INVESTEC SUPER RUGBY OFFICIAL MATCH PROGRAMME | FRIDAY 26 MAY 201 7
BLUES VS CHIEFS
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A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSORS PLAY THE GAME OR CHANGE IT It’s time for another epic season of Investec Super Rugby. With 18 teams competing in the gruelling tournament, we look forward to many action-packed encounters. For the seventh consecutive year, Investec has been the title sponsor of all games played in New Zealand. As enablers of international rugby, we are pleased to see the tournament’s growing geographical interest and reach. We look forward to exciting, fiercely contested matches, made up of many Out of the Ordinary moments. We wish all teams the best. Game on. JANET LARSEN Head of Marketing Investec South Africa
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Blues VS CHIEFS KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH
There’ll be more than just competition points and bragging rights on offer in our last home game of the 2017 Investec Super Rugby season; there’ll also be the small matter of revenge for the painful 41-26 defeat they inflicted on us back in round two. Bring it on!
Steven Luatua
Aaron Cruden
Needless to say (but we’ll still say it anyway), Steven Luatua will be looking to make amends for being red-carded the last time these two sides met. The powerful loose forward, who has played superbly in every single appearance this season, will also be looking to go out a winner in his last Super Rugby match at home for the Blues before taking up a contract overseas with the Bristol rugby club. Expect Steven to lift his impressive game to dizzying new heights in his second-to-last hurrah in front of the Blues faithful at Eden Park.
Speaking of players leaving at the end of this season, Chiefs playmaker Aaron Cruden is set to take up a contract in France, so this will likely be his last Super Rugby match against us. A long-time tormenter of the Blues, Cruden celebrated his 100th cap the last time the two sides met, and had an absolute blinder of a game in the process, so our team will know what to expect. The key for them, will be shutting him down before he gets started. Continues page 7 »
BLUES VS CHIEFS | 26 MAY 20 17 5
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Continued from page 5
Augustine Pulu Feisty halfback Augustine Pulu will be determined not only to get one over his former team mates, but to press his claim for a spot in the All Blacks – if not during the DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017, then during the Rugby Championship or end of year tour. Pulu has been a standout in his debut season at the Blues, demonstrating a knack for sniffing out attacking opportunities. Here’s hoping his instincts are on song against the Chiefs.
Anton Lienert-Brown Speaking of the All Blacks, no positions are more contentious right now than centre and second five-eighth, where there’s a plethora of different options. Last year’s incumbent in the number-12 jersey, Anton Lienert-Brown, will do anything he can to win back his black jersey, including putting in a big performance this Friday opposite one of the other favourites for the role…
Sonny Bill Williams Sonny Bill Williams just keeps getting better and better. The prodigiously talented midfielder, and Rugby World Cup winner, is hitting his straps just in time for a potential All Blacks recall. Not that he’ll need extra motivation when he runs out onto Eden Park to face his old team.
BLUES VS CHIEFS | 26 MAY 20 17 7
Support your favourite charity at Blues vS Chiefs on Friday Blues foundation partner Barfoot & Thompson is donating $20,000 to charity at our match against the Chiefs on Friday night – and they want your help to choose which one.
That’s right. Four charities will be at Eden Park on Friday night, including the Starship Foundation (Barfoot & Thompson’s principal charity), Coastguard (the official charity of the Blues), Auckland SPCA, and the Cancer Society - Auckland. There will be special perspex voting boxes at key entrances to Eden Park and fans will be asked to place a token to vote for their favourite of the four charities. The charity with the most tokens on match day will be gifted a cheque by Barfoot & Thompson, and Blues rugby legend Keven Mealamu at halftime.
“As a business in this Blues region, we believe strongly in supporting worthy causes, especially in this region and invite you to come to the game and vote for the charity of your choice,” said Barfoot & Thompson managing director Peter Thompson. “We are proud to be sponsoring Friday’s charity themed game. This is a wonderful opportunity to partner with the Blues, who also share our views of supporting their community, with this initiative.” So get along to our match against the Chiefs at Eden Park on Friday night and vote for your favourite charity.
