAM
WILL LLOYD
LOOSE FORWARD 1.94M | 111KG | 19YR
RIGHT WING 1.94M | 105KG | 23YR
LOCK 2.03M | 110KG | 25YR
NIC MAYHEW
KEVEN MEALAMU
GEORGE MOALA
PROP 1.80M | 112KG | 26YR
HOOKER 1.81M | 108KG | 36YR
INSIDE CENTRE 1.88M | 99KG | 24YR
MELANI NANAI
BRENDON O’CONNOR
JAMES PARSONS
LEFT WING 1.94M | 90KG | 21YR
LOOSE FORWARD 1.86M | 100KG | 25YR
HOOKER 1.85M | 110KG | 28YR
SAM PRATTLEY
CULUM RETALLICK
FRANCIS SAILI
PROP 1.96M | 116KG | 25YR
LOCK 1.98M | 116KG | 31YR
OUTSIDE CENTRE 1.80M | 97KG | 24YR
ANGUS TA’AVAO
OFA TU’UNGAFASI
MATT VAEGA
TIGHTHEAD PROP 1.94M | 125KG | 24YR
LOOSEHEAD PROP 1.95M | 120KG | 23YR
CENTRE 1.78M | 89KG | 20YR
LOLAGI VISINIA
IHAIA WEST
FULLBACK 1.92M | 103KG | 22YR
1ST FIVE-EIGHT 1.75M | 84KG | 23YR
B LU E S
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BLUES VS HUR
7.35 PM SATURDAY 23 MAY 20 REFEREE: Nick Briant
ASSISTANT REFEREES:
BLUES STARTING LINE-UP 15 Lolagi Visinia 14 Ben Lam 13 Francis Saili 12 George Moala 11 Melani Nanai 10 Ihaia West 9 Jamison Gibson-Park 8 Akira Ioane 7 Blake Gibson 6 Brendon O’Connor 5 Josh Bekhuis 4 Culum Retallick 3 Ofa Tu’ungafasi 2 James Parsons (C) 1 Sam Prattley
COACH Sir John Kirwan ASSISTANT COACHES Grant Doorey Glenn Moore Nick White David Hill MANAGER Richard Fry RESERVES 16 Keven Mealamu 17 Angus Ta’avao 18 Nic Mayhew 19 Will Lloyd 20 Joe Edwards 21 Jimmy Cowan 22 Simon Hickey 23 Matt Vaega
RRICANES
015 – EDEN PARK AUCKLAND
: Ben O’Keefe & Aki Aso
TMO: Aaron Paterson
HURRICANES STARTING LINE-UP 15 Nehe Milner-Skudder 14 Cory Jane 13 Rey Lee-Lo 12 Ma’a Nonu 11 Julian Savea 10 James Marshall 9 TJ Perenara 8 Victor Vito
COACH Chris Boyd ASSISTANT COACHES John Plumtree Clark Laidlaw MANAGER Tony Ward
7 Ardie Savea 6 Blade Thomson 5 James Broadhurst 4 Jeremy Thrush (C) 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen 2 Dane Coles 1 Chris Eves
RESERVES 16 Motu Matu’u 17 Ben May 18 Tolu Fahamokioa 19 Mark Abbot 20 Brad Shields 21 Chris Smylie 22 Otere Black 23 Willis Halaholo
2015 HURRICANES PLAYER STATS
12 B LU E S
VS
MARK ABBOTT
OTERE BLACK
JAMES BROADHURST
LOCK 1.97M | 112KG | 25YR
1ST FIVE-EIGHTH 1.85M | 86KG | 20YR
LOCK 2.01M | 122KG | 27YR
DANE COLES
CHRIS EVES
HOOKER 1.84M | 103KG | 28YR
PROP 1.87M | 117KG | 27YR
WILLIS HALAHOLO
CORY JANE
REYNOLD LEE-LO
CENTRE 1.81M | 103KG | 24YR
FULLBACK/WING 1.83M | 91KG | 31YR
2ND FIVE-EIGHTH 1.81M | 98KG | 28YR
JAMES MARSHALL
MOTU MATU’U
BEN MAY
1ST 5/8 / FULLBACK 1.83M | 90KG | 26YR
HOOKER 1.84M | 111KG | 28YR
NEHE MILNER-SKUDDER
MA’A NONU
TJ PERENARA
FULLBACK 1.80M | 90KG | 24YR
CENTRE / 2ND 5/8 1.80M | 108KG | 33YR
HALFBACK 1.84M | 94KG | 23YR
ARDIE SAVEA
JULIAN SAVEA
BRAD SHIELDS
LOOSE FORWARD 1.88M | 100KG | 21YR
WING 1.92M | 103KG | 24YR
NUMBER 8 1.93M | 111KG | 24YR
CHRIS SMYLIE
BLADE THOMSON
JEREMY THRUSH
HALFBACK 1.80M | 91KG | 33YR
LOCK 1.98M | 107KG | 24YR
LOCK 1.98M | 117KG | 30YR
JEFFERY TOOMAGA-ALLEN
VICTOR VITO
PROP 1.92M | 122KG | 24YR
NUMBER 8 1.92M | 109KG | 28YR
H U R R I C A N E S | 2 3 M AY 2 0 15
PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE
PHOTO NOT AVAILABLE
TOLU FAHAMOKIOA PROP 1.84M | 115KG | 24YR
PROP 1.93M | 119KG | 32YR
®
BLUES MAJOR PARTNERS
BLU E S FAM I LY O F S P O N S O RS
SOFT ®
Victoria Park
14 B LU E S
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SOURCE COMPUTING A BETTER WAY
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CHARLES PIUTAU FULLBACK | 1.86M | 95KG | 23YR | Our talented and versatile fullback is on the bench after a grade two MCL tear in his right knee. But that hasn’t stopped this young star hitting the gym every day. We talk to Charles Piutau about his massive family, his earliest rugby memory and who on the team can always make him laugh. Tell us something not many people know about you I’m the youngest of 10 children and I’m allergic to certain seafood, like crayfish.
