INVESTEC SUPER RUGBY OFFICIAL MATCH PROGRAMME
SATURDAY 06 JUNE 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
@investec_Sport InvestecSport
Specialist Banking
Asset Management
#InvestecRugby
Wealth & Investment
Australia Botswana Canada Hong Kong India Ireland Mauritius Namibia South Africa Switzerland Taiwan United Kingdom & Channel Islands United States Investec Limited and its subsidiaries, including Investec Bank Limited - 1969/004763/06, registered credit providers and authorised financial service providers.
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
C R U S A D E R S | 6 J U N E 2 0 15
3
GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME
HEAD TO WWW.PLACEMAKERS.CO.NZ/GAMEDAY TO FIND OUT HOW JUST BY BEING HERE COULD MAKE YOU $25,000 RICHER*
*Terms & conditions apply, go to www.placemakers.co.nz/gameday for details.
The Official Community Partner of
SPOTLIGHT ON THE 2ND TIER High school rugby is getting plenty of exposure here in Auckland. The 21 high schools that compete in the top level, 1A competition can be seen live on Sky Sport giving the scouts and players plenty to see. But a level of competition often left out of the limelight is the 1B grade. The 17 high schools in the second tier of competition have produced a number of our Blues players, namely Keven Mealamu, George Moala, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Angus Ta’avao and Charlie Faumuina. We spoke to Charlie, who plays prop for the Blues, to see how he got his start in rugby. Charlie described himself as “blossoming late” in the sport. The 28-year-old converted to rugby union from league while at Papatoetoe High School, then went in to a building apprenticeship upon graduating in 2005 instead of pursuing rugby full time. “I never wanted to be a rugby player, I just wanted to be a builder,” said Charlie about his post-high school activities. “I always thought building my
own house would be pretty cool, seeing things that I finished and telling my kids that I built them.” He did three years of the building apprenticeship, one year shy of the full qualification, and all the while playing rugby with his mates at the local club. It just so happened that a couple of these guys were from 1A schools and in the Auckland Rugby Academy. “When the coaches would come to watch the boys play, they would see me as well so I got picked up from there.” And picked up he was. By 2007 Charlie was playing for Auckland in the ITM Cup, in 2009 he made the Blues full squad and in 2012 he became an All Black in a test match against Argentina. All of this without getting picked up at high school. “You look at guys on our team, like George and Ofa, there’s a lot that came from 1B schools that are here. You can be the man at school and all that, but the difference is those who can transition from school to club rugby and then to keep going after that.”
“For me, it’s probably just the hunger to keep going,” he said. “I loved rugby so I stuck around with my local club team while a lot of my mates faded away who were at 1A schools.” Charlie has recently signed on for another two years with the Blues and NZ Rugby, turning down lucrative international offers. It was the appeal of our kiwi lifestyle that has kept him here. “I’ve got two young kids (Riley, 2, and Leilani-Grace, 6 months) so having them experience the NZ lifestyle is a good reason to stay.” And playing for the Blues? That’s always been the dream. “When I was in the Academy and I realised rugby was going to be my career, all I wanted to be was a Blues player.”
B LU E S
VS
C R U S A D E R S | 6 J U N E 2 0 15
5
PLENTY OF PAIN, FOR ON-FIELD GAIN The big hits, the brick-wall defence, the top-speed tackles. Rugby is one of the most physically demanding sports available to young people and spectators thrive off it. But with the high contact nature of rugby come a number of on-field injuries. According to Blues team doctor Stephen Kara, contact injuries account for 70% of the total and can be anything from dislocated shoulders and fractured fingers to concussions, the latter being a difficult one to manage in rugby. “There’s nothing that prevents a concussion, no protective equipment that you can use,” said Stephen. “But neck strengthening does reduce the chance of concussion.” And awareness helps. Whenever the Blues step on to the field, they have a sideline doctor,
match-day doctor, a referee who knows about concussion, players who can recognise the warning signs and video surveillance to go back to and analyse for heavy hits.
from on-field contact. There’s plenty that injured players can contribute to the team environment even when they’re not playing in the competition. They can focus on
It’s not just concussion that can make the players’ heads spin. In recent weeks, we’ve seen 13 players out for season-ending injuries. Blues team physio, Mark Plummer, said that only four of the season’s problems were soft-tissue – meaning, that most of the aches and pains have been coming
increasing size and strength in the gym, studying part-time or analysing the opposition’s game for the rest of the team. “Obviously they’re disappointed to not be playing week in and week out.” said Mark. “But most of them are pretty philosophical about the injury, they look at the bigger picture.”