BLUES VS CHIEFS | 26 MAY 20 17 9
Q&A with Dave Shaw
Team nutritionist Dave Shaw fuels the team for success on the footy field. We asked him about his role at the Blues, the benefits of a healthy diet, and what a promising young athlete should be doing to lift their performance to the next level. Tell us a bit about your role at the Blues – what does a team nutritionist do? Working in collaboration with the Strength & Conditioning and Medical teams, I advise our players on how they can structure their diet to best support their goals. Typically, the focus is on optimising training adaptation, fuelling, recovery, general health and/or return to play if they are injured. My other main role is to ensure the effective and safe use of supplements.
How important is good nutrition in terms of an athlete’s performance on the footy field? It's very important and often a key work-on for players entering our high-performance environment. Poor nutrition impairs recovery and adaptation to training, leads to early fatigue and increases the risk of injury and illness. Over time, this tends to result in a player’s drop in form or failure to keep up. What is often forgotten is that how a player eats during the week is just as important, if not more, as the pre-match meal. In saying this, it’s very easy to identify the guys who consistently nail the basics.
Can you give us some example of what the players would eat pre-match? Our guys keep it simple and as part of their pre-game ritual we focus on ensuring an adequate amount of carbohydrate is consumed to top-up energy stores – mashed potato, rice, fruit, bread. Alongside this we have chicken, eggs, salad and a few other secret ‘Blues-only-foods' that our chef has created. Water and juice are always available to maintain hydration levels. There are a lot of nutrition myths out there. What’s one of the wackiest myths that you’ve heard of? I think the biggest controversy at the moment is regarding low carbohydrate, high-fat diets for performance. Carbohydrate is an athlete’s rocket fuel, whereas fat is similar to burning diesel – its really no contest. This doesn't mean that rugby players or athletes in general need to eat high amounts of carbohydrate all the time, but they do need to increase their intake when it comes to game day or heavy training sessions if they want to perform at their best. Continues page 12 »
BLUES VS CHIEFS | 26 MAY 20 17 1 1
Continued from page 11 We’re constantly hearing in the media about “super foods” – what are they and what’s so special about them? 'Superfoods' are a marketing term for foods that provide a higher than average amount of a specific nutrient or food component. In reality, no superfood lives up to its hype and it’s better to focus on the quality of a diet, rather than a single food or meal. Another thing we hear a lot about is probiotics – what are they and how are they good for us? Probiotics are basically a friendly bacteria that, when consumed, has motive health benefits. This can relate to gut function, metabolism, brain function, immunity... the list goes on. There are a variety of different bacteria strains and each has a different effect on the body if taken in a sufficient dose.
At the Blues, we use Yakult as our source of probiotics as there is growing evidence around its benefits for immunity and preventing coughs and colds. It's also a product that’s enjoyed by the team and can easily be integrated into shakes.
If you could give a promising young athlete just one nutritional tip, what would it be? Learn the basics. That means knowing how to cook, shop, plan your day, budget. Performance nutrition doesn't really factor in until these key aspects are up to a certain standard.
What’s the best part of your job? Without doubt its seeing the team win on game day. It's also the culture we are growing here at the Blues, as each day is challenging yet enjoyable. I just need to work on my banter as I can't keep up with some of the lads here.
