Latest news with #AJLam
Scoop
30-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Blues Named For Must-Win Against Waratahs
The Blues have named a powerful team for their must-win clash with the NSW Waratahs at Eden Park on Saturday. In their final game of the regular season, the Blues need to secure a win in front of their home fans to keep their finals hopes alive. After serving a three-game suspension for a dangerous tackle, Mark Tele'a injects his energy back into the side with a start on the right wing. With the return of Tele'a, AJ Lam shifts back to second five while Finlay Christie earns the starting halfback spot. In the forwards, Anton Segner has been cleared after a heavy collision in Round 14, with the 23-year-old back into the starting XV at blindside flanker. There are several changes to the reserves with prop Jordan Lay and halfback Sam Nock coming into the match day 23, alongside Adrian Choat who returns from a shoulder injury. Saturday's game will also be a celebration of club rugby, with players wearing their club socks. Fans will be allowed onto the turf after the match to get autographs and photos with players. Alongside the action, Eden Park will come alive prior to kickoff with the first-ever Waiata Singalong, a series of activations led by Dame Hinewehi Mohi DNZM, designed to bring people together through the power of waiata. Blues Team for Round 16 4.35pm, Saturday 31 May vs NSW Waratahs 1. Joshua Fusitu'a (34) 2. Ricky Riccitelli (48) 3. Marcel Renata (63) 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (capt) (121) 5. Laghlan McWhannell (20) 6. Anton Segner (34) 7. Dalton Papali'i (94) 8. Hoskins Sotutu (75) 9. Finlay Christie (65) 10. Beauden Barrett (41) 11. Caleb Clarke (72) 12. AJ Lam (55) 13. Rieko Ioane (125) 14. Mark Tele'a (77) 15. Corey Evans (26) Reserves: 16. Kurt Eklund (72), 17. Jordan Lay (24), 18. Angus Ta'avao (79), 19. Josh Beehre (24), 20. Adrian Choat (52), 21. Sam Nock (79), 22. Harry Plummer (86), 23. Cole Forbes (27) Players not considered due to injury: Cam Christie (thumb), Stephen Perofeta (leg), Reon Paul (shoulder), Cam Suafoa (medical, season), Ofa Tu'ungafasi (neck, season), Sam Darry (shoulder, season)
RNZ News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Super Rugby team namings: Sititi, McKenzie back to start against Crusaders
Wallace Sititi. Photo: Aaron Gillions/ActionPress It's a short round of Super Rugby Pacific this weekend, but it's made up for by the fact that we've got a premier match up on Saturday night. The Chiefs have named Wallace Sititi into their starting lineup after two appearances off the bench in his faster than anticipated comeback, for their match against the Crusaders in Christchurch. Damian McKenzie is also back after missing two matches with injury, he takes the place of Josh Jacomb at first five in an otherwise unchanged Chiefs lineup. Meanwhile, the Crusaders have named Rivez Reihana to start at first five ahead in the wake of Taha Kemara's injury. James O'Connor stays on the bench, but it's a welcome back to Brayden Ennor at centre from injury. The only other NZ side in action this weekend is the Blues, who are taking a mostly unchanged team up to Suva to face the Drua. The only shift is AJ Lam coming back into the starting side after mysteriously being benched shortly before kick-off last weekend, also Finlay Christie and Zarn Sullivan return to the bench. Blues player AJ Lam scores a try during Blues v Crusaders at Eden Park. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ Blues v Fijian Drua Kick-off: 7:05pm Friday 9 May HFC Bank Stadium, Suva Live blog updates on RNZ Sport Blues: 1. Joshua Fusitu'a, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Marcel Renata, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (capt), 5. Laghlan McWhannell, 6. Anton Segner, 7. Dalton Papali'i, 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 9. Taufa Funaki, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. AJ Lam, 12. Xavi Taele, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Cole Forbes, 15. Corey Evans Bench: 16. Kurt Eklund, 17. Mason Tupaea, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. Josh Beehre, 20. Adrian Choat, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Harry Plummer, 23. Zarn Sullivan Rivez Reihana. Photo: photosport Crusaders v Chiefs Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 10 May Apollo Projects Stadium Live blog updates on RNZ Sport Crusaders: 1. Tamaiti Williams, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Antonio Shalfoon, 6. Cullen Grace, 7. Tom Christie, 8. Christian Lio-Willie, 9. Noah Hotham, 10. Rivez Reihana, 11. Sevu Reece, 12. David Havili, 13. Braydon Ennor, 14. Chay Fihaki, 15. Will Jordan Bench: 16. Ioane Moananu, 17. George Bower, 18. Seb Calder, 19. Jamie Hannah, 20. Corey Kellow, 21. Kyle Preston, 22. James O'Connor, 23. Dallas McLeod Chiefs: 1. Ollie Norris, 2. Brodie McAlister, 3. George Dyer, 4. Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 5. Tupou Vaa'i, 6. Simon Parker, 7. Luke Jacobson, 8. Wallace Sititi, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Damian McKenzie, 11. Leroy Carter, 12. Quinn Tupaea, 13. Daniel Rona, 14. Emoni Narawa, 15. Shaun Stevenson Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17. Aidan Ross, 18. Reuben O'Neil, 19. Josh Lord, 20. Samipeni Finau, 21. Xavier Roe, 22. Josh Jacomb, 23. Gideon Wrampling Also: Waratahs v Reds Kick-off: 9:35pm Friday 9 May Allianz Stadium, Sydney Force v Brumbies Kick-off: 9:35pm Saturday 10 May HBF Park, Perth Moana Pasifika, Highlanders, Hurricanes - bye
