INVESTEC SUPER RUGBY OFFICIAL MATCH PROGRAMME | SATURDAY 16 FEB 2019
BLUES VS crusaders
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Southern man at the reins For someone who has lived much of his life in and around the sunny climes of the Marlborough district, Blues coach Leon Macdonald has now chosen a rugby life in the white-hot glare of New Zealand’s biggest city. There are few more challenging but exciting rugby opportunities than to take on the role as head coach at the Blues, in New Zealand’s most diverse city and in the intense media spotlight. At 41, it is a challenge he is not shying away from. Leon has a massive pedigree in the game and in sport. His first representative rugby was for his home union of Marlborough, before heading south to play 37 times for Canterbury and ultimately 122 times for the Crusaders (as well as a flirtation at the Chiefs). He was a blue-chip prospect, playing for NZ Colts, NZ Maori and 56 times for the All Blacks before three years in Japan until he retired in 2010 after receiving one head knock too many. Leon was immediately shouldertapped to move into coaching, and believing he owed something back to his region, he became assistant coach at Tasman, and then head coach five years later. He had a season during this time as assistant at the Crusaders but took the big step north to the Blues – with wife Hayley and their children.
“I am highly motivated to help with the Blues’ vision for success,” said MacDonald. “This opportunity has arisen and I am honoured to have been considered for the role. I will give it my heart and soul.” Already he, along with fellow coaches Tom Coventry, Tana Umaga and Dan Halangahu, have made a difference. "It's been a breath of fresh air for the club," Rieko Ioane said. "Coming from that Crusaders background, his playing expertise and that southern flavour that he brings to the Blues, it's the calming influence that we need. Not so much in the coaching group, but amongst the players. It's something that we look up to. "He's a very detailed man, he's very passionate about rugby. He knows the game well and he knows his stuff behind the computers. It's been a good, positive change, and he's fit in perfectly."
BLUES VS CRUSADERS | 16 FEB 20 19 3
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Akira rises up for the Blues At just 23 year of age, Akira Ioane is set to play his 50th game for the Blues in the opening match of the 2019 Investec Super Rugby Championship. It is a remarkable statistic not just for someone so young, but for a player who plays at the most combative part of the game at No 8. Akira, a product of Auckland Grammar, burst on to the national scene in Sevens, snapped up by Sir Gordon Tietjens in 2014 at the Wellington Sevens, and later that year played at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. He proved a start in the 2015 Wellington Sevens as the Player of the Final/s which led to selection for the Rio Olympics.
At just 18 years, he was snapped up by the Blues and made his Super Rugby debut in 2015. Many will remember his brilliant performances against the Western Force where he made 12 carries of 118m and included a spectacular 55m solo try. He played nine times in 2015 and eight time in 2016. He quickly became one of the first players pencilled into the weekly Blues line-up, belying his years and the collision that is the life of a loose forward. Akira played in every game for the Blues in 2017 and 2018, including the victory against the British & Irish Lions. Not only is he a warrior on the field, Akira is a champion off it. His performances on and of the field led to him
winning the Blues Player of the Year in 2018 and he scored the most tries of any forward in the competition. Akira was destined for big things in the game with father Eddie a former Samoan international who played in the 1991 Rugby World Cup and mother Sandra who was a Black Fern. He was born in Japan – hence his Christian name – which means light coming from the sun. All Blues fans will no doubt celebrate his 50th game for the club and look forward to that piercing light continuing to prove a beacon for the Blues for years to come.
BLUES VS CRUSADERS | 16 FEB 20 19 5
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PLAYER STATS TJ Faiane Alex Hodgman
1.75 M | 92 KG | 23 YR | 13 BLUES CAPS
1.96 M | 122 KG | 25 YR | 12 BLUES CAPS
Ma'a Nonu
James Parsons
1.82 M | 105 KG | 36 YR | 25 BLUES CAPS
1.85 M | 106 KG | 32 YR | 91 BLUES CAPS
Melani Nanai
Sione Mafileo
1.94 M | 90 KG | 25 YR | 48 BLUES CAPS
1.78 M | 112 KG | 25 YR | 33 BLUES CAPS
Michael Collins
Patrick Tuipulotu
1.87 M | 94 KG | 25 YR | 26 BLUES CAPS
1.98 M | 120 KG | 26 YR | 53 BLUES CAPS
Matt Moulds
Josh Goodhue
1.88 M | 107 KG | 27 YR | 24 BLUES CAPS
