INVESTEC SUPER RUGBY OFFICIAL MATCH PROGRAMME | SATURDAY 9 MAR 2019
BLUES VS sunwolves
A run can raise the roof. As rough as they look, well-timed tackles can be gamewinning moves. Through tackles like these, Investec has for the past nine years been able to bring world-class rugby to fans, as title sponsor of all New Zealand-based Investec Super Rugby and Investec Rugby Championship games. We look forward to bringing you even more. #BestOFtheBestRugby
Investec Rugby |
Investec is an international specialist bank and asset manager that provides a diverse range of financial products and services to a select client base in three principal markets – the UK AND Europe, South Africa and Asia/Australia as well as other certain countries. The group was established in 1974 and currently has approximately 10 146 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 GBP 4.93 billion.
Welcome Investec Super Rugby | Top 15
Investec has enjoyed a strong partnership with New Zealand Rugby over nine consecutive years. This has resulted in us having a platform — in supporting er nine consecutive years. This has resulted in us having a platform — in supporting Investec Super Rugby and Investec Rugby Championship games played in d in New Zealand — from which to be enablers of international rugby. And there’s no New Zealand — from which to be enablers of international rugby. And there’s look forward to the pride, passion and standard of play that the global rugby arena no better year than this, a Rugby World Cup year, to use this platform. We look forward to the pride, passion and standard of play that the global rugby arena will produce. Everything of the best to all the players.
Regards Danni Dixon – Head of Marketing Investec SA
ovides a diverse range of financial products and services to a select client base in About Investec ustralia as well as certain other countries. The group was established in 1974 and
Investec is an international specialist bank and asset manager that provides a diverse range of financial products and services to a select client base in three principal nts inWelcome three core areas of activity namely, Asset Wealth & Investment markets – the UK and Europe, South AfricaManagement, and Asia/Australia as well as certain other countries. The group was established in 1974 and currently has approximately Investec Super Rugby | Top 15 10 146 employees.
enjoyed a strong partnership with New Zealand Rugby over nine consecutive years. This has resulted in us having a platform — in supporting ture Investec with has listings on the London and Johannesburg Stock Exchanges. The combined Investec Super Rugby and Investec Rugby Championship games played in New Zealand — from which to be enablers of international rugby. And there’s no better year than this, a Rugby World Cup year, to use this platform. We look forward to the pride, passion and standard of play that the global rugby arena will produce. Everything of the best to all the players.
Investec focuses on delivering distinctive profitable solutions for its clients in three core areas of activity namely, Asset Management, Wealth & Investment and Regards, Danni Dixon – Head of Marketing Investec SA Specialist Banking. About Investec
2002specialist the Investec group implemented a dual company withclient base in Investec In is anJuly international bank and asset manager that provides a diverse range listed of financial products andstructure services to a select three principal markets – the UK and Europe, South Africa and Asia/Australia as well as certain other countries. The group was established in 1974 and on the London and Johannesburg Stock Exchanges. The combined group’s currently listings has approximately 10 146 employees. current market capitalisation is approximately GBP4.93 billion.
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 GBP4.93 billion.
and-based Rugby Championship and Super Rugby games.
#BestOFtheBestRugby Enjoying 9 years of bringing fans the best rugby as title sponsor of all New Zealand-based Rugby Championship and Super Rugby games.