» The Blues use Yakult as their source of probiotics
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PLAYER STATS Ofa Tu’ungafasi James Parsons
1.95 M | 129 KG | 25 YR | 53 (52 SR) CAPS
1.85 M | 106 KG | 30 YR | 75 (74 SR) CAPS
Charlie Faumuina
Patrick Tuipulotu
1.85 M | 125 KG | 30 YR | 97 CAPS
1.98 M | 120 KG | 24 YR | 41 CAPS
Scott Scrafton
Steven Luatua
2.00 M | 114 KG | 24 YR | 9 CAPS
1.96 M | 115 KG | 26 YR | 71 CAPS
Blake Gibson
Akira Ioane
1.86 M | 102 KG | 22 YR | 24 CAPS
1.94 M | 113 KG | 22 YR | 29 CAPS
Augustine Pulu
Piers Francis
1.89 M | 90 KG | 27 YR | 12 CAPS
1.82 M | 92 KG | 26 YR | 22 CAPS
Rieko Ioane
Sonny Bill Williams
1.88 M | 103 KG | 20 YR | 17 CAPS
1.94 M | 108 KG | 31 YR | 5 CAPS
George Moala
Matt Duffie
1.88 M | 99 KG | 26 YR | 66 (65 SR) CAPS
1.92 M | 92 KG | 26 YR | 18 CAPS
Michael Collins
Hame Faiva
1.87 M | 94 KG | 23 YR | 11 CAPS
1.81 M | 92 KG | 23 YR | 4 CAPS
Alex Hodgman
Sione Mafileo
1.96 M | 122 KG | 23 YR | 2 CAPS
1.78 M | 128 KG | 24 YR | 18 CAPS
Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
Kara Pryor
1.96 M | 110 KG | 24 YR | 13 CAPS
1.89 M | 104 KG | 26 YR | 15 CAPS
Sam Nock
Stephen Perofeta
1.78 M | 85 KG | 20 YR | 4 CAPS
1.81 M | 85 KG | 20 YR
TJ Faiane 1.75 M | 92 KG | 21 YR | 4 CAPS
BLUES VS CHIEFS | 26 MAY 20 17 1 3
COACH
BLUE CHie
ASSISTANT COACHES
Tana Umaga
Alistair Rogers Steve Jackson Dave Ellis
MANAGER Richard Fry
15
Michael Collins
14
Matt Duffie
13 12
Sonny Bill Williams
11
Rieko Ioane
10
Piers Francis
9
Augustine Pulu
8
Akira Ioane
7
Blake Gibson
6 RESERVES 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
7.35pm FRIDAY EDEN
George Moala
Hame Faiva Alex Hodgman Sione Mafileo Gerard Cowley-Tuioti Kara Pryor Sam Nock Stephen Perofeta TJ Faiane
Steven Luatua
5
Scott Scrafton
4
Patrick Tuipulotu
3
Charlie Faumuina
2
James Parsons
1
Ofa Tu’ungafasi
REFE
Nick B
ASSISTANT
Angus Michae
TM
Glenn N
ES VS efs
ASSISTANT COACHES Andrew Strawbridge Neil Barnes Kieran Keane Carl Hoeft
Briant
T REFEREES
Mabey el Lash
MO
Newman
MANAGER Stu Williams
15
Damian McKenzie
14
Tim Nanai-Williams
Y 26 MAY 2017 PARK
EREE
COACH Dave Rennie
13
Anton Lienert-Brown
12
Johnny Faauli
11
James Lowe
10
Aaron Cruden
9
Tawera Kerr-Barlow
8
Liam Messam
7
Sam Cane
6
Mitchell Brown
5
Brodie Retallick
4
Dominic Bird
3
Nepo Laulala
2
Nathan Harris Kane Hames
1
RESERVES
Hika Elliot Siegfried Fisi’ihoi Atu Moli Taleni Seu Lachlan Boshier Jonathan Taumateine Solomon Alaimalo Toni Pulu
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
PLAYER STATS Kane Hames 1.87 M | 123 KG | 28 YR | 19 CAPS
Nathan Harris
Nepo Laulala
1.86 M | 110 KG | 24 YR | 25 CAPS
1.84M | 116 KG | 25 YR | 8 CAPS
Dominic Bird
Brodie Retallick
2.06 M | 121 KG | 25 YR | 22 CAPS
2.04 M | 123 KG | 24 YR | 81 CAPS
