Wycliff Palu - another addition to the injury list
The HSBC Waratahs will be looking to overcome an intimidating record in Auckland when they take on the Blues at Eden Park on Saturday night.
While the HSBC Waratahs have won their last three matches against the Blues, their 2009 victory at Eden Park was their first in 81 years.
In what is one of the match-ups of the year, the Blues – coming off a round eight bye – have lost just once this year while the visitors head to New Zealand on a three-match winning streak.
The HSBC Waratahs are hoping to extend their successful run despite an injury toll which sees more than a quarter of the Super Rugby squad sidelined for the all-important clash.
Wycliff Palu, Tom Carter and Atieli Pakalani are missing from the team which scored a bonus point victory over the Western Force last weekend and join the likes of Phil Waugh, Berrick Barnes and Damien Fitzpatrick on the injured list.
Tom Kingston replaces Atieli Pakalani on the wing and will make his Super Rugby debut at the age of 19, while Daniel Halangahu has moved into the starting XV against an opponent which he has performed strongly against for the past two years.
Dave Dennis makes a deserved return to the run-on team at flanker with Ben Mowen shifting to No.8. Pat O’Connor and Sosene Anesi have been added to the reserves list.
The HSBC Waratahs go into the match sitting second in the Australian Conference and fifth overall after five wins from their opening six matches.
Follow the match live on Twitter @NSWWaratahs <http://twitter.com/NSWWaratahs>
The match will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 3 and Fox Sports 3HD from 5:30pm AEST. ABC will also broadcast the match live on ABC Grandstand Digital (Sydney and Brisbane) online at www.abc.net.au <http://www.abc.net.au> .
2011 Super Rugby – Round 9
BLUES v HSBC WARATAHS
Saturday 16 April 2011
Eden Park, Auckland NZL
Kick-off: 7:35pm NZT, 5:35pm AEST
Referee: Mark Lawrence (RSA)
Assistant Referees: Craig Joubert (RSA) & Jonathon White (RSA)
Television Match Official: Chris Pollocl (NZL)
Television: LIVE Fox Sports 3 & Fox Sports 3HD
BLUES
15 Isaia Toeava (Auckland)
14 Joe Rokocoko (Auckland)
13 Jared Payne (Northland)
12 Luke McAlister (North Harbour)
11 Rene Ranger (Northland)
10 Stephen Brett (Auckland)
9 Alby Mathewson (Auckland)
8 Peter Saili (Auckland)
7 Luke Braid (Bay of Plenty)
6 Jerome Kaino (Auckland)
5 Anthony Boric (Auckland)
4 Kurtis Haiu (Auckland)
3 John Afoa (Auckland)
2 Keven Mealamu [c] (Auckland)
1 Tevita Mailau (Auckland)
HSBC WARATAHS
15 Lachie Turner (Eastwood)
14 Tom Kingston*^ (Sydney University)
13 Ryan Cross (Eastern Suburbs)
12 Daniel Halangahu (Sydney University)
11 Drew Mitchell (Balmain)
10 Kurtley Beale (Randwick)
9 Luke Burgess (Sydney University)
8 Ben Mowen (Randwick)
7 Pat McCutcheon (Sydney University)
6 Dave Dennis (Sydney University)
5 Kane Douglas (Southern Districts)
4 Dean Mumm [c] (Sydney University)
3 Sekope Kepu (Randwick)
2 Tatafu Polota-Nau (Parramatta)
1 Benn Robinson (Eastwood)
Reserves
Tom McCartney (Auckland) 16 Damien Fitzpatrick (Eastwood)
Pauliasi Manu (Auckland) 17 Al Baxter (Northern Suburbs)
Filo Paulo (North Harbour) 18 Pat O’Connor (Eastern Suburbs)
Chris Lowrey (Auckland) 19 Sitaleki Timani (Southern Districts)
Chris Smylie (North Harbour) 20 Chris Alcock (Eastwood)
Lachie Munro (Northland) 21 Brendan McKibbin (Eastern Suburbs)
Benson Stanley (Auckland) 22 Sosene Anesi (Hunters Hill)
Pat Lam Coach Chris Hickey
* HSBC Waratahs debut
^ Super Rugby debut
HSBC Waratahs v Blues – Previous Super Rugby Meetings
DateResultVenue
1 May 1996 Auckland Blues 56-44 Eden Park
17 May 1997 Auckland Blues 34-20 Sydney Football Stadium
13 Apr 1998 Auckland Blues 47-25Eden Park
03 Apr 1999 Auckland Blues 21-20 Sydney Football Stadium
24 March 2000 Blues 31-17 Eden Park
31 Mar 2001 HSBC Waratahs 35-19 Sydney Football Stadium
29 March 2002 Blues 22-20 North Harbour Stadium
21 February 2003 Blues 31-18 Sydney Football Stadium
4 April 2004 Blues 22-17 Eden Park
13 May 2005 HSBC Waratahs 25-20 Sydney Football Stadium
24 March 2006 HSBC Waratahs 43-9 Sydney Football Stadium
23 March 2007 Blues 34-6 Eden Park
05 April 2008 HSBC Waratahs 37-16 Sydney Football Stadium
27 March 2009 HSBC Waratahs 27-22 Eden Park
27 March 2010 HSBC Waratahs 39-32 Sydney Football Stadium