1.99 M | 115 KG | 23 YR | 6 BLUES CAPS
Karl Tu'inukuafe
Dalton Papalii
1.86 M | 135 KG | 25 YR
1.93 M | 113 KG | 21 YR | 7 BLUES CAPS
Ofa Tuungafasi
Akira Ioane
1.95 M | 129 KG | 26 YR | 69 BLUES CAPS
1.94 M | 113 KG | 24 YR | 49 BLUES CAPS
Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
Jonathan Ruru
1.96 M | 112 KG | 26 YR | 30 BLUES CAPS
1.83 M | 94 KG | 26 YR | 13 BLUES CAPS
Tom Robinson
Otere Black
1.98 M | 110 KG | 24 YR
1.85 M | 86 KG | 23 YR
Augustine Pulu
Rieko Ioane
1.89 M | 90 KG | 29 YR | 24 BLUES CAPS
1.88 M | 103 KG | 21 YR | 35 BLUES CAP
Harry Plummer
Sonny Bill Williams
1.84 M | 94 KG | 20 YR
1.94 M | 108 KG | 34 YR | 12 BLUES CAPS
BLUES VS CRUSADERS | 16 FEB 20 19 7
COACH
BLUE crusa
ASSISTANT COACHES
Leon MacDonald
Tana Umaga Tom Coventry Dan Halangahu Ben Afeaki
MANAGER Richard Fry
15
Michael Collins
14
Melani Nanai
13
7.35pm SATURD EDEN
Ma’a Nonu
12
TJ Faiane
11
Rieko Ioane
10
Otere Black
9
Jonathan Ruru
8
Akira Ioane
7
Dalton Papalii
6 RESERVES 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Matt Moulds Karl Tu’inukuafe Ofa Tuungafasi Gerard Cowley-Tuioti Matt Matich Augustine Pulu Harry Plummer Sonny Bill Williams
Tom Robinson
5
Josh Goodhue
4
Patrick Tuipulotu
3
Sione Mafileo
2
James Parsons
1
Alex Hodgman
REFE
Nick B
ASSISTANT
Federico Dan W
TM
Ben S
ES VS aders
ASSISTANT COACHES Brad Mooar Andrew Goodman Jason Ryan Ronan O'Gara
Briant
T REFEREES
Anselmi Waenga
MO
Skeen
MANAGER Shane Fletcher
15
David Havili
14
Manasa Mataele
DAY 16 FEB 2019 PARK
EREE
COACH Scott Robertson
13
Braydon Ennor
12
Ryan Crotty
11
George Bridge
10
Richie Mo'unga
9
Bryn Hall
8
Whetukamokamo Douglas
7
Matt Todd
6
Jordan Taufua
5
Quinten Strange
4
Scott Barrett
3
Owen Franks
2
Andrew Makalio Joe Moody
1
RESERVES
Ben Funnell Tim Perry Michael Alaalatoa Luke Romano Tom Sanders Mitchell Drummond Mitchell Hunt Will Jordan
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
PLAYER STATS Joe Moody 1.88 M | 122 KG | 30 YR | 69 CRUSADERS CAPS
Braydon Ennor
Andrew Makalio
1.87 M | 94 KG | 21 YR | 8 CRUSADERS CAPS
1.82 M | 128 KG | 27 YR | 18 CRUSADERS CAPS
Manasa Mataele
Owen Franks
1.85 M | 100 KG | 22 YR | 21 CRUSADERS CAPS
1.85 M | 118 KG | 31 YR | 146 CRUSADERS CAPS
David Havili
Scott Barrett
1.84 M | 95 KG | 24 YR | 59 CRUSADERS CAPS
1.98 M | 117 KG | 25 YR | 54 CRUSADERS CAPS
Ben Funnell
Quinten Strange
1.80 M | 109 KG | 28 YR | 83 CRUSADERS CAPS
1.99 M | 112 KG | 22 YR | 19 CRUSADERS CAPS
Tim Perry
Jordan Taufua
1.91 M | 119 KG | 30 YR | 24 CRUSADERS CAPS
1.87 M | 108 KG | 27 YR | 83 CRUSADERS CAPS
Michael Alaalatoa
Matt Todd
1.89 M | 132 KG | 27 YR | 53 CRUSADERS CAPS
1.85 M | 105 KG | 30 YR | 126 CRUSADERS CAPS
Luke Romano
Whetukamokamo Douglas
1.99 M | 120 KG | 33 YR | 112 CRUSADERS CAPS
1.88 M | 122 KG | 27 YR | 6 CRUSADERS CAPS
Tom Sanders
Bryn Hall
1.90 M | 109 KG | 25 YR | 4 CRUSADERS CAPS
1.83 M | 93 KG | 30 YR | 69 CRUSADERS CAPS
Mitchell Drummond
Richie Mo'unga
1.80 M | 88 KG | 24 YR | 66 CRUSADERS CAPS
1.76 M | 88 KG | 24 YR | 42 CRUSADERS CAPS
Mitchell Hunt
George Bridge
1.74 M | 81 KG | 23 YR | 35 CRUSADERS CAPS
1.86 M | 96 KG | 23 YR | 37 CRUSADERS CAPS
Will Jordan
Ryan Crotty
1.88 M | 94 KG | 20 YR
1.81 M | 96 KG | 30 YR | 137 CRUSADERS CAPS
1 0 BLUES VS CRUSADERS | 16 FEB 20 19
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INTRODUCING
Karl Tu’inukuafe When did you start playing rugby? Like most kids I started around 5 years old in barefoot rugby on the North Shore with Northcote. My grandad had a place in Birkdale and Northcote was the closest club so my father got me in there. Did you play rugby through your school time? I only started to play regularly when I was in the 3rd Form. I played barefoot until I was around eight but didn’t play again until I was in the 3rd Form at Wesley College. Gus Leger was my first coach. How did you come to be at Wesley College? I went there as a boarder in Form One. My sister went there so my parents decided I should go where she was – to take both kids to the same school. But my sister was only there for two years and I was there for seven. Who was around at Wesley in those days that you played with? I looked up to Uini Atonio, the prop who went on to play for France. I was 3rd Form when he was 7th form and he was the next big thing at the time. In my years in the 1st XV I played with the likes of Charles Piutau, Malakai Fekitoa, Nepo Laulala and Glen Fisiiahi. What was life at boarding school like? It was the highlight of my high school years there – making a family away from home. Some of the boys I grew up with there became like family because the only time you’d go home was in the holidays. In the weekends some went home but a few of us would stay so some close bonds were made and pretty much friends for life.