Bringing you the KFC Curtain Raisers KFC is proud to give the best up-and-coming secondary school teams from Auckland and North Harbour the chance of a lifetime.
Good luck De La Salle & Otahuhu. These are the stars of the future.
STARSHIP WORKERS ON THE FRONT LINE Barfoot & Thompson and the Blues have joined forces in an extra special way this year, supporting Starship Foundation and all they do for kids around New Zealand. To honour the hardworking staff of the children’s hospital, Starship Foundation Five Star Partner Barfoot & Thompson launched the Starship Heroes initiative – a way to treat these unsung heroes to a special night out at a Blues game. Patients and their families got to nominate staff and names were drawn out of a hat. One of the lucky ones going to the Blues vs Crusaders game on June 6th is Alex MacLeod-Smith. Alex has been a nurse with Starship for the past five years. “When you work with children, you are also looking after the family as well,” she said. “You
can often spend a lot of time explaining what’s happening and helping the parents. Familycentred care is so important.”
Working with sick children can bring a whole host of challenges too. “Dealing with unwell children is the biggest challenge, helping them when they are upset and anxious.” she said. “Also, these families can be in a stressful situation but if you manage to get a smile and help in some way, well that’s the best part – knowing you made some sort of difference.” At the end of the day, Alex leaves work to head to netball training as a way to unwind from the job. She plays for a number of clubs, including the Under-23 Northern Zone and is also a training partner for the SKYCITY Mystics. “Running around definitely helps me get away from a hard day,” said Alex, “and the endorphins are great.”
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
JAMISON GIBSON-PARK
SIMON HICKEY
AIRI HUNT
HALFBACK 1.77M | 84KG | 23YR
1ST FIVE-EIGHT 1.74M | 83KG | 21YR
NUMBER 8 1.95M | 121KG | 20YR
BEN LAM
WILL LLOYD
SIONE MAFILEO
RIGHT WING 1.94M | 105KG | 23YR
LOCK 2.03M | 110KG | 25YR
PROP 1.76M | 123KG | 22YR
NIC MAYHEW
MATT McGAHAN
KEVEN MEALAMU
PROP 1.80M | 112KG | 26YR
1ST FIVE-EIGHT 1.85M | 93KG | 22YR
HOOKER 1.81M | 108KG | 36YR
GEORGE MOALA
MELANI NANAI
HAMISH NORTHCOTT
INSIDE CENTRE 1.88M | 99KG | 24YR
LEFT WING 1.94M | 90KG | 21YR
OUTSIDE CENTRE 1.83M | 93KG | 22YR
BRENDON O’CONNOR
JAMES PARSONS
SAM PRATTLEY
LOOSE FORWARD 1.86M | 100KG | 25YR
HOOKER 1.85M | 110KG | 28YR
PROP 1.96M | 116KG | 25YR
HAYDEN TRIGGS
OFA TU’UNGAFASI
MATT VAEGA
LOCK 2.01M | 114KG | 32YR
PROP 1.95M | 120KG | 23YR
FULLBACK 1.78M | 89KG | 20YR
CHRIS VUI
IHAIA WEST
LOCK 1.97M | 116KG | 22YR
1ST FIVE-EIGHT 1.75M | 84KG | 23YR
B LU E S
VS
C R U S A D E R S | 6 J U N E 2 0 15
9
BLUES VS CRU
7.35 PM SATURDAY 6 JUNE 20
REFEREE: Chris Pollock
ASSISTANT REFEREES:
BLUES STARTING LINE-UP 15 Matt Vaega 14 Ben Lam 13 Hamish Northcott 12 George Moala 11 Melani Nanai 10 Ihaia West 9 Jimmy Cowan 8 Airi Hunt 7 Brendon O’Connor 6 Joe Edwards 5 Josh Bekhuis 4 Will Lloyd 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 Nic Mayhew 18 Sione Mafileo 19 Hayden Triggs 20 Chris Vui 21 Jamison Gibson-Park 22 Simon Hickey 23 Matt McGahan
USADERS
015 – EDEN PARK AUCKLAND Ben O’Keefe & Jamie Nutbrown
TMO: Ben Skeen