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MATCH PREVIEW:
blues vs sunwolves HEAD TO HEAD 2018 STATS RANK 14
16.0
23.3
RANK 9
RANK 1
147.3
CARRIES
107.3
RANK 7
RANK 5
422.7
METRES MADE
506.3
RANK 1
RANK 5
11.6
CLEAN BREAKS
10.2
RANK 13
RANK 2
24.7
DEFENDERS BEATEN
18.3
RANK 10
RANK 3
9.7
OFFLOADS
8.0
RANK 8
RANK 11
6.0
TURNOVERS WON
8.7
RANK 3
POINTS PER GAME
OVERALL HEAD TO HEAD RESULTS OVERALL GAMES: 2
1 WIN
1 WIN BLUES VS SUNWOLVES | 9 MAR 20 19 5
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"Mikey T" will be sadly missed Mikey Tamoaieta, who sadly passed away last week, enjoyed a long association with the Blues club. The former Samoan Under-20 representative came into the Blues environment while he was a standout player at Sacred Heart College in Auckland and selected for the Blues Under 18s and joined the Auckland Rugby Union Academy on leaving school. He played for the first Blues Under-20s that was reinstated in 2015, in a team that included the likes of Auckland captain TJ Faiane, Isi Tuungafasi and Mitchell Hunt. Mikey, who moved into the Blues Super squad in 2018, starred for the Blues in their win at the 2018 Brisbane Global 10s tournament.
He got his first class break across the bridge with North Harbour in 2017 when he came under the guise of current Blues forwards coach Tom Coventry. “We were looking for a tighthead prop replacement and Mikey came to us straight out of club rugby. “I remember the very first day he turned up he'd been on the building site, had his boots on, his Swandri, and was covered in sawdust, and as Mike used to wear his hair pretty long, draped round his shoulders, I wondered who this rooster was who had turned up for training. "From that day he trained well above himself and earned the right to start pretty regularly in that North Harbour season and quickly became a favourite of most of the boys who played with him.
"He had a beautiful debut for us and earned the starting spot pretty much for that 2017 season," recalled Coventry. He went on to play 18 games for North Harbour and 10 games for the Blues. Tom said Mikey was well known for his distinctive style of tackling, going low along the ground to cut down opponents of all sizes. "He was a great kid … big happygo-lucky chap, always up for a joke, always got a smile on his face, he never took himself too seriously. He's going to leave a big hole in our team and with the rugby public. We're going to miss him dearly." "He was a very infectious character." Blues General Manager High Performance, Tony Hanks, said Mikey will be sorely missed by the Blues family. “Mikey was a player of immense ability who showed significant resilience and commitment to his family. He managed fulltime work demands and performed at club level with Grammar-TEC to earn his professional rugby opportunity with North Harbour and the Blues. “His popularity and cult-following extended from his early days at Sacred Heart College to his time with the Blues, highlighted perfectly when he scored with a dummy and run at the 10s in Brisbane last year. “Mikey’s passing has been devastating for all of us at the Blues and our thoughts and full support are with Helen, Aihana and Mikey’s family, friends and former team mates at this time. RIL MikeyT #276.”
BLUES VS SUNWOLVES | 9 MAR 20 19 7
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PLAYER STATS Sonny Bill Williams Karl Tu'inukuafe
1.94 M | 108 KG | 34 YR | 15 BLUES CAPS
1.86 M | 135 KG | 25 YR | 3 BLUES CAPS
TJ Faiane
James Parsons
1.75 M | 92 KG | 23 YR | 19 BLUES CAPS