Mitchell Brown
Sam Cane
1.94 M | 110 KG | 23 YR | 11 CAPS
1.89 M | 106 KG | 25 YR | 90 CAPS
Liam Messam
Tawera Kerr-Barlow
1.90 M | 109 KG | 32 YR | 156 CAPS
1.87 M | 89 KG | 26 YR | 77 CAPS
Aaron Cruden
James Lowe
1.78 M | 82 KG | 28 YR | 83 CAPS
1.87 M | 104 KG | 24 YR | 47 CAPS
Johnny Faauli
Anton Lienert-Brown
1.80 M | 103 KG | 21 YR | 4 CAPS
1.85 M | 94 KG | 21 YR | 35 CAPS
Tim Nanai-Williams
Damian McKenzie
1.82 M | 87 KG | 27 YR | 81 CAPS
1.75 M | 80 KG | 21 YR | 44 CAPS
Hika Elliot
Siegfried Fisi'ihoi
1.86 M | 115 KG | 30 YR | 115 CAPS
1.84 M | 125 KG | 29 YR | 21 CAPS
Atu Moli
Taleni Seu
1.89 M | 127 KG | 21 YR | 21 CAPS
1.98 M | 112 KG | 23 YR | 28 CAPS
Lachlan Boshier
Jonathan Taumateine
1.91 M | 105 KG | 22 YR | 13 CAPS
20 YR | 4 CAPS
Solomon Alaimalo
Toni Pulu
1.96 M | 96 KG | 21 YR | 4 CAPS
1.85 M | 96 KG | 27 YR | 20 CAPS
1 6 BLUES VS CHIEFS | 26 MAY 20 17
Q&A On the eve of our last home game of the 2017 Investec Super Rugby season, we asked hard man Jimmy Tupou (who is currently injured) some hard questions about life, rugby, and his first year at the Blues. What do you like better – cats or dogs? Dogs. What’s your favourite meal? Chicken fettuccini. Tell us something not many people know about you Although I was born in south Auckland, not a lot of people know that I actually grew up on a farm in Pukekawa, roughly 10km south of Pukekohe. Most people just assume I’m a city boy. What has been your Blues rugby highlight so far? Captaining the team in our first match of the year – and my first-ever match in the blue jersey – against the Rebels. What’s your earliest rugby memory? I grew up playing rugby league, so my earliest rugby memory was turning up to my new rugby club on the first day. Somehow I’d gotten it in my head that I’d be a back – first or second five-eighth – but then they stuck me in the forwards, where I’ve been playing ever since.
JIMMY TUPOU
LOOSE FORWARD, LOCK 1.96M | 109KG | 25YR
Who was your sporting idol when you were a kid? Kiwis hard-man Ruben Wiki, who never took a backwards step on the field. I try to play the same way. Describe yourself in three words Shy until comfortable. What’s your favourite place in Auckland? That would be my parents’ house, because of the food. There’s always something good to eat. Do you have any match day superstitions? I never get a haircut on game day. The first and only time I did, I got injured. Who on the team will always make you laugh? Pauliasi Manu, because we’ve known each other a long time and we’ve got lots of inside jokes. Sometimes I only need to look at him and I’ll laugh – but in a good way, of course. Finish this sentence: “when I haven’t been playing rugby or training this year I have been…” Learning to surf.
