Beauden Barrett will make his Blues debut from fullback as opposed to first-five, as the Auckland franchise named their team for their Super Rugby Aotearoa opener against the Hurricanes.
Barrett, 29, will wear the 15 jersey against his former side the Hurricanes, with Blues coach Leon MacDonald keeping the faith in Otere Black - at the helm as the Blues rose to third on the pre-Covid Super Rugby ladder.
“He [Black] has played really well for us. His form was outstanding pre-lockdown. He’s come back out of lockdown in even better nick again.
“We’re very fortunate to have two decent tens in the squad,” McDonald said.
"If we go to the Otere selection, and obviously Beaudy at fullback, we’re very mindful Beaudy is obviously an outstanding first-five. That’s not lost on us.
“He’s also a world-class fullback as well at the moment, and we need that hole filled.
“I don’t think it will hurt to be back in the boot a little bit with his vision and his experience to help be a calming influence from the back and then in time seeing him move up to the front line as well.”
McDonald said he saw Barrett as a 10 who could play fullback.
"At some point he'll be in the front line - there's no doubt about that. But right now this is best for our team and for the situation where he's at in terms of his integration back into rugby and his first game for the Blues."
Elsewhere, Rieko Ioane is named to start in midfield alongside TJ Faiane, while leading try scorer Mark Telea starts on the right wing.
New Zealand Sevens youngster Caleb Clarke starts on the left wing, having been released back to Super Rugby after the 2020 Olympics postponement.
Forwards duo Alex Hodgman and Josh Goodhue also both make their returns to the side, having both previously been injured.
There is no place for veteran Dan Carter, called in as injury cover for Stephen Perofeta.
The Blues host the Hurricanes at Eden Park on Sunday afternoon.
Blues: 15. Beauden Barrett, 14. Mark Telea, 13. Rieko Ioane, 12. TJ Faiane, 11. Caleb Clarke, 10. Otere Black, 9. Sam Nock, 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 7. Blake Gibson, 6. Tom Robinson, 5. Josh Goodhue, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3. Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 2. James Parsons, 1. Alex Hodgman.
Reserves: 16. Kurt Eklund, 17. Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 18. Marcel Renata, 19. Gerad Cowley-Tuioti, 20. Dalton Papalii, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Harry Plummer, 23. Matt Duffie.
SHARE ME