CRUSADERS STARTING LINE-UP 15 Tom Taylor 14 Nafi Tuitavake 13 Robbie Fruean 12 David Havili 11 Nemani Nadolo 10 Dan Carter 9 Mitchell Drummond 8 Jordan Taufua 7 Richie McCaw (C) 6 Matt Todd 5 Dominic Bird 4 Luke Romano 3 Owen Franks 2 Codie Taylor 1 Wyatt Crockett
COACH Todd Blackadder ASSISTANT COACHES Dave Hewett Tabai Matson Aaron Mauger MANAGER Angus Gardiner RESERVES 16 Ben Funnell 17 Alex Hodgman 18 Nepo Laulala 19 Samuel Whitelock 20 Luke Whitelock 21 Andy Ellis 22 Ryan Crotty 23 Kieron Fonotia
2015 CRUSADERS PLAYER STATS
12 B LU E S
VS
DOMINIC BIRD
DAN CARTER
WYATT CROCKETT
LOCK 2.06M | 112KG | 24YR
1ST FIVE-EIGHTH 1.78M | 94KG | 33YR
LOOOSEHEAD PROP 1.93M | 116KG | 32YR
RYAN CROTTY
MITCHELL DRUMMOND
ANDY ELLIS
MIDFIELD BACK 1.81M | 96KG | 26YR
HALFBACK 1.80M | 84KG | 21YR
HALFBACK 1.82M | 89KG | 31YR
KIERON FONOTIA
OWEN FRANKS
ROBBIE FRUEAN
CENTRE 1.86M | 108KG | 27YR
TIGHTHEAD PROP 1.85M | 118KG | 27YR
MIDFIELD BACK 1.90M | 104KG | 26YR
BEN FUNNELL
DAVID HAVILI
ALEX HODGMAN
HOOKER 1.80M | 105KG | 26YR
WING 1.84M | 88KG | 20YR
PROP 1.90M | 115KG | 21YR
NEPO LAULALA
RICHIE McCAW
NEMANI NADOLO
TIGHTHEAD PROP 1.84M | 116KG | 23YR
LOOSE FORWARD 1.87M | 108KG | 34YR
OUTSIDE BACK 1.94M | 125KG | 27YR
LUKE ROMANO
JORDAN TAUFUA
CODIE TAYLOR
LOCK 1.99M | 115KG | 29YR
NUMBER 8 1.82M | 100KG | 23YR
HOOKER 1.83M | 106KG | 24YR
TOM TAYLOR
MATT TODD
NAFI TUITAVAKE
1ST FIVE-EIGHTH 1.83M | 90KG | 26YR
LOOSE FORWARD 1.85M | 103KG | 27YR
OUTSIDE BACK 1.80M | 95KG | 26YR
LUKE WHITELOCK
SAM WHITELOCK
LOOSE FORWARD 1.90M | 104KG | 24YR
LOCK 2.02M | 116KG | 26YR
C R U S A D E R S | 6 J U N E 2 0 15
®
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
VS
C R U S A D E R S | 6 J U N E 2 0 15
SOURCE COMPUTING A BETTER WAY
SUPER INTO SUPER RUGBY? We get it. Rugby’s your life, but all that other stuff keeps getting in the way. FAN PASS was made for fans like you. It gives you access to every Super Rugby game live, replays on demand and highlights in HD quality*. FAN PASS is available on selected smart phones, tablets and on PC and Mac so you can enjoy all the Super Rugby you can handle. Find out more at fanpass.co.nz
FAN PASS Powered by SKYSPORT
For all that matters in Super Rugby 15 teams Fight for the top spot Get the full picture as it happens Player stats on any device Know the game
All that matters. nzherald.co.nz/rugby
MELANI NANAI WING | 1.94M | 90KG | 21YR | Melani Nanai has burst onto the Blues scene in 2015 with a couple of stellar performances. He was the 2014 Blues Development Player of the Year and has certainly stepped up to the challenge of the full squad, being selected for the starting XV almost every game this season. 21-yearold Melani Nanai answers questions in this week’s Q&A.
Tell us something not many people know about you Not many people know I can cook, my specialty would have to be scrambled eggs.
to play Clash of Clans, a game you can play on your phone. I usually play whenever there’s free time.
What has been your career highlight to date? It would probably be playing for the Blues. For my debut, I was called in late to South Africa earlier this season because of injuries. Then the week before playing the Cheetahs, I was shocked to be named in the playing 23. Running out on the field I was so happy and excited – it was a dream come true.
