The Blues, like several New Zealand Super Rugby teams, have been hampered by early-season injuries as they prepare for round one of their title defence but still have the luxury of selecting Beauden Barrett at fullback for the rematch of last year’s grand final.
It means the fans will be denied a head-to-head clash between All Blacks No.10 rivals Barrett and Damian McKenzie at Eden Park on Saturday – the latter has also been named in the No.15 jersey.
But a sign of the Blues’ depth is their ability to select Harry Plummer at first-five and Barrett at fullback following the injuries to Stephen Perofeta (calf) and Zarn Sullivan (foot).
"Injuries make team selections easier," a philosophical Blues head coach Vern Cotter said today. "Zarn goes down in a friendly game so that took away that selection dilemma around where to play Beaudy – off the bench or at 10 or at 15.
"He’s a key player and game driver and he’s slotted into the way we play," Cotter said of Barrett.
"We’re enjoying the skillset he brings. It’s nice he gets the first game back. He’s had a year away and he’s starting at 15 at Eden Park. He’ll get the best out of the people around him as well."
All Blacks lock Sam Darry (shoulder) is another casualty and out for the season but Cotter has still named a powerful pack, including Test players Ofa Tu’ungafasi, skipper Patrick Tuipulotu and Dalton Papali’i to go with Rieko Ioane, Caleb Clarke and Mark Tele’a in the backline.
Both Cotter and Tuipulotu not surprisingly appeared high on optimism today after last year’s breakthrough title victory – their first full championship since 2003.
"I suppose it is quite heavy when you think about going back to back," Tuipulotu said. "It’s a long season and you have to win games to get there.
"We need to be better than what we were last year to get there. That in itself is a hard slog. This new group is looking forward to that."
Cotter said: "There’s no credit for winning last year. We’re at zero. We’re pragmatic and know we have to go from phase to play to play and do the best that we can. Our mindset has been to improve and that’s a great way to be. There’s a positive mood within the group."
Josh Jacomb, a 23-year-old who made his Super Rugby debut last year, will start at No.10 for the Chiefs, with coach Clayton McMillan naming a strong bench featuring Tupou Vaa’i, Samipeni Finau, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert-Brown and Emoni Narawa.
The Super Rugby season gets under way tomorrow night when the Crusaders host the Hurricanes in Christchurch.
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