1.85 M | 106 KG | 32 YR | 94 BLUES CAPS
Tanielu Tele'a
Sione Mafileo
1.87 M | 107 KG | 20 YR | 2 BLUES CAPS
1.78 M | 112 KG | 25 YR | 36 BLUES CAPS
Melani Nanai
Josh Goodhue
1.94 M | 90 KG | 25 YR | 51 BLUES CAPS
1.99 M | 115 KG | 23 YR | 9 BLUES CAPS
Matt Moulds
Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
1.88 M | 107 KG | 27 YR | 27 BLUES CAPS
1.96 M | 112 KG | 26 YR | 33 BLUES CAPS
Marcel Renata
Tom Robinson
1.87 M | 121 KG | 25 YR
1.98 M | 110 KG | 24 YR | 3 BLUES CAPS
Lua Li
Blake Gibson
1.80 M | 120 KG | 28 YR
1.86 M | 102 KG | 23 YR | 30 BLUES CAPS
Scott Scrafton
Akira Ioane
2.00 M | 114 KG | 25 YR | 15 BLUES CAPS
1.94 M | 113 KG | 24 YR | 52 BLUES CAPS
Dalton Papalii
Augustine Pulu
1.93 M | 113 KG | 21 YR | 10 BLUES CAPS
1.89 M | 90 KG | 29 YR | 27 BLUES CAPS
Sam Nock
Harry Plummer
1.78 M | 85 KG | 22 YR | 17 BLUES CAPS
1.84 M | 94 KG | 20 YR | 3 BLUES CAPS
Otere Black
Rieko Ioane
1.85 M | 86 KG | 23 YR | 3 BLUES CAP
1.88 M | 103 KG | 21 YR | 38 BLUES CAPS
Levi Aumua 1.83 M | 118 KG | 24 YR
BLUES VS SUNWOLVES | 9 MAR 20 19 9
COACH
BLUE sunwo
ASSISTANT COACHES
Leon MacDonald
Tana Umaga Tom Coventry Dan Halangahu Ben Afeaki
MANAGER Richard Fry
15
Melani Nanai
14
Tanielu Tele'a
13
7.35pm SATURDA QBE STA
TJ Faiane
12
Sonny Bill Williams (C)
11
Rieko Ioane
10
Harry Plummer
9
Augustine Pulu
8
Akira Ioane
7
Blake Gibson
6 RESERVES 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
Matt Moulds Marcel Renata Lua Li Scott Scrafton Dalton Papalii Sam Nock Otere Black Levi Aumua
Tom Robinson
5
Gerard Cowley-Tuioti
4
Josh Goodhue
3
Sione Mafileo
2
James Parsons
1
Karl Tu'inukuafe
REFE
Mike F
ASSISTANT
James Dan W
TM
Glenn N
ES VS wolves
ASSISTANT COACHES Cory Brown Marty Veale Naoya Okubo
Fraser
T REFEREES
Munro Waenga
MO
Newman
Scott Hansen MANAGER James Kumate
15
Semisi Masirewa
14
Gerhard Van Den Heever
AY 9 MARCH 2019 TADIUM
EREE
COACH
13
Jason Emery (C) Michael
12
Little
11
Jamie Henry
10
Rikiya Matsuda
9
Jamie Booth
8
Rahboni Warren Vosayaco
7
Shuhei Matsuhashi
6
Hendrik Tui
5
James Moore
4
Tom Rowe
3
Hiroshi Yamashita
2
Atsushi Sakate Pauliasi Manu
1
RESERVES
Nathan Vella Alex Woonton Asaeli Ai Valu Uwe Helu Dan Pryor Keisuke Uchida Hayden Parker Phil Burleigh
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
PLAYER STATS Pauliasi Manu 1.85 M | 123 KG | 31 YR | 2 SUNWOLVES CAPS
Jason Emery
Atsushi Sakate
1.76 M | 86 KG | 25 YR | 10 SUNWOLVES CAPS
1.80 M | 104 KG | 25C YR | 13 SUNWOLVES CAPS
Gerhard Van Den Heever
Hiroshi Yamashita
1.92 M | 102 KG | 29 YR | 5 SUNWOLVES CAPS
1.83 M | 122 KG | 33 YR | 3 SUNWOLVES CAPS
Semisi Masirewa
Tom Rowe
1.84 M | 93 KG | 26 YR | 12 SUNWOLVES CAPS
1.95 M | 110 KG | 27 YR | 2 SUNWOLVES CAPS
Nathan Vella
James Moore
1.83 M | 110 KG | 29 YR | 1 SUNWOLVES CAP
1.95 M | 102 KG | 25 YR | 13 SUNWOLVES CAPS
Alex Woonton
Hendrik Tui
1.91 M | 123 KG | 31 YR | 1 SUNWOLVES CAP
1.89 M | 108 KG | 31 YR | 3 SUNWOLVES CAPS
Asaeli Ai Valu
Shuhei Matsuhashi
1.87 M | 115 KG | 29 YR | 4 SUNWOLVES CAPS
1.80 M | 99 KG | 25 YR | 11 SUNWOLVES CAPS
Uwe Helu
Rahboni Warren Vosayaco
1.93 M | 113 KG | 28 YR | 17 SUNWOLVES CAPS
1.90 M | 108 KG | 23 YR | 15 SUNWOLVES CAPS
Dan Pryor
Jamie Booth
1.91 M | 103 KG | 30 YR | 1 SUNWOLVES CAP
1.71 M | 82 KG | 24 YR | 1 SUNWOLVES CAP
Keisuke Uchida
Rikiya Matsuda
1.79 M | 86 KG | 27 YR | 18 SUNWOLVES CAPS
1.81 M | 92 KG | 23 YR | 8 SUNWOLVES CAPS
Hayden Parker
Jamie Henry
1.75 M | 82 KG | 29 YR | 16 SUNWOLVES CAPS
1.84 M | 95 KG | 28 YR | 1 SUNWOLVES CAPS
Phil Burleigh
Michael Little
1.82 M | 93 KG | 32 YR | 2 SUNWOLVES CAPS