Describe yourself in three words Tall. Skinny. Shy. What’s your favourite place in Auckland? Mangere. It’s where I grew up, went to school and where I played most of my rugby.
What’s your earliest rugby memory? My first rugby game. I was playing wing and scored a try!
Do you have any match day superstitions? Faith is a big part in my rugby and I pray before every game. I believe playing rugby is a talent given to me by God.
Who’s your rugby role model and why? George Moala. The way he plays is an inspiration on the field and off the field he teaches me how
Who on the team will always make you laugh and how is he funny? Lolagi Visinia. Looking at his hair just makes me laugh.
B LU E S
VS
C R U S A D E R S | 6 J U N E 2 0 15
17
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
14
12
0
2
381
255
126
9
57
HIGHLANDERS
14
10
0
4
386
270
116
8
48
CHIEFS
14
9
0
5
335
275
60
8
44
CRUSADERS
14
7
0
7
410
303
107
8
36
BLUES
14
3
0
11
264
350
-86
8
20
P
W
D
L
F
A
DIF
BP
PTS
AUS CONFERENCE
PTS
WARATAHS
14
9
0
5
320
275
45
6
42
BRUMBIES
14
8
0
6
312
204
108
10
42
REBELS
14
6
0
8
287
321
-34
7
31
REDS
14
4
0
10
239
379
-140
6
22
FORCE
14
2
0
12
212
340
-128
7
15
SA CONFERENCE
P
W
D
L
F
A
DIF
BP
PTS
STORMERS
14
10
0
4
342
270
72
3
43
LIONS
15
9
0
6
323
345
-22
4
40
BULLS
14
7
0
7
348
325
23
8
36
SHARKS
15
6
0
9
304
389
-85
5
29
CHEETAHS
14
4
0
10
282
444
-162
4
20
OVERALL
PTS
HURRICANES (NZ LEADER)
57
HIGHLANDERS
48
CHIEFS
44
STORMERS (SA LEADER)
43
WARATAHS (AUS LEADER)
42
BRUMBIES
42
LIONS
40
CRUSADERS
36
BULLS
36
REBELS
31
SHARKS
29
REDS
22
CHEETAHS
20
BLUES
20
FORCE
15
©PHOTOSPORT B LU E S
VS
C R U S A D E R S | 6 J U N E 2 0 15
19
2015 FIXTURES ROUND
MATCH
RESULT
1 BLUES VS CHIEFS
18–23
L
Sat 14 Feb / QBE Stadium / 7:35PM
ROUND 17 MATCHES
HURRICANES VS HIGHLANDERS 05 June / Napier / 7:35PM
2 STORMERS VS BLUES
L
27–16
3 CHEETAHS VS BLUES
L
25–24
4 BLUES VS LIONS
L
10–13
Sun 22 Feb / Newlands Stadium / 4:05AM
FORCE VS BRUMBIES 05 June / Perth / 11:00PM
Sat 28 Feb / Free State Stadium / 6:10AM
REBELS VS BULLS 06 June / Melbourne / 5:30PM
Sat 7 Mar / QBE Stadium / 7:35PM
BLUES VS CRUSADERS 06 June / Eden Park / 7:35PM
5 HURRICANES VS BLUES
L
30–23
7 WARATAHS VS BLUES
L
23–11
7:35PM Fri 13 Mar / TBC / 7:35PM
RED VS CHIEFS 06 June / Brisbane / 9:40PM
Sat 28 Mar / Allianz Stadium / 9:40PM
CHEETAHS VS WARATAHS 07 June / Bloemfontein / 1:00AM
8 CHIEFS VS BLUES
L
23–16
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 4 Apr / Waikato Stadium / 7:35PM
STORMERS VS LIONS 07 June / Cape Town / 3:05AM
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
15 BLUES VS HURRICANES
42–22
L
Sat 23 May / Eden Park / 7:35PM
41–24
23–18 5–29
17 BLUES VS CRUSADERS
–
18 BLUES VS HIGHLANDERS
–
Sat 6 Jun / Eden Park / 7:35PM Fri 12 Jun / Eden Park / 7:35PM
©PHOTOSPORT
2 0 B LU E S
VS
C R U S A D E R S | 6 J U N E 2 0 15
MID STRENGTH BREW FULL STRENGTH FLAVOUR | 2.5% ABV
We can help get you financially fit. Principal Sponsor of the Blues and proud to be helping New Zealanders be good with money.
5330_A
Find out what we can do for you.
0800 275 269
bnz.co.nz