BLUES VS CHIEFS | 26 MAY 20 17 1 9
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BLUES PARTNERS
PLAY ON
W I N E S
FUTURE BLUES
BLUES CLUBHOUSES
2017 STANDINGS NZ CONFERENCE
P
W
D
L
F
A
DIF
BP
PTS
CRUSADERS HURRICANES CHIEFS HIGHLANDERS BLUES
12 11 11 12 12
12 9 9 9 6
0 0 0 0 0
0 2 2 3 6
456 483 326 382 354
231 201 221 238 298
225 282 105 144 56
6 7 7 5 7
54 43 43 41 31
AUS CONFERENCE
P
W
D
L
F
A
DIF
BP
PTS
BRUMBIES WARATAHS REDS FORCE REBELS
11 11 11 11 11
4 4 3 3 1
0 0 0 0 1
7 7 8 8 9
219 299 233 190 163
217 352 350 311 433
2 -53 -117 -121 -270
7 3 4 1 2
23 19 16 13 8
SA CONFERENCE 1
P
W
D
L
F
A
DIF
BP
PTS
STORMERS BULLS CHEETAHS SUNWOLVES
11 11 12 11
7 3 2 1
0 0 0 0
4 8 10 10
347 226 293 238
332 336 484 457
15 -110 -191 -219
2 3 3 3
30 15 11 7
SA CONFERENCE 2
LIONS SHARKS JAGUARES KINGS
P
W
D
L
F
A
DIF
BP
PTS
12 12 11 11
11 8 5 4
0 1 0 0
1 3 6 7
415 343 287 299
241 256 260 335
174 87 27 -36
7 4 4 3
51 38 24 19
OVERALL
CRUSADERS (NZ LEADER) LIONS (SA2 LEADER) STORMERS (SA1 LEADER) BRUMBIES (AUS LEADER) HURRICANES CHIEFS HIGHLANDERS SHARKS BLUES JAGUARES WARATAHS KINGS REDS BULLS FORCE CHEETAHS REBELS SUNWOLVES
2 2 BLUES VS CHIEFS | 26 MAY 20 17
PTS
54 51 30 23 43 43 41 38 31 24 19 19 16 15 13 11 8 7
2017 FIXTURES ROUND
MATCH RESULT
1
REBELS VS BLUES
2
CHIEFS VS BLUES
3
BLUES VS HIGHLANDERS
4
CRUSADERS VS BLUES
5
BLUES VS BULLS
6
BLUES VS FORCE
7
HIGHLANDERS VS BLUES
8
BLUES VS HURRICANES
10
BRUMBIES VS BLUES
11
WARATAHS VS BLUES
12
BLUES VS CHEETAHS
13
STORMERS VS BLUES
14
BLUES VS CHIEFS
-
15
BLUES VS REDS
-
17
SUNWOLVES VS BLUES
-
Thu 23 Feb | AAMI Park | 9:45PM Fri 3 Mar | FMG Stadium | 7:35PM Sat 11 Mar | Eden Park | 7:35PM
Fri 17 Mar | AMI Stadium | 7:35PM Sat 25 Mar | QBE Stadium | 7:35PM Sat 1 Apr | Eden Park | 5:15PM Sat 8 Apr | Forsyth Barr | 7:35PM Sat 15 Apr | Eden Park | 7:35PM Sun 30 Apr | GIO Stadium | 6:05PM Sat 6 May | Allianz Stadium | 9:45PM Fri 12 May | Eden Park | 7:35PM Fri 19 May | Newlands, Cape Town | 5:00AM Fri 26 May | Eden Park | 7:35PM Fri 2 Jun | Apia Park, Samoa | 7:35PM Sat 15 Jul | Chichibunomiya Stadium | 3:05PM
W
18-56
L
41-26
L
12-16
ROUND 14 MATCHES
BLUES V CHIEFS
26 May | Auckland | 7:35 PM
REDS V FORCE
26 May | Brisbane| 9:45 PM
SUNWOLVES V CHEETAHS 27 May | Tokyo | 5:15 PM
33-24
HIGHLANDERS V WARATAHS
W
38-14
REBELS V CRUSADERS
W
24-15
BULLS V HURRICANES
26-20
SHARKS V STORMERS
L
L
27 May | Dunedin | 7:35 PM
27 May | Melbourne | 9:45 PM
28 May | Pretoria | 1:05 AM
28 May | Durban | 3:15 AM L
24-28
JAGUARES V BRUMBIES
28 May | Buenos Aires | 9:40 AM W
12-18
LIONS V KINGS
29 May | Johannesburg | 12:30 AM W
33-40
W
50-32
L
30-22
BLUES VS CHIEFS | 26 MAY 20 17 2 3
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