1.81 M | 96 KG | 25 YR | 16 SUNWOLVES CAPS
1 2 BLUES VS SUNWOLVES | 9 MAR 20 19
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James harbours high hopes North Harbour stalwart James Parsons believes the Blues will respond when they run on to his home ground at QBE Stadium against the Sunwolves. Parsons, with over 90 games in the Blues jersey, reckons it is always special to play on his home stadium. “For the most part when I have represented the Blues there we have been successful, and I have plenty of fond memories getting a result in a Blues jersey at QBE Stadium,” James said. His other major memory is when the Harbour team held the Ranfurly Shield over a decade ago. “That was pretty special when we had the Shield and defended it a few times there in 2007. There are always fond memories with anything to do with the Ranfurly Shield.” James said Harbour is developing strongly both as a union and as a fantastic venue. “We have been working really hard across the bridge to provide a pathway and opportunity for boys to get into this Blues arena and that hard work is starting to pay off, not only for players, but also our coaching staff. “So, it is exciting for all of us to get back home, a place we know really well – of course we love playing at Eden Park as well – but it is always nice to get back across
the bridge and represent our home union and bring the Blues club and all their supporters across as well and hopefully have a good night out. “Obviously there are also a number of Harbour players in the opposition as well, so I am sure they will be some Sunwolves jerseys in the crowd.” James said that Harbour is a developing region not only in rugby but in all sports that is working hard to establish its own identity. “We have a bit of an underdog approach. We have not always been at the top-end, so we have had to work hard to get ourselves back to the top division. “It is the same philosophy for a number of Harbour sports – punching above our weight, making sure that every opportunity we get that we make every post a winner and we do justice to whatever jersey we wear. “It is exciting for me and for the other Harbour boys being able to wear the Blues jersey.:
BLUES VS SUNWOLVES | 9 MAR 20 19 1 5
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Cowley-Tuioti becomes North Harbour stalwart At just 26 years, Gerard CowleyTuioti has become a cornerstone of the hard-working Blues pack, with 40 games under his belt for North Harbour and 33 for the Blues. Yet he has played the game for less than a decade. Gerard was a keen volleyballer in his early years at Massey High School, taking up rugby along with his mates in the sixth form. He moved to Kelston Boys for his final year, continuing to play volleyball – making it to the secondary schools final – as well as the First XV. “Initially I took up rugby just for fun, to play with my friends. We thought we would trial for the 2nd XV, and we made the team and the following year I ended up playing 1st XV. And then went to Kelston where I played 1st XV as well.” The mobile lock stayed out west with the Massey Rugby Club where he has played more than 50 games, initially under So'otala Fa'aso who was the coach, and was selected for the Harbour Under-20s and then Harbour Bs. “I got called into the top side and later contracted from there which was the first year that Steve Jackson took over as coach. Harbour had gone five losses in a row and then I got called in and I ended up starting that week and played the next four games.