When did you marry? I was 19 years old and it was in 2012. Our parents didn’t like the thought of us living together and I knew she was the one – so we got married the following week. A year and a half later we had our first boy – Marley – who’s five now. As with Tongan tradition the oldest girl names the boy’s first child so she chose the name. I made sure she didn’t get another chance because the full name she chose had six names. I changed it on the birth certificate to just Marley Tu’inukuafe because otherwise it was way too long. How special was it when you learned your wife was having twins? The day I found out was the same day I got the call from Darren Shand. I was emotional when my wife told me she was pregnant. I had a missed call from “Shandy” and when I called him back he said “Congrats you’ve been called into the All Blacks.” It was some day and a crazy time for my wife and me. I then got involved in the June series with the All Blacks and after that we went to the check up with the doctor who said – by the way, there are two sacks there. You’re having twins. Our twins aren’t identical. They look similar and most of the family can’t tell them apart but we can. They have Tongan names but their middle names are Louie and James. How much has that changed your household? The twins have been around seven weeks now. It has been huge. We’ve never been through anything like it.
The lack of sleep – I’ve never gone through that. Sometimes only three hours a day and I don’t know how my wife has done it. It’s huge, and that she can do it all without me at times. How are you enjoying being at the Blues and in Auckland? It’s great. We get to see our family more – not just my family but our wider family which is good. And of course they’ve been able to help out. I was born and raised here so we are home and really happy to be back home. What do you do when not playing rugby? My life is rugby and my family. That fills my life.
BLUES VS CRUSADERS | 16 FEB 20 19 1 3
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2019 FIXTURES ROUND
MATCH RESULT
1
BLUES VS CRUSADERS
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2
SHARKS VS BLUES
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3
JAGUARES VS BLUES
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4
BLUES VS SUNWOLVES
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5
BYE
6
BLUES VS HIGHLANDERS
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7
BLUES VS STORMERS
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8
BLUES VS WARATAHS
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9
CHIEFS VS BLUES
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10
HIGHLANDERS VS BLUES
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11
BYE
12
BRUMBIES VS BLUES
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13
BLUES VS HURRICANES
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14
BLUES VS CHIEFS
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15
CRUSADERS VS BLUES
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16
BLUES VS BULLS
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17
REDS VS BLUES
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18
HURRICANES VS BLUES
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Sat 16 Feb | Eden Park | 7:35PM Sun 24 Feb | Kings Park, Durban | 2:05AM NZT
Sun 03 Mar | Jose Amalfitani Stadium Buenos Aires | 10:40AM NZT Sat 09 Mar | QBE Stadium, Albany | 7:35PM
Fri 22 Mar | Eden Park | 7:35PM
Sat 30 Mar | Eden Park | 7:35PM Sat 06 Apr | Eden Park | 7:35PM Sat 13 Apr | FMG Stadium, Hamilton | 7:35PM Sat 20 Apr | Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin | 7:35PM
Sat 04 May | GIO Stadium, Canberra | 9:45PM Fri 10 May | Eden Park | 7:35PM Sat 18 May | Eden Park | 7:35PM
Sat 25 May | AMI Stadium, Christchurch | 7:35PM Fri 31 May | Eden Park | 7:35PM Fri 07 Jun | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | 9:45PM Sat 15 Jun | Westpac Stadium | 7:35PM
1 6 BLUES VS CRUSADERS | 16 FEB 20 19
ROUND 1 MATCHES
CHIEFS v HIGHLANDERS Fri 15 Feb | Hamilton | 7:35 PM
BRUMBIES V REBELS
Fri 15 Feb | Canberra | 9:45 PM
BLUES V CRUSADERS
Sat 16 Feb | Auckland | 7:35 PM
WARATAHS V HURRICANES Sat 16 Feb | Sydney | 9:45 PM
SUNWOLVES V SHARKS
Sat 16 Feb | Singapore | 11:55 PM
BULLS V STORMERS
Sun 17 Feb | Pretoria | 4:15 AM
JAGUARES V LIONS
Sun 17 Feb | Buenos Aires | 10:40 AM
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