But when it comes to the Blues team, Keven (Mealamu) is a great leader. He has qualities and characteristics that a young player should desire in order to be a great person and Blues man.
What has been your career highlight to date? I think it was when I heard that my name was listed in the All Blacks team and when I stepped out onto the field to play my first test. It was against France in New Plymouth. The feeling of running out in the jersey and officially playing in the team was a memorable thing.
Describe yourself in three words Tenacious, practical, unique. What’s your favourite place in Auckland? Mangere. All of it, the markets on a Saturday, the cafes in Mangere Bridge, Mangere Mountain and the beautiful beach.
What’s your earliest rugby memory? Probably playing in the front yard with my four older brothers.
Do you have any match day superstitions? Nope.
Who’s your biggest role model and why? In rugby I have a lot of role models. To name one would be older brother, Siale, who is currently playing in Japan as well as for the Tongan team.
Who on the team will always make you laugh and how is he funny? Steven Luatua, but I only laugh because his jokes are no good (laughs).
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ON OR OFF THE PITCH, WHEREVER YOU ARE, WHATEVER YOU DO, SHARE YOUR #BESTONBESTOFF MOMENT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN.
SEE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AT WWW.ADIDAS.CO.NZ
2015 STANDINGS NZ CONFERENCE
P
W
D
L
F
A
DIF
BP
HURRICANES
12
11
0
1
334
215
119
8
52
CHIEFS
12
8
0
4
292
219
73
7
39
HIGHLANDERS
12
8
0
4
327
234
69
7
39
CRUSADERS
12
6
0
6
353
253
100
7
31
BLUES
13
3
0
10
259
321
-62
8
20
P
W
D
L
F
A
DIF
BP
PTS
AUS CONFERENCE
PTS
BRUMBIES
13
7
0
6
290
188
102
10
38
WARATAHS
12
8
0
4
266
226
40
4
36
REBELS
12
6
0
6
251
265
-14
6
30
REDS
12
3
0
9
193
348
-155
4
16
FORCE
12
2
0
10
199
285
-86
7
15
SA CONFERENCE
P
W
D
L
F
A
DIF
BP
PTS
12
7
0
5
312
269
43
7
35
STORMERS
12
8
0
4
269
243
26
2
34
LIONS
13
7
0
6
256
306
-50
3
31
SHARKS
13
4
0
9
258
354
-96
5
21
CHEETAHS
12
4
0
8
253
362
-109
4
20
BULLS
OVERALL
PTS
HURRICANES (NZ LEADER)
52
CHIEFS
39
HIGHLANDERS
39
BRUMBIES (AUS LEADER)
38
WARATAHS
36
BULLS (SA LEADER)
35
STORMERS
34
CRUSADERS
31
LIONS
31
REBELS
30
SHARKS
21
CHEETAHS
20
BLUES
20
REDS
16
FORCE
15
©PHOTOSPORT B LU E S
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H U R R I C A N E S | 2 3 M AY 2 0 15
19
2015 FIXTURES ROUND
MATCH
RESULT
ROUND 15 MATCHES
1 BLUES VS CHIEFS
L
18–23
CHIEFS VS BULLS
2 STORMERS VS BLUES
L
27–16
REDS VS SHARKS
3 CHEETAHS VS BLUES
L
25–24
BLUES VS HURRICANES
4 BLUES VS LIONS
L
10–13
WARATAHS VS CRUSADERS
5 HURRICANES VS BLUES
L
30–23
FORCE VS HIGHLANDERS
7 WARATAHS VS BLUES
L
23–11
CHEETAHS VS LIONS
8 CHIEFS VS BLUES
L
23–16
STORMERS VS REBELS
9 BLUES VS BRUMBIES
W
16–14
10 HIGHLANDERS VS BLUES
L
30–24
11 CRUSADERS VS BLUES
L
29–15
12 BLUES VS FORCE
W
13 REBELS VS BLUES
L
14 BLUES VS BULLS
W
Sat 14 Feb / QBE Stadium / 7:35PM Sun 22 Feb / Newlands Stadium / 4:05AM Sat 28 Feb / Free State Stadium / 6:10AM Sat 7 Mar / QBE Stadium / 7:35PM 7:35PM Fri 13 Mar / TBC / 7:35PM Sat 28 Mar / Allianz Stadium / 9:40PM Sat 4 Apr / Waikato Stadium / 7:35PM Fri 10 Apr / Eden Park / 7:35PM Sat 18 Apr / Forsyth Barr Stadium / 7:35PM Sat 25 Apr / AMI Stadium / 7:35PM Sat 2 May / Eden Park / 5:30PM Fri 8 May / AAMI Park / 9:40PM Fri 15 May / Eden Park / 7:35PM
41–24
42–22 23–18
15 BLUES VS HURRICANES
–
17 BLUES VS CRUSADERS
–
18 BLUES VS HIGHLANDERS
–
Sat 23 May / Eden Park / 7:35PM Sat 6 Jun / Eden Park / 7:35PM Fri 12 Jun / Eden Park / 7:35PM
©PHOTOSPORT
2 0 B LU E S
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H U R R I C A N E S | 2 3 M AY 2 0 15
22 May / Rotorua / 7:35PM 22 May / Brisbane / 9:40PM 23 May / Eden Park / 7:35PM 23 May / Sydney / 9:40PM 23 May / Perth / 11:45PM 24 May / Bloemfontein / 3:05AM 24 May / Cape Town / 5:10AM
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