“I love QBE. It is a bit closer to the crowd, so you get a better connection with the fans. It is all at one level and everything feels a bit closer which is cool. “The support has grown over the years and I am sure I will have my friends and family there on Saturday. “It will be fun and different playing against the likes of Michael Little, Pauliasi Manu and Sam Prattley playing for the Sunwolves.”
BLUES VS SUNWOLVES | 9 MAR 20 19 1 9
2019 STANDINGS NEW ZEALAND CONFERENCE
P
W
D
L
F
A
DIF
BP
PTS
CRUSADERS HURRICANES HIGHLANDERS BLUES CHIEFS
3 3 3 3 3
3 2 2 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
0 1 1 3 3
84 85 85 48 59
56 70 82 73 114
28 15 3 -25 -55
0 1 1 2 1
12 9 9 2 1
AUSTRALIAN CONFERENCE
P
W
D
L
F
A
DIF
BP
PTS
REBELS BRUMBIES WARATAHS SUNWOLVES REDS
2 3 2 3 2
2 1 1 1 0
0 0 0 0 0
0 2 1 2 2
58 94 50 70 43
46 94 50 91 58
12 0 0 -21 -15
0 2 1 1 1
8 9 5 5 1
SOUTH AFRICAN CONFERENCE
P
W
D
L
F
A
DIF
BP
PTS
SHARKS BULLS JAGUARES STORMERS LIONS
3 3 3 3 3
2 2 2 2 1
0 0 0 0 0
1 1 1 1 2
82 82 66 38 54
33 42 56 68 65
49 40 10 -30 -11
3 1 1 0 1
11 9 9 8 5
OVERALL
CRUSADERS SHARKS REBELS HURRICANES HIGHLANDERS BULLS JAGUARES STORMERS BRUMBIES WARATAHS SUNWOLVES LIONS BLUES CHIEFS REDS
2 0 BLUES VS SUNWOLVES | 9 MAR 20 19
PTS
12 11 8 9 9 9 9 8 6 5 5 5 2 1 1
2019 FIXTURES ROUND
MATCH RESULT
1
BLUES VS CRUSADERS
2
SHARKS VS BLUES
3
JAGUARES VS BLUES
Sat 16 Feb | Eden Park | 7:35PM
L
L
Sun 24 Feb | Kings Park, Durban | 2:05AM NZT
Sun 03 Mar | José Amalfitani Stadium Buenos Aires | 10:40AM NZT
22-24
L
26-7
23-19
BLUES VS SUNWOLVES
5
BYE
6
BLUES VS HIGHLANDERS
-
7
BLUES VS STORMERS
-
8
BLUES VS WARATAHS
-
9
CHIEFS VS BLUES
-
10
HIGHLANDERS VS BLUES
-
11
BYE
12
BRUMBIES VS BLUES
-
13
BLUES VS HURRICANES
-
14
BLUES VS CHIEFS
-
15
CRUSADERS VS BLUES
-
16
BLUES VS BULLS
-
17
REDS VS BLUES
-
18
HURRICANES VS BLUES
-
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
HURRICANES v HIGHLANDERS Fri 08 Mar | Wellington | 7:35 PM
REBELS v BRUMBIES
Fri 08 Mar | Melbourne | 9:45 PM
CRUSADERS v CHIEFS
Sat 09 Mar | Christchurch | 5:15 PM
BLUES V SUNWOLVES
4
Sat 09 Mar | QBE Stadium, Albany | 7:35PM
ROUND 4 MATCHES
-
Sat 09 Mar | Auckland | 7:35 PM
WARATAHS v REDS
Sat 09 Mar | Sydney | 9:45 PM
LIONS v JAGUARES
Sun 10 Mar | Johannesburg | 2:05 AM
BULLS v SHARKS
Sun 10 | Pretoria | 4:15 AM
BLUES VS SUNWOLVES | 9 MAR 20 